Democratic reforms will win the day, assures former Indonesian ambassador to Singapore

Jakarta

DURING his distinguished military career, he served in some of Indonesia's long simmering wars including in East Timor. He was a special-forces commander and so far served four presidents, including as four-star general, as an ambassador to Singapore and as a Cabinet minister. But when it comes to discussing Indonesia's blasphemy laws, Luhut Pandjaitan says he gets nervous.

"To be honest with you, I don't like to discuss this one," says Mr Pandjaitan, who is currently coordinating minister for maritime affairs and a long-time friend of the President, Joko Widodo.