Writer
Duncan Graham
Duncan Graham has been a journalist for more than 40 years in print, radio and TV. He is the author of People Next Door (UWA Press) and winner of the Walkley Award and Human Rights awards. He is now writing for the English language media in Indonesia from within Indonesia.
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Indonesia trade pitch plays down the perils awaiting outside investors
Chief among the many pitfalls of engaging with Australia’s giant neighbour is Indonesia’s legal system, which is rife with corruption and rigged against foreigners. Continue reading »
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Paul Keating’s Indonesian vision has been undone by his successors
Paul Keating’s successors failed to build on the promise and possibilities offered by the 1995 security pact with Jakarta — and the chance won’t come again. Continue reading »
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Mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic the Javanese way
On the surface, it looks like Indonesia has the pandemic under control — a summery success story for the world’s fourth-most populous country. In truth, there’s a more wintery tale to tell. Continue reading »
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AUKUS: How to make friends and influence neighbours the Australian way
First, a couple of ministers pop in on their way elsewhere. They pronounce warm relationships. A swap of bromides, nice photos, some pressies of vaccines to save lives and military gear to end them. Then hey ho, it’s off to the big show. Continue reading »
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In Indonesia: Pray, don’t spray, papa’s hurt
Indonesian President Joko Widodo hasn’t gone so far as to ban outlets that publish unflattering portrayals — yet. Watch this space. Continue reading »
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Our two ministers just passing by in Indonesia – got a mo?
Marise Payne and Peter Dutton’s Jakarta visit was flagged as an ‘exclusive’ in an AFR curtain-raiser implying a renaissance in relations between Australia and Indonesia. That expectation came to naught. Continue reading »
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The fastest gaffes in the West
Australians who reckon we’re recognised as an independent player on the world stage haven’t had to confront the neighbours’ scepticism. Apart from the Union Jack on the flag and the Queen’s likeness on our coinage, there’s also the matter of our US badge. Continue reading »
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How the plague squashes patriotism
It was weird, like the day after in a disaster movie. Empty chairs on a red carpet and mike stands sans mikes. Not a VIP within coo-ee, though their black limos were parked outside the Malang town hall. This was Indonesia’s national day, 17 August and no one was partying. Continue reading »
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Happy Anniversary, Indonesia. Must catch up sometime . We don’t seem to care!
G’day Cobbers, hear it’s your Big Bash next Tuesday. Have a good one, yeah? Sorry, can’t make it, lockdowns and all that, know you’ll understand. Anyway, here’s a few cards. Continue reading »
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It’s still three years away, but the candidates are already lining up to be the next President of Indonesia
The epicentre of the pandemic is now next door. When – and if – Covid is crushed or controlled, Indonesia will need a president with prodigious leadership qualities and technical smarts to restore hope and get the economy out of ICU. Vainglorious candidates will fail the tasks – but may still win the job. Continue reading »
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Allah is calling; loudly in Indonesia.
The new word on the block is Isoman, a portmanteau of isolasi and mandiri, meaning self-isolation. It’s another place to die in Indonesia along with hospitals. Continue reading »
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Fear God, not the pandemic in Indonesia.
July 20 will be a big day in Indonesia. It marks the end of more than two weeks of lockdown, and it’s Bloody Tuesday – Idul Adha, the feast of the sacrifice. This year participants may become victims. Continue reading »
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Lockdown’s compulsory in Indonesia – if you like
Luhut Binsar Panjaitan doesn’t read Pearls & Irritations. That’s obvious because the former general and Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s Mr Fixit alleged he was blindsided by the latest tsunami of Covid 19. Continue reading »
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Garuda-The spirit of Indonesia takes a dive
The financial deck warning lights had been flashing furiously when Indonesia’s Garuda airline welshed on its AUD 660 million sukuk repayments this month after a 14-day grace. Continue reading »
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Facing a taxing time in Indonesia
There are no EFTPOS machines on the benches of Indonesia’s traditional markets. All deals are cash, rupiah notes grubby from the soiled roots of shallots pulled hours earlier. Continue reading »
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Lampooners beware – politicians’ dignity is precious
A cutting cartoon by Cathy Wilcox in The Age this month had a figure looking like Scott Morrison in the first frame saying: ‘And Jenny said to me, you have to think of this as a father first.’ In the second the PM adds: ‘And I thought: Don’t be ridiculous. These girls don’t look anything Continue reading »
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Indonesia’s anti corruption commission goes missing in action.
