Kid: So coalitions are like that yeah Dad? (cake reads ‘power’, badges read ‘political party X’, ‘political party Y’, ‘political party Z’)

Man: What we’re invariably left with is nepotism/lots of hassles (a play on the word nepotisme)

As quick counts (exit poll) start to come in from Wednesday’s election, failure to secure seats has begun to impact some legislative candidates (caleg) who spent exorbitant amounts of money to buy votes, with several mental hospitals (RSJ) announcing that they have prepared special VIP facilities to treat candidates who are dealing with