Scholars tackle tough topics at Indonesia conference in Geelong

Australian-Indonesian relations, media reporting of the Bali Nine, and the Jokowi Government are among the topics for discussion at the Indonesia Council Open Conference (ICOC) at Deakin University's Geelong Waterfront campus on 2 and 3 July.

Hosted by the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation (ADICG) and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS), the international conference provides a forum for the presentation of new and innovative studies of Indonesia.

Over 100 papers will be presented during the two-day program on wide-ranging topics including politics, the arts, economics, foreign relations, literature and language.

The conference, which also serves as the biennial gathering of the Indonesia Council – a sub-group of the Asian Studies Association of Australia – is open to all and free to attend.

Dr Jemma Purdey, Research Fellow at ADICG and Convenor of the conference, says that the scholars don't shy away from difficult topics and issues.

"Research and scholarship goes on despite the current difficulties in the bilateral relationship between Australia and Indonesia," she said.  

"It's quite pleasing to note that around 40 per cent of the papers are authored by Indonesian scholars, both those studying here and others coming from Indonesia for this event."

It's so important to have this opportunity for an exchange of research ideas and findings between Australian and Indonesians scholars," she continues.

Dr Purdey explains that the 50^th anniversary of the September 1965-66 anti-communist killings in Indonesia following the fall of Sukarno is the theme for a significant panel of more than 20 papers at the conference.

"The topic is still taboo in Indonesia and there are still groups in the country that are not keen to discuss it," she said.  

"The International People's Tribunal – which sees academics and activists joining forces with lawyers – is set for The Hague in October, and the conference is the perfect precursor for the difficult conversations to come."

Highlights of the conference include:

• Conference welcome dinner including Balinese dance performance
• Unveiling of 'Just Bali' exhibition at Deakin's Geelong Waterfront campus curated by the Museum of Indonesia Art collective (open from 2 – 26 July, free entry)
• Herb Feith Memorial Lecture on 'The Art of Bali' to be given by Professor Adrian Vickers from Sydney University
• Photo exhibition 'West Sumatra: People and culture' open from 2 – 3 July (free entry)
• Panels and discussion focussing on the 50^th anniversary of 30 September 1965
• Postgraduate workshop program with sessions on how to get published, academic writing, and research collaboration