Kania Sutisnawinata

As AAM’s inaugural Journalism Fellow, Metro TV Anchor Kania Sutisnawinata spent 10 days in Washington, DC in late October reporting on US foreign policy towards Indonesia, Muslim life in America, and the perceptions and mis-perceptions of both Indonesians and Americans.

Kania Sutisnawinata is the co- anchor of Metro TV’s first international English-language news program, which launched in September 2006.  Sutisnawinata previously hosted several programs, focusing on business news. After joining Metro TV in 2000, she anchored “Bisnis Hari Ini” and “Market Review.” Her television career began as an anchor for SCTV in Jakarta. An international background as the daughter of Indonesian government diplomat prepared her for her current duties. Born in Jakarta, she lived and attended schools in Czechoslovakia, Geneva, Los Angeles and Mexico City. She attended the United States International University in Mexico, and graduated from the University of Indonesia as a marketing majoring.  Sutisnawinata speaks Bahasa Indonesia, English and Spanish, and has won honors for her proficiency in French.

East-West Connection 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.

Interview Series

Kania interviewed leading public officials, policy makers, and scholars on issues ranging from the compatabilty of Islam and democracy, to the impact of US aid during the 2004 tsunami crisis on foreign policy with Indonesia, to the importance of Indonesia as the country with the world’s largest Mulsim population with a burgeoning multi-ethnic democracy. Kania’s interviews included:


Ambassador Christopher R. Hill, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs on April 8, 2005.  Ambassador Hill is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service whose most recent assignment was as Ambassador to the Republic of Korea.  Previously he has served as U.S. Ambassador to Poland, 2000-2004, Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia, 1996-1999, and Special Envoy to Kosovo, 1998-1999.  He also served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Southeast European Affairs in the National Security Council.

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), the first African American from Minnesota, as well as the first person of the Muslim faith, to serve in the U.S. Congress. Representative Ellison serves on the Financial Services and Judiciary Committees. His priorities in Congress are: promoting peace, prosperity for working families, and promoting civil and human rights.

Senator Christopher S. "Kit" Bond (R-MO) sponsored S. Res. 252, a resolution recognizing the increasingly mutually beneficial relationship between the United States of America and the Republic of Indonesia.  The bill recognizes the progress made by the government of Indonesia in its efforts to promote democracy, and encourages the government and the people of Indonesia to continue working to promote human rights, civil liberties, a free press, and a strong civil society.

Ms. Irshad Manji, a senior fellow with the European Foundation for Democracy, is the best-selling author of The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim’s Call for Reform in Her Faith. It has been published internationally, including in Pakistan, Turkey, India and Lebanon.

Ambassador Akbar Ahmed is the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at the American University in Washington DC. He has advised Prince Charles and met with President George W. Bush on the topic of Islam. His most recent book is Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization. Ahmed recently led a team of dedicated young Americans on a daring, unprecedented tour of the Muslim world seeking to establish dialogue and understanding between the Muslim world and the West.

Representative Robert Wexler (D-FL) is a Democratic member of Congress serving his sixth term in the House of Representatives. Wexler has been named one of the "50 Most Effective Legislators in Congress" by the influential magazine Congressional Quarterly.  Representative Wexler and Representative Dan Burton co-founded the Congressional Indonesian Caucus.

Aly Abuzaakuk is the Washington, D.C. Office Director for the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID).  Mr. Abuzaakuk was born and raised in Libya. He has served as the Executive Director of the American Muslim Council (1998-2002) as well as Ambassador of Goodwill for the U.S. State Department to several Arab and Muslim countries.