Mathias Hariyadi

"Spreading rumours and falsehoods on social media about the rebirth of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) is nonsense, a fantasy," said historian Asvi Marwan Adam of the Indonesian Science Institute (LIPI). The goal is to make Jokowi less popular and crate frictions with religious leaders, especially those of the Nahdlatul Ulama.

Various assemblies of Indonesian religious renewed their commitment to pluralism. Sisters and priests visit various religious and cultural centres. Community initiatives and organisations promote interfaith dialogue.

Anna and Petrus crown their dream of meeting their relatives. Millions of Chinese left Shantou for Southeast Asia in the early 1900s. The Chinese are one of Indonesia’s most important ethnic groups. Under Suharto's regime, Chinese products and traditions were banned.

Buddhists of Chinese origin have been accused of complicity with their coreligionists in Myanmar. Protests break out across the country. The Widodo administration is accused of violating the rights of Rohingya Muslims. The president sends foreign minister to Myanmar and Bangladesh on a humanitarian mission. For the Indonesian ambassador to Myanmar, there is “no genocide".

Manokwari, in the diocese of Manokwari-Sorong, is a predominantly Christian city. The ceremony took place on Monday in the presence of 50 priests, two retired Indonesian bishops, and the provincial superior. Two of the four new clergymen are local; the others come from East Nusa Tenggara province. The previous day, a new church dedicated to Saint Augustine was consecrated.

A dispute between Indonesia and US giant FMCG ends. Under new legislation, at least 51 per cent mining companies in Indonesia must be in Indonesian hands. FMCG had threated to end operations with job losses. Now it can operate its Papua mine until 2041, and build a new smelter.

Indonesia’s president and vice president wear traditional clothes in parliament. With this gesture, Widodo and Kalla put aside the political disagreements that marked their relationship because of the court case involving Jakarta’s former Christian governor, Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama. The country’s “new nationalism" has found momentum in recent official ceremonies.

The basic principles of the nation reiterated in a Catholic national conference. The "Five pillars" must be protected and defended in critical situations, including intolerance and secularism.

Ordinations took place on the same day in remote locations to promote vocations among local youth. Five priests and three deacons were ordained in Belitang (South Sumatera). Mgr John Liku Ada, archbishop of Makassar, consecrated seven diocesan priests in Rantepao (South Sulawesi). In Kabanjahe (North Sumatera), five new diocesan priests and one from the Order of the Holy Cross were consecrated.

The pontiff calls on young Asians to look at the Mother of the Lord, and listen “ever more attentively to God’s call and respond with faith and courage to their vocation.” More than 20,000 Catholics from the island of Java join participants for the AYD’S closing ceremony. The 8th edition is slated for India, in 2020.

Jonathan Cho was a lonely and lazy boy, and now he is very committed to environmental protection initiatives. Sumbal Tariq: "Inspired by the encyclical, I am committed to planting trees and protecting water sources." Bishop Pius Riana Prapdi, bishop of the Ketapang diocese: "The two boys have been able to bring the spirit of the encyclical into their lives and become a good example for others." Fr. Yohanes "Holy" Dwi Harsanto: "Learn courage to spread the values ​​of the Churches' social doctrine and teachings.

Yogyakarta's gathering of youth has a major interfaith dimension. A meeting was held today to discuss ‘Unity in Cultural Diversity’ centred on coexistence. For Islamic leaders, radicalism and terrorism are challenges to be met together. Intolerance and terrorism are not expressions of true values of Asian culture, said Card Patrick D'Rozario of Dhaka. For former Muhammadiyah president Prof Syafi'i Maarif, corruption, social injustice and Arabisation are the causes of sectarianism in Indonesia.