Krithika Varagur

Indonesian House Quietly Passes Law to Quash Criticism of Politicians

Critics say new law will hamper criticism of and decrease accountability for politicians

Indonesia’s Sectarian Tensions Likely to Worsen in Election Season

There were two other knife attacks in the cities of Medan and Samarinda in 2016

Activists Protest Criminal Code Revisions in Jakarta

Amendments could outlaw gay and extramarital sex

Papua Health Crisis Prompts International Scrutiny, Internal Review

Measles and malnutrition strikes Indonesia's Papua Province

Revised Indonesia Criminal Code May Outlaw Gay, Extramarital Sex

The country’s Parliament seems poised to pass a sweeping set of revisions to the nation’s Criminal Code that would criminalize extramarital and gay sex, and “defamation” of the president.

US Explores Ties With Controversial Indonesian Army Unit

Human rights supporters are concerned by potential relationship between US military and Indonesian special forces unit that has been linked to human rights abuses in East Timor, Aceh, and Papua

Prototype for Sustainable Housing Enhances Jakarta's Infamous Ciliwung River

Kamil Muhammad, a 32-year-old architect, designed a model home in Kampung Tongkol that has been housing seven families for two years

Museum Fire, Stock Exchange Collapse Rattle Jakarta Residents

Disasters may point to more widespread architectural woes in the Indonesian capital, a city that has exploded from about 150,000 residents to more than 10 million in the last century

Indonesia Cultivates More Outward-Facing Foreign Policy

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi recently announced the creation of 'Indonesia Aid,' a 'single agency will strengthen Indonesia's diplomacy including humanitarian diplomacy'

Indonesia Moves Forward on Plans to Relocate Capital

Indonesia Fuses Myth and Science for Volcano Disaster Management

Mount Merapi, in Central Java, is one of the most important - and active - volcanoes in the country

Christmas Largely Peaceful in Muslim-majority Indonesia

The only major Christmas-related protest took place in Aceh, an ultraconservative province in Western Indonesia

Hard-line Islamist Group in Indonesia to Boycott Facebook

The Islamic Defenders Front says Facebook has blocked several FPI accounts on its platform, but allows pro-LGBT and anti-Sharia pages to stay up

Gay Crackdown Continues in Indonesia Despite Court Ruling

LGBT activists welcome the ruling, but are still concerned about discrimination

Jakarta Flooding Threatens Public Transport, Poor Residents

New Indonesian Armed Forces Chief Seen as Ally of President

Air Force chief Hadi Tjahjanto has replaced the retiring General Gatot Nurmantyo, an outspoken figure who is thought to have political ambitions of his own

Indonesia Slams American Jerusalem Plan

President and foreign minister both condemn the U.S. decision to move its embassy

Report: Ongoing Labor Abuse Found in Pepsi’s Indonesian Palm Oil Plantations

NGO says it has documented a variety of labor abuses, including lower-than-minimum wages, child labor, exposure to pesticides, and union busting

Volcano Threatens Bali's Tourism Industry

When Mount Agung last erupted in 1963, it killed about 1,100 people, but this year thousands of villagers have already been evacuated

Indonesian Golkar Party Faces Tense Times

Following the arrest of the party leader and house speaker, party of Suharto will face a challenge to rebuild and stay relevant