Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Chairman Said Aqil Siroj was one of the first people President Joko Widodo reached out to following the November 4 mass demonstration. The President conveyed his gratitude to the chairman of the country's largest Islamic mass organization, for his calming statements during the protests against Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, for his allegedly blasphemous statements. In fact, just before the protests, the NU had indeed urged all of its memberstotaling more than 40 million peopleto help placate the tension by not being provoked.

Still fresh in our memories was how awkward some people appeared to be watching the performance by Darlene Litaay and Tian Rotteveel of the Netherlands last November 3. The sound still echoes the frenetic, ultra-urban music that accompanied a bizarre figure: a werewolf with a Western body wearing a penis gourd.

THE reaction to this week's Tempo.co poll was almost as sharp as the November 4 demonstration. The issue was the same: Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) mentioned the Qur'anic verse Al-Maidah 51 on choosing a leader.There were 18,535 respondents who answered the question, "Are you offended by Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama's comment relating to the verse Al-Maidah 51? The result: 66.3 percent said "Yes, we're offended."

'Your Mouth Is Your Tiger'

TO lead a peaceful and calm life, the proverb 'Look during the day, listen during the night' applies to everyone, especially for a public servant, since every word and move he/she makes draws public attention. Whatever a public servant does, like celebrities, will become news. That is why he/she is called a newsmaker. Thus, the proverb 'your mouth is your tiger' applies to him/her, too.

We in this country live with politics that is frantic but trivial. There are no fundamental things contestedthings fundamental because they stir the hearts, minds and lives of virtually everyone.

SAIDAH could not be happier. A short video that she shot with a camera borrowed from a neighbor has brought her to Jakarta in October. She had never traveled by plane before, let alone visited the capital city.

Interpol Discuss Transnational Crimes at Bali Assembly

IKE Farida's cell phone registered many expressions of congratulations throughout Thursday two weeks ago. That day, she won a judicial review on the Marriage Law that she had forwarded to the Constitutional Court. "Some people even asked me to speak at their seminars," she said last week.

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.