Politics

Allegations of influence peddling by Indonesia's Lippo financial group may be unproven, but opened a bigger trail that led elsewhere. JAY LOSHER reports from America.

Despite an impression that Islam has lately become a potent force of opposition, GREG BARTON thinks many Muslims have a stake in the status quo.

Remember the election last May? MAS SUJOKO was there and listened in to the people's vote, recorded on walls all over Yogyakarta.

What are the prospects of Islamic opposition? How democratic will it be? GEORGE ADITJONDRO finds much to be hopeful about.

DJOHAN EFFENDI explores the paradox of young progressives in Indonesia's most traditional Islamic organisation.

Many private banks set up by Indonesia's super-wealthy in the 1980s are reeling under the weight of mismanagement. But connections sometimes allow them to evade the laws of financial gravity, as SUARA INDEPENDEN shows in these two reports.

ANDREAS HARSONO visits Burma and is intrigued by the respect its military show for the Indonesian model.

'I write the truth and if I have to die for it, well so be it' wrote Udin shortly before he died. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL investigates.

To Jakarta, he is an enigma. To the Madurese, he holds out hope for a better society. GERRY VAN KLINKEN goes to the grass-roots.

The riot that engulfed Jakarta on 27 July 1996 started after army-backed gangsters invaded Megawati's PDI headquarters. JESSE RANDALL traces the strange relationship between government and criminality.

When this teacher tries to explain the electoral system, he ends up in knots. SUGENG PERMANA listens in.

Abri officers are becoming more Islamic, but many do not want their Islam to become a political tool for the administration, according to MARCUS MIETZNER.

Senior ABRI intentions may be obscure now, says BOB LOWRY, but no one should assume they will remain that way.

DAMIEN KINGSBURY puts his money on five military winners in the presidential stakes. Indonesians call them the five Pendawa.

It's lonely in the Forestry Minister's office, says GERRY VAN KLINKEN.

Facing a sceptical public, Abri has to talk harder to justify its political role. JUN HONNA listens in.

HERTJE SURIPATTY tells how developers used soldiers and thugs to try to force her out.

VEDI HADIZ sent this eyewitness account from South Sulawesi.

PETER CRONAU and MATTHEW BROWN find that Cold War methods live on in Indonesian consulates around Australia.