BEHIND the massive stage of the 'Two-Finger Salute Concert at Bung Karno Stadium' in Jakarta on July 5 last week, Abdee Negara appeared very busy, giving instructions to the performers-both singers and orators-in the public event to support Joko Widodo's bid for the presidency. Abdee was, after all, the leader of the artists and musicians who had gathered at the giant arena.

All the local people want to have white skin. If they could become white-skinned people by cutting off their little fingers, certainly the entire Indies would be full of people without little fingers

The peace talks between Israel and Palestine became uncertain when violence escalated with the deaths of three Israelis and a Palestinian last week. Palestine's ambassador to Indonesia, Fariz Mehdawi, said his people were still waiting for a peace negotiation, and a two-state solution would have Israel and Palestine coexist peacefully as free countries. However, Mehdawi reminded that if the atrocities continued to occur, Palestinians would retaliate and the situation would spiral even further out of control. Tempo journalists Natalia Santi, Rosalina and Atmi Pertiwi interviewed Meh-dawi in his office in Jakarta on Monday last week.

As the corporate head of a province-owned company supplying drinking water to Jakarta's millions of people, Sriwidayanto is in a big mess. He is constantly on the receiving end of public criticism over the poor quality of the service and the high cost of the water.

A day before the July 9 presidential election, a plenary session was held at the House of Representatives (DPR) in Senayan. The session commenced at 7:30pm local time and was attended by 467 lawmakers. Its convening was generally unknown to the public, with many people preoccupied with the excitement of the contest between the two presidential candidates, Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto.

The Indonesian government must take immediate concrete steps to halt the killing of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The government's commitment to support Palestine's goal to gain independence, requires real evidence as the world sits back and watches the unbalanced battle between the Hamas militias-the faction that has controlled Gaza since 2007-and the Israeli army.

DURING the presidential campaign, the public seemed torn apart. One side was for Joko Wododo-Jusuf Kalla, the other for Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa. A tug-of-war in both real and virtual worlds was unavoidable.

Comfort and Security in Commuting

Anggoro appeared emotionally defeated as the Corruption Court judges read out his verdict: five years behind bars and a Rp250 million fine. "I accept it," Anggoro said softly when the presiding judge, Nani Indrawati, asked the director-cum-owner of Masaro Radiokom if he had a response on Wednesday afternoon two weeks ago.

MINING
Freeport accepts Renegotiated Contract

DECLARED the winner of the presidential election by a number of reputable polling organizations, Joko Widodo claims to have been sure from the start that he would make it. But to ensure that nothing happens to the ballots when they are transported from the polling stations to the office of the General Elections Commission (KPU), the Jakarta governor said he has witnesses posted at all levels of the vote recapitulation process.

This year, Indonesia and India mark 75 years of diplomatic relations. However, the ties between the two nations have existed much longer, predating the establishment of the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of India. These connections span social, cultural, religious, economic, and trade aspects. But do those close ties of the past have any bearing on the present relationship? Why is there no direct flight between the capitals of the two countries?

Indian Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Sandeep Chakravorty, shares his views on this matter at TEMPO TALKS.