Kaboel Karso was busy at the Javanese Diaspora Conference held in Yogyakarta on August 15-16. He was one of the panelists who shared their stories of living abroad, while trying to preserve their Javanese cultural roots. "There were people from 14 countries yet there was a strong sense of common identity among them," said Kaboel, who saw the gathering not just as a forum to exchange ideas but as a deep reservoir of rukun, or brotherhood to be harnessed.

That's the sound guns make. Bangbang! Or boom! But not Indonesian guns. They go duar! Or dorr!

THE cause of the crash of Trigana Air IL-257 plane two weeks ago remains a mystery. "Many factors, including human error and airport geographic conditions (could have been responsible)," said AirNav Indonesia Operations Director Wisnu Darjono on Wednesday last week.

Tommy Goh, 56, was on his way to the Ratchaprasong intersection in Pathum Wan District, Bangkok, on Monday afternoon last week. The Thai-Malaysian waited for his taxi and expected to arrive at the busy tourist area by 7pm. Fortunately for him, the taxi never arrived. "So we went somewhere else," he said as quoted by Bangkok Post.

Kampung Code, a settlement beneath Gondolayu Bridge in Yogyakarta, sits like a labyrinth upon the riverbanks, with hundreds of steep steps encircling the rows of homes in a kind of concrete web. Despite the density, Ariyanto has a full view of the Code River from his seven-meter-high terrace, which he enjoys while sipping a mug of hot tea each morning.

The uninhabitable structure is believed to be the former home of Eduard Douwes Dekker, or Multatuli, the author of Max Havelaar. The novel, released in 1860, sent shockwaves throughout Europe and influenced Dutch East Indies government thinking, which eventually gave rise to the Ethical Policy, a recompense to the people of the Nusantara archipelago.

The fate of the State Gas Company (PGN) in the Fasken Shale Gas field in the United States, is in serious danger of losing its investment there. The condition of its American partner, Swift Energy Co. also continues to decline. Without a quick and proper bail out, state funds invested by a PGN subsidiary, Saka Energi Indonesia, could vanish into thin air.

ON December 9, 308 regions and cities will conduct regional head elections. It will be the first time direct local elections are held simultaneously.

Letter from the Publisher

Dear Readers,

Prominent volunteers who supported Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla during the presidential election last year gathered for a special meeting in Casablanca, South Jakarta, on Thursday two weeks ago. The meeting took place a day after the President had sworn-in five cabinet ministers and a new Cabinet Secretary.

A seven-year-old boy named Leonot his real namesurprised his parents last July with an admonishment: "Papa and Mama, you must have forgotten, I've been attacked by a zombie in the toilet!" Putri, Leo's mother, had let him go to the bathroom by himself.

MONETARY
Foreign Exchange Purchases limited

Rizal Ramli shared his concerns with President Joko Widodo in a meeting in mid- July. Rizal had been summoned to discuss the rupiah's plunging value against the US dollar. As the meeting was wrapping up, Rizal began fulminating about Garuda Indonesia's plan to purchase 30 A350 Airbus aircraft.

Dinner at the official residence of Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Tuesday night last week was special. That evening, the host had invited his special staff and some close associates to discuss an important matter. Among those present were Coordinator of the Vice President's Special Staff Alwi Hamu, special staff member Rian Andi Soemarno and spokesman Husain Abdullah.

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.