Most recent articles by Andy Budiman
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Religious Tension in IndonesiaTolerance No More
Indonesia has the biggest Muslim population in the world and is often described as a country where people live peacefully side by side, tolerating difference. In reality, however, the targeting of religious minorities has been on the increase for years. By Andy Budiman
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Persecution of Shiites in IndonesiaHate Preachers and Incitement to Violence
Following a massacre of Shiites in Eastern Java, the Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has called on the government and the police to provide special protection for the Shiite minority. But many Shiite Muslims remain frightened and insecure. By Andy Budiman
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Violence against Minorities in IndonesiaDemocracy without Tolerance
The violence against minorities in Indonesia has reached new, terrible heights. While Islamist hardliners target Christians and supporters of the Islamic Ahmadiyya, the state turns a blind eye. Andy Budiman has the details
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Acquittal of Opposition Leader Anwar IbrahimA Small Victory for Democracy in Malaysia
It was a trial with many scandalous facets: Anwar Ibrahim, one of Malaysia's most prominent politicians, had been charged with homosexuality – in the eyes of many, a politically motivated manoeuvre orchestrated by the government. The acquittal came as something of a surprise, and is a small victory for Malaysia's democracy movement, says Andy Budiman
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The Islamization of Indonesian MediaHostage to the Tyranny of the Majority
Indonesia enjoys a democratically elected government, yet social pressure on the country's media to adopt conservative Islamic positions is steadily growing. Observations and an assessment by Andy Budiman