If you needed a blood transfusion, would you accept a donor from a different religion? Do you believe in polygamy? Would you take part in a threesome? Continue reading »
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Never mind the width, feel the quality
They’re standouts in any language, often tall, blond, and looking as though they’ve just been hit by a runaway road train top-heavy with cultural and communication overburden. Continue reading »
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Will India’s Covid wave hit Indonesia? Stand by and stand back
The next fortnight should show whether the nation with the world’s fourth-largest population will tumble into the plague pit where the second place holder currently writhes. Continue reading »
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Human rights abuses on our doorstep but we say nothing.
We know this order will lead to more killing, more torture, more suffering of my people. The Speaker of the Indonesian House [of Representatives], Bambang Soesatyo, has urged the Government to “destroy them first. We will discuss human rights matters later”. Continue reading »
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Ramadan in Indonesia
It’s Ramadan, the annual fasting month followed strictly, laxly or somewhere in-between by the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims. Living among the famished practising their traditions in Indonesia where 88 per cent of the 273 million citizens say they follow Islam can be physically challenging, intellectually confusing and socially engrossing. Continue reading »
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Chinese propaganda has come to Indonesia, big time.
Before you book a flight to Aotearoa in the travel bubble, think again. There are other places with knockout scenery, higher mountains, clear lakes and splendid grasslands. The roads are straight and free of cluttering campervans. Better still, the sunny locals are keen to share their exotic cuisine and rich culture of singing, dancing, equestrian Continue reading »
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Easter in Indonesia: a time to be wary
Easter is different in Islam-dominated Indonesia. High on the facade of the Catholic cathedral and other churches in Malang, East Java stand statues of a welcoming Jesus. Beneath his outstretched arms parishioners got the extra protection of six-wheeled armoured personnel carriers, soldiers and police ready to intimidate potential bombers. Continue reading »
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The jilbab: human rights in Indonesia
An Indonesian woman appears before God who will pass judgement. The almighty checks the freshly-deceased’s CV, noting she prayed regularly at the mosque, recited the Koran and lived an upright life. However, she didn’t always wear a jilbab. For the sin of letting strangers see her glossy black locks, she’ll be condemned to the everlasting Continue reading »
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How not to win friends and influence people
“No country is more important to Australia than Indonesia. If we fail to get this relationship right, and nurture and develop it, the whole web of our foreign relations is incomplete.” Paul Keating – 1994 Continue reading »
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The long Chinese march into Indonesia with vaccines
Chinese officials in Australia rarely miss an opportunity to chill relations by turning down the thermostat on our democratic values and way of seeing the world. Meanwhile, the Middle Kingdom’s men in Jakarta are playing a long and warming game.So far about four million have had their first vaccine shot and around 1.5 million needle Continue reading »
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Australia could take a leaf from Indonesia’s personalised approach to aged care
Our street in Indonesia has 70 households. Many are mixed-generation families. With few nursing homes or retirement villages, and those being far away, families have two options: The kids do the caring or employ a carer. Either way, Grandpa or Grandma stays home. Continue reading »
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Thin-skinned Widodo in Indonesia: Messengers beware
The first who told of Lucullus’ coming so angered Tigranes that he had the messenger’s head, effectively ensuring no one brought bad news. Deprived of fresh intelligence Tigranes watched while war raged, listening only to flatterers. Continue reading »
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Indonesia still waiting for legislation to penalise sexual violence
Five years ago a Bill was put before Indonesia’s lower house (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat) to penalise sexual violence. Activists stressed the need for urgency as the scourge was increasing. They’re still waiting. Continue reading »
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Murdoch & Morrison v. The ABC – GetUp fails a commendable mission
GetUp has added public broadcasting to environmental justice, human rights and other worthy issues. Through the just-released video, Murdoch & Morrison v. The ABC, it’s trying to arouse anger against the impact of News Corp’s never-ending siege of the national broadcaster Continue reading »
