Mathias Hariyadi

Half of the US$ 1.14 billion deal will be paid with a barter scheme. In recent years, Indonesia has turned to Russia to upgrade its air force, turning down the offer of US F-16s. Since 2013, the Kremlin has supplied the Indonesian Air Force with five Su-27 and eleven Su-30 aircraft.

Four of them are ethnic Dayak, a mostly Christian ethnic group on Borneo. The Order of Capuchins welcomed eight confreres. The Sacred Heart of Jesus has five new priests. Catholics are a small minority in Riau province, and for them even a diaconal ordination becomes a historic moment.

He is accused of proselytism. Wrath of the radicals sparked by his charity work, he was forced to read and sign an admission of guilt. Authorities rule that the allegations made by the fundamentalists are groundless.

Fr Karl-Edmund Prier, a German-born Jesuit, suffered injuries to his back, head and hands. Catholics are urged not to spread panic and tensions via social media. For experts, extremist groups are preparing for upcoming elections by causing ethnic and religious polarisation.

Extremists’ use of religion and ethnicity has pushed Indonesians into opposing camps. Voters will elect local governments on 27 June this year, and choose a new president and parliament on 17 April 2019.

Some 72 people have died, mostly children. About 650 children have contracted measles and at least 223 suffer from malnutrition. For Agats’s bishop, the goal is to develop a medium-term plan to provide good food to natives.

Parish provides basic necessities and free medical check-ups to people in need. The extremists have been trying to prevent this initiative in areas where most residents are Muslim. Ominous protest rallies and blockades are held in Banguntapan and Jaranan. For a Catholic lawyer, this is “public persecution".

More than 80 children have died with another 800 affected by malnutrition-related illnesses. The diocese has provided humanitarian relief to the most affected districts. The peculiar characteristics of the remote territory make the work of volunteers difficult and dangerous.

Seventeen seminarians underwent the diaconate ceremony in Yogyakarta. The diocese of Purwokerto (Central Java) celebrated two priestly and two diaconal ordinations. In Sintang (West Kalimantan province), a local diocesan priest was ordained.

The diocese of Agats sends two teams to assist and distribute basic necessities in the affected villages. The peculiar characteristics of the remote territory make it difficult and dangerous to reach the most isolated settlements. In Jakarta, some Catholic humanitarian organizations and groups have set up a fundraising program. The Indonesian government deploys military paramedics. Critics of the government, accused of neglecting the remote eastern province.

Sister Bernadette Saragih helps young women acquire an education and qualifications. The latest initiative of St Angela orphanage is a theatrical piece in Jakarta, a project made possible by the contribution and participation of numerous Catholics.

The animal is high on the endangered species list due to habitat loss and poaching. One tiger grabbed a woman trying to escape up a tree.