An October 16 ruling by the Constitutional Court could reshape the upcoming presidential contest, and even the future trajectory of Indonesian democracy.
Russian and Ukrainian envoys to Indonesia are courting the country’s largest moderate Islamic group Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), in acknowledgement of its political influence on leaders of Southeast Asia’s largest economy. Last week, Ukraine’s envoy met with the recently elected NU leader Yahya Staquf. The next day, the Russian envoy showed up at NU’s headquarters in Jakarta. After the meeting, Staquf.
July 12, 2021
A handout photo. Indonesian student Christopher Reinhart touches a Buddhist stupa at the Borobudur temple in Central Java.
Christopher Reinhart
Indonesia , the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, is seeking to preserve and promote the mystical 9th-century Buddhist Borobudur temple in Central Java amid growing intolerance, raising hopes it could escape the fate of Afghanistan’s Bamiyan Buddha statues.
Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said Borobudur occupied a significant place of respect for Buddhists and officials were studying how to promote ceremonies “which can be attended by Buddhists all over the world”, as part of plans to strengthen moderation in the country.