On 22 August 2017, we will be holding a workshop on “Electoral Complaints and Accountability in Indonesia: The Challenge of Resolving Electoral Disputes” in Jakarta, Indonesia. There are multiple institutions that deal with complaints concerning electoral processes in Indonesia. This workshop will focus on two of these institutions – the Indonesian Election Supervision Board (Bawaslu) andContinue reading “Electoral Complaints and Accountability in Indonesia: The Challenge of Resolving Electoral Disputes”
Category Archives: INDONESIA
Just published: Emergency Powers in Indonesia
The exercise of emergency powers is always controversial. in a new article “The Expansion of Emergency Powers”, I identify the expansion of the type and scope of emergency powers through legislative reform. I examine the Indonesian Law on Social Conflict 2012, which allows a state of social conflict to be declared at the national, regionalContinue reading “Just published: Emergency Powers in Indonesia”
Ahok, Indonesia’s ‘Nemo’, sent to jail
This article was first published in The Policy Forum, 10 May 2017What do Nemo, the Archangel Gabriel, a martial arts teacher, and a man who whistled during prayers have in common? They have all been convicted by a court for blasphemy in Indonesia. Yesterday the global community was shocked by the court verdict in Jakarta, the teeming capital city ofContinue reading “Ahok, Indonesia’s ‘Nemo’, sent to jail”
Elections in Jakarta a fight to the end
Residents of Jakarta go to the polls tomorrow (19 April) to choose a governor in one of the closest and most controversial elections Indonesia has seen.Here are some of my recent pieces on the issues plaguing Ahok, the current governor, and his bid for election.What do blasphemy charges mean for Ahok? Indonesia@MelbourneBlasphemy charges against Ahok aContinue reading “Elections in Jakarta a fight to the end”
Judicial Independence and Selection Processes in Indonesia
On 30 January 2017, a focus group discussion on “Judicial Independence and Selection Processes in Indonesia” was held in Jakarta. The session was run by Dr Fritz Siregar of the University of Indonesia and Dr Melissa Crouch of UNSW. The discussion was attended by judges of the Indonesian Supreme Court, lawyers from the Indonesian LegalContinue reading “Judicial Independence and Selection Processes in Indonesia”
Islamist rule by law in Indonesia
This article first appeared in Policy Forum, 3 December 2016. The great paradox of Indonesian democracy is on display for all the world to see. On one hand, there is greater freedom of expression and association for all. But on the other, this has given fuel to Islamists to espouse lawlessness and violence in the absenceContinue reading “Islamist rule by law in Indonesia”
What do the blasphemy allegations against Ahok mean?
Indonesian police last week declared Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, or Ahok, a suspect for blasphemy, over a speech he gave in which he quoted a verse from the Qur’an. In the wake of the police decision, Indonesia at Melbourne spoke to Dr Melissa Crouch, who has published widely on Indonesia’s Blasphemy Law(link is external) (Law No.Continue reading “What do the blasphemy allegations against Ahok mean?”
Blasphemy charges against Ahok a triumph for Islamists in Indonesia
Note: this article first appeared in the East Asia Forum One of the most high profile blasphemy allegations may soon be brought before a court in Indonesia. Thousands of Islamists turned out in Jakarta recently to demand that Basuki ‘Ahok’ Tjahaja Purnama, the Governor of Jakarta, be charged with blaspheming Islam. Some protestors displayed sinister signs, demandingContinue reading “Blasphemy charges against Ahok a triumph for Islamists in Indonesia”
Indonesian Business, Law and Society scholarships
There are currently 5 scholarships of $5000 available for UNSW students who apply for the ACICIS program on Indonesian Business, Law and Society (IBLS) to commence in semester 1, 2017. The IBLS is a semester-long program hosted by the Indonesian Islamic University (UII), Yogyakarta. Taught in English, this program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of Indonesian business,Continue reading “Indonesian Business, Law and Society scholarships”
Jokowi’s Islamist challenge: curbing terrorism and religious intolerance
In Indonesia, an attempted bomb attack on a church on Sunday has again left religious minorities deeply shaken. Allegedly linked to Islamic State (Isis), the attack by a lone man may be more symptomatic of historic trends in terrorism against minorities in Indonesia. In fact, the area near Medan, a city of over two million people, has beenContinue reading “Jokowi’s Islamist challenge: curbing terrorism and religious intolerance”
Melissa Crouch 