And a warm welcome back to .....

Regular readers will have noted that recently this blogger hasn't been consistently highlighting major issues of concern to democrats and pluralists here in Indonesia, although I feel no need to offer apologies for the posts about Charlton Athletic.

I've been in need of inspiration in these frustrating times.

There are major concerns beyond the need to survive the day. Apart from Aceh, Papua, the drop in the value of the rupiah and the rise in oil prices, there have been major schisms in communal life.

This past month, Muslim fundamentalists, the Islamic Defenders? Front (FPI), have been attacking Christian 'house churches' in Bandung and forcing their closure. Before that, they attacked and forced the closure of a complex in Bogor of a minor Islamic sect, Ahmadiyah, accusing it of heresy.

I had high hopes that Indcoup, a friend and former colleague, with an eye on Islamic fundamentalists elsewhere would have commented on the antics of FPI, but he hasn't yet achieved a focus on life in the Big Durian. I've waited in vain.

But now comes the welcome news of the re-emergence of Laksamana.net. I developed many of my posts around their in-depth articles until the site went into hibernation.

It has re-emerged as Paras Indonesia - Where Democratic Minds Meet with more columnists which will, presumably and hopefully, allow for more independent voices to be heard. What is of particular interest is that the site is interactive, having adopted a blog format with a commenting feature.

Articles already commented on include:
Tommy's Special Treatment A Sick Joke
Reasonable Doubt, Public Relations & Immunity
My Neurotic Fears About Indonesia's Future

And a recent news article, off the blog, focuses on the news that Gus Dur, the president before last, has warned that Banser, the security task force of the nation?s largest Muslim group Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), would be mobilized against FPI if the government fails to stop the radical group from attacking churches.

Welcome back guys. It was getting a bit lonely out here.
 

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¶ 6:30 pm