Mathias Hariyadi

Last week local workers demanded greater workplace safety, but did not receive the support of foreign colleagues, sparking clashes. Gunbuster Nickel Industri is owned by a Chinese tycoon who pledged big investments in Indonesia. Experts and residents fear more violence.

Indonesia’s president cites 11 violent events that occurred between 1965 and 2003, including a crackdown against pro-democracy movements and the country’s Chinese community. Widodo’s acknowledgement follows a report by a special commission. Activists believe that if the government is sincere it should order further measures.

The Indonesian president makes his first, unannounced visit to the Cathedral of Bogor, which is a few hundred metres from the residence where he spends the weekend. “Together let us foster tolerant relations," he told the faithful present at the first Christmas service. In Banten province, a group of moderate Muslims brings flowers to the faithful of a church under construction for 32 years.

Indonesia’s Religious Affairs minister bans tents traditionally set up to temporarily accommodate extra worshippers. Officially, this is being done to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, but for many observers, the real reason is fear of terror attacks, like the one of 7 December, seen as a trial run ahead of the holidays.

The perpetrators are currently unknown, but local residents believe it was fundamentalist Muslim groups that erected the barricade. The building permit had been obtained in 2004, but with the change of administration the commitments made were ignored.

Initiative supported by professionals. All funds will go to the diocese of Agats, in a remote area of Indonesia where the indigenous Papuan population lives. So far, development aid has enabled the training of 36 teachers in Java.

The new code, which will come into force in three years, bans sexual relations outside marriage. Residents fear that foreign visitors will stop coming to tourist resorts like Bali. Human rights advocates see it as oppressive against certain social groups, including journalists and religious minorities.

The perpetrator, Agus Sujatno, was a member of the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) terrorist organisation. Police find messages against the recently adopted Indonesian criminal code approved.

The Soeurs de Notre Dame celebrated the first 50 years of their orphanage in Central Java province. “We are here and serve the most unfortunate children thanks to the generosity of so many people in this city,” says the Superior for Indonesia. God gave the nuns “the passion to love these unfortunate children and the patience to always listen to them."

The perpetrators have already been identified and questioned by the police after they removed the banner of the Reformed Methodist Church from tents for displaced people. Local authorities expressed concern, but also stated that displaying the church logo was unwise.

So far, 268 people have died, more than 150 are missing, and more than a thousand are injured. Some 56,362 people have been displaced. Rescue operations continue with temporary shelters, soup kitchens and field hospitals set up. Prominent Catholics stress the need to rebuild with earthquake-proof technology.

Some schools collapsed, trapping students in the rubble. The Franciscan Sisters' school also suffered serious damage. Thousands of people continue to be transported to the local hospital, which had to set up an external relief area due to the power outages.