Program Overview

• Hosts: Andrea Koppel and Najwa Shihab
• Original Airdate: Oct 2007

America Abroad Media and Indonesia's Metro TV co-hosted a town meeting on October 30, 2007 discussing Islam and democracy, US foreign policy towards the Muslim world, and US-Indonesian relations during this ground breaking, televised discussion with live audiences in Washington and Jakarta. Hosted by Andrea Koppel in Washington, DC and from Jakarta, Indonesia by Metro TV’s Najwa Shihab. With a special report from Kania Sutisnawinata.

Panelists from Washington, DC:
Carl Gershman is President of the National Endowment for Democracy, a private, congressionally supported grant-making institution with the mission to strengthen democratic institutions around the world through nongovernmental efforts.

Karl Jackson is the Director of the Asian Studies and Southeast Asia Studies programs at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, and the C.V. Starr Distinguished Professor of Southeast Asia Studies.

Panelists from Jakarta, Indonesia:
Azyumardi Azra is a professor of history at Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN or State Islamic University), in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Amien Rais was the chairman of the Indonesian People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) from 1999-2004.