CUMULONIMBUS clouds are a known danger in aviation. "Avoiding cumulonimbus clouds is normal in the airlines world," said Andi Eka Sakya, chief of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

FORMER burial sites and ruined building foundations are scattered along the Ujong Pancu coast in Aceh Besar regency. When the tide rises in the morning, these remains of ancient civilizations are submergedup to 1 kilometer from the beach.

THE website www.jariungu.com was once so inundated by visitors that it crashed, became paralyzed just before the legislative elections last April. People visit the site to get information on the legislators who will be running for office. "The volume of visitors shows that many are still confused," said Teuku Radja Sjahnan, 46, founder of the website.

Forever Curious
Munir was known as a smart student despite his modest and at times, even below-average academic record. But he made up for any shortcomings with his inexhaustible curiosity and a passion to help the downtrodden. Even his choice of life-partner, Suciwati, was someone equally committed to his causes. Until his untimely death, Munir dedicated his life to fighting injustice and intolerance.

BORN to a modest merchant family, each day Munir would assist his elder brother Muhfid to sell cloth, shoes and slippers at the local market, Pasar Batu. He started helping out after his father died when he was still a sixth grader. As such, Munir had to earn extra money to pay his way through school and until he completed his law studies at Brawijaya University.

Munir's primary-school friend, Saiful Amin, recalled how they loved to swim in the Brantas River. He was thin and small in stature, often an object of ridicule, but he always fought back. He made friends easily and was always willing to give a helping hand. "He was a caring person and often showed empathy," Saiful said.

THE party entered the year confident it would emerge from the 2014 elections as the largest party. The incumbent president was retiring and his party faced the prospect of many 'fan club' parties, namely a sharp collapse in electoral support once their leader departs the national stage.

PRESIDENT Joko Widodo met with some of his cabinet ministers at the State Palace at the end of last October. This was not a cabinet meeting. They were hosting a foreign visitor: Sam Pa, a businessman from China accompanied by two functionaries of the National Democrat (NasDem) Party, Enggartiasto Lukita and Rerie L. Moerdijat.