Iwan Kurniawan – Maxwell Ronald Lane is still very active and gutsy at the age of 74. A researcher at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, he is known as the translator of the works of Indonesia's foremost author Pramoedya Ananta Toer and other books he has written about Indonesia.

Reza Gunadha – Many academics, intellectuals and Indonesian youth can speak fluently on the historical ideas of ancient Greece and modern Europe.

Rendra Saputra, R. Jihad Akbar – Army chief of staff (Kasad) General Gatot Nurmantyo says that communist ideas are continuing to grow in the fatherland. This, he said, is because Indonesia is going through a period of development that creates space for the spread of such ideas.

Dira Derby, Jakarta – A clash broke out between workers and police at the rear entrance to the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Sunday when police refused to allow protesting from the Indonesian People’s Opposition Front (FORI) from entering the airport.

Semarang – Hundreds of people from groups such as the National Workers Union (SPN) and the Indonesian People’s United Resistance (PPRI) commemorated International Labour Day (May Day) on Sunday in the Central Java provincial capital of Semarang.

A.J. Susmana – It has been 61 years since Indonesia declared itself as an independent nation. But the question so often asked by the cynical is: “Are we really free?”.

Niken Widya Yunita, Jakarta – Believing it will be commercialised, the People’s Forum for Health Concerns (Forum Rakyat Peduli Kesehatan) held a demonstration opposing the privatisation of the local public hospitals (RSUD) and turning them into limited companies.

Woro Swasti, Jakarta – Next Wednesday, May 12, thousands of students from 23 campuses across Greater Jakarta plan to hold simultaneous actions rejecting presidential candidates from the military.