On Tuesday, Indonesia announced that ten of its citizens, sailors working aboard a coal barge, had been kidnapped, with a ransom demand made by the Islamist militant group Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines. Wednesday brought reports that elite Indonesian counter-terrorist units are standing by to assist in a possible rescue operation.
Incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama has asked the government to fire Ambassador to Japan Yusron Ihza Mahendra for a tweet in which the latter allegedly incited violence against ethnic Chinese people in Indonesia.
Following the arrest of the crew of a Chinese ship allegedly fishing illegally in its waters, the government of Indonesia is facing regional criticism for shooting at two Taiwanese ships that it also alleges had trespassed into Indonesian territory. The recent incidents are helping to raise Indonesia’s profile as a formidable player in growing tensions in the South China Sea.
Contents: China’s coast guard warship rams vessel in Indonesian waters; US and Philippines agree on access to five military bases
China is accusing a group of Philippine fishermen of attacking Chinese Coast Guard ships with fire bombs after the Chinese ships chased them out of disputed waters in the South China Sea, waters the Philippines considers its sovereign territory.
After a dramatic incident at sea that resulted in the arrest of a Chinese fishing crew trespassing in the waters of Indonesia, China protested Indonesia had no right to intervene on what has long been a “traditional Chinese fishing ground.”
On Tuesday, Indonesian security forces performing a sweep of the remote Poso forests, in search of militants linked to the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL), killed two Chinese Uighurs in a shootout. The Uighurs were said to be working for the terrorist kingpin Abu Wardah Santoso, who has been described as the most-wanted man in Indonesia.
Indonesian authorities in Yogyakarta have shut down the Islamic Al Fatah School for transgender students after complaints from residents. “We decided to close down the transgender Islamic school considering security, order and public comfort issues,” explained Banguntapan chief Jati Bayu
Pakistani Minister for the Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has ordered a ban on Valentine’s Day for the capital city of Islamabad, promising “strict action” against anyone caught engaged in outward celebration of the festivity.
The Indonesian city of Banda Aceh has banned celebrations of Valentine’s Day this weekend, arguing the holiday violates Islamic law.
The Zika virus has a long history in India, so there is much concern about the current outbreak, even though the region primarily affected is in South America, and Asia has not been affected much yet.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak declared the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) poses a “very real” threat to the Asian country after the group threatened the nation as a backlash to numerous arrests.
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Afif was an inmate in a high-security Indonesian jail when he transformed from aspiring radical Islamist to soldier for Islamic State, ready to sacrifice his life for a group based thousands of miles away in the Middle East.
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia must strengthen its defences against Islamic State and work with neighbouring countries to fight it, Jakarta’s police chief said on Friday, a day after an attack by suicide bombers and gunmen in the heart of the Southeast Asian nation’s capital.
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian police arrested three suspected militants in a pre-dawn raid and hunted down others across the country on Friday, a day after an attack by Islamic State suicide bombers and gunmen in the heart of the Southeast
Militants of the Islamic State terror group carried out multiple coordinated attacks involving suicide bombers and gunmen in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on Thursday morning, killing at least 17. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the terror attacks, which involved
Suicide attackers struck the Indonesian capital Thursday, with a series of explosions and gunfire that tore through a Starbucks cafe and shook an embassy district in the Muslim-majority nation. At least seven people were known to have died — including
Radical Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir was convicted in 2011 of running a terror camp in the Aceh province of Indonesia. On Tuesday, he appealed his 15-year prison sentence without actually denying that he broke the law. Instead, he argued that his actions were justified because he was obeying Allah’s orders.
The Indonesia Film Censorship Board (LSF) has held an emergency meeting regarding Netflix’s recent global expansion and may ban the service from the country entirely.
Islamic sharia law was enforced with canes once again in Indonesia this week, including the cane beatings of a man and woman whose “crime” was being alone together in a guest room.
Soon after Australia’s Attorney General expressed concerns about the Islamic State forming a “distant caliphate” in Indonesia — the world’s most heavily populated Muslim-majority country — it was reported that a group of terrorism suspects arrested over the weekend may have received funding from ISIS in Syria.
AFP relates a warning from Attorney-General George Brandis of Australia that the Islamic State has “ambitions to elevate its presence and level of activity in Indonesia, either directly or through surrogates.”
Regional neighbour Indonesia has criticised former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott over his call for Islam to reform, saying he is “unhelpful” and “divisive”. Indonesia’s ambassador, Nadjib Riphat Kesoema, delivered his response to Mr Abbott’s critique by adding that violent extremism
As the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague prepares to hear the territorial dispute among nations framing the South China Sea – and the Chinese government vows to ignore any verdict – experts suggest a ruling against China could significantly hamper China’s construction of illegal artificial islands and military facilities there.
Contents: China blocks Miss World Canada from attending Miss World pageant; ASEAN leaders harshly criticize China over South China Sea actions; Occupied Crimea declares state of emergency after electricity is cut
After announcing that the U.S. presence in the South China Sea would become “routine” as a challenge to Chinese territorial claims this month, the Pentagon announced Thursday it had flown two strategic bombers in the region, which were contacted by Chinese authorities but flew through without incident.
Indonesia’s defense chief told reporters Wednesday that it, too, may take China to court over its outrageous territorial claims in the South China Sea, following the Philippines’ request for the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague to address the matter. The Hague has accepted the petition.
Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country, plans to join 11 other countries under the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal.
The government of Indonesia will being to introduce the practice of “chemical castration” into their criminal justice system as a way to keep convicted pedophiles from repeat crimes and as a deterrence to potential criminals. Chemical castration involved the use of hormones to subdue and eliminate the libido of a sex offender.
The Islamic authorities of Singkil in the Aceh province of Indonesia began the demolition of ten Christian churches deemed illegal under Sharia law because of a lack of the proper “building permits.”
Justin Bieber’s new album, Purpose, has yet to be released, but is already getting banned by a number of predominately Muslim countries, as its cover photo has been deemed provocative for referencing Jesus.
Contents: Russia dramatically escalates Syria war launching cruise missiles from Caspian Sea; Russian Orthodox Church declares a ‘Holy War’ in Syria; Russia’s ‘Holy War’ in Syria declaration sparks calls for jihad; IMF warns of significant danger of global financial crash
Two British journalists have gone on trial in Indonesia for allegedly trying to make a documentary about piracy without the correct visas, and could face up to five years in jail, an official said Tuesday. Neil Bonner, 32, and Rebecca
Misfortune struck in Mecca during the annual Islamic pilgrimage again on Thursday, but this time there were no fatalities reported, and only two injuries. A hotel in the Saudi city caught fire, requiring the evacuation of over 1,000 people.
Halal certification fees paid by Australian food manufacturers could be channelled overseas to help pay for mosques and other Islamic developments to be built in Indonesia. An investigation by the state-owned Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has found discrepancies into how
An Indonesian airliner carrying 54 people went missing Sunday after losing contact with ground control during a short flight in bad weather in the country’s mountainous easternmost province of Papua, officials said.
Two commercial airline pilots have fallen under the influence of IS after being radicalised online, Australian anti-terror police warn. The men, both Malaysian, are named in a leaked report as Tommy Abu Alfatih and Ridwan Agustin. The Times reports that
The orang-utan population of Indonesia is being driven to the brink of extinction thanks to the massive deforestation underway to satisfy the rapidly growing demand for palm oil as a biofuel. Some scientists estimate that as many as 95 percent of the
Islamic nations worldwide are cracking down on the consumption of alcohol, even for non-Muslims who don’t observe Ramadan, as the annual fast to mark the supposed revelation of the Koran to Mohammad begins. Although a world apart and thousands of miles
Contents: Australia accused of paying people smugglers to take migrants to Indonesia; Pakistan shuts down ‘Save the Children’ and threatens other NGOs; France’s Dominique Strauss-Kahn acquitted of ‘aggravated pimping’
