Mathias Hariyadi

The Indonesian president visits the regions affected by fires with police and army chiefs. He announces an iron fist policy and deploys a task force to address the emergency. Seven local companies and 140 people are involved. The first business licences are revoked.

The Association of Southeast and East Asian Catholic Colleges and Universities was founded 23 years ago. For Muslim student, “differences never prevented us from being great friends."

Organised as part the Year of Consecrated Life, a four-day gathering brought together 168 priests from seven dioceses to follow the path laid by the first foreign priests who evangelised Java almost a century ago. “The Church must support the consecrated in order to help them in their parish work,” one of the participants said.

Four days of events are taking place in the church of Sendangsono, where the evangelization of Indonesia began in the 19th century. More than a hundred priests and bishops celebrated Mass and welcomed the Jesuit Father. Martin Sanjoyo as the first "diocesan hermit" of Semarang.

Protesters demand fewer foreign workers and a 22 per cent wage hike in 2016. “People just want to work and bring money home,” source tells AsiaNews. Many see strikes as detrimental to workers. Government sources indicate “only” 30,000 jobs lost as a result of China’s crisis.

Fr. Martin Harun, of Dutch origin, wanted to translate the document "to express gratitude to God" and "respect" for the Pope. The text, welcomed "with enthusiasm" by the faithful, is available on the Indonesian Bishops' Conference website. As a basic text he used the French, comparing it to the Italian and German version.

The Archdiocese of Semarang organised an event that brought together leaders of all denominations to boost relations of friendship. Each community prepared dances and songs. The region, which has a Muslim majority, has always been an example of tolerance.

Born in Banyuwangi, East Java, the man in the middle of the controversy was given the name Tuhan at birth. The latter means god in the local language. For religious extremists, he should pick an ordinary name or lose his basic rights. Any changes to his name is the purview of civil authorities.

The archbishop of Manila met with Representatives of the Bishops Conference in Jakarta for seminar on Pope Francis’ encyclical. The Cardinal urged the Catholic community of the archipelago to offer the contents of the text to all: "We have a moral obligation to future generations. Earth must be a gift for everyone, not just for the financial lobbies."

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of independence, the Bishops' Conference launches a warning about the current political situation. Many of the programs promised during the election campaign are unfinished and the political class lacks proper moral values. There are still open wounds: unemployment, underdevelopment, corruption and nepotism.

The Minister for Education has threatened to suspend the courses organized by the senior students to welcome the new. Growing physical violence and evidence that endanger the health of children. Positive example the Jesuit schools: in 30 years not even one accident.

Dutch Fr. Peter Joseph Zoetmulder, and German Fr. Franz Magnis-Suseno receive nations second highest civilian prize the Mahaputera award. Fr. Zoetmulder taught and preserved Javanese culture. Fr. Magnis-Suseno is a careful observer of Indonesian society and received the recognition "although I have often criticized the state."