Webdiary - Founded and Inspired by Margo Kingston

"The recent transfer to Christmas Island of a group of 43 West Papuan asylum seekers is a giant leap backwards for the Prime Minister." Kaye Bernard

"Australia withdrew from an international tribunal which would have allowed objective assessment of each country’s merits as to where the border should be placed. Critics say the currently agreed border is in violation of international law, but Timorese had little choice but to agree to Australia’s terms. As both parties represent the richest and poorest countries in the region, the bargain is weighted heavily in Australia’s favour." Dale Mills

"This Sunday, I head for Indonesia with four others. We are part of a delegation from Australia participating in an exchange program arranged by those fabulous folk at the Australia-Indonesia Institute." Irfan Yusuf

"Whilst the government moved quickly to set-up independent inquiries into the events surrounding the appalling DIMIA scandal, its leader in the Senate, Defence Minister Robert Hill, and the ADF have sought to maintain a veil of secrecy over unspecified allegations of torture and possible execution of ADF prisoners in East Timor, way back in 1999." John Richardson

"History does have a habit of repeating itself. I started to write this piece before Margo's shock announcement of her retirement from Webdiary. My heart sank at first then soared as the spirit of the Webdiary Community emerged almost immediately. And here I am, making my debut on the Webdiary Community on a piece on Aceh." PF Journey

"One of my favourite newspapers from Indonesia is Media Indonesia Online, in particular its editorials. It is often hard hitting and pulls no punches in its criticism of Indonesian social, economic and political value systems that have led Indonesia to its current predicaments. Monday's editorial was titled 'Three reasons why the terrorists choose Indonesia'. The original in Bahasa Indonesia is Tiga Alasan Teroris Memilih Indonesia. I thought it would be of interest to the Webdiarists to see the Indonesian perspective and so I translated the editorial." PF Journey

After the entrance of the Corby affair onto the national media and collective interest, which is still being played out in the appeals courts in Indonesia, it would be almost inexcusable for anyone not to know the severity of the sentences that could be handed (and usually are handed) out in Asia for drug smuggling offences. ... Thus when the story of the Bali Nine came out, caught with heroin, I immediately thought of the stupidity of running drugs through Asia, and the fact that they deserve whatever they get when found guilty.

"It’s a cry from an Indonesian’s heart. It expresses the frustration and exasperation of the Indonesians about corruption in their own country. They are helpless to do anything about it because it has become the norm. No one is clean anymore. Corruption has become us." PF Journey

G'day. A couple of readers have complained that Webdiary is fixated on the USA and the Iraq war at the expense of discussion about the big two for us in our region, China and Indonesia. I asked if anyone would like to report on either nation, and got a bite from a Webdiarist on the latter, who starts the batting with a piece on Aceh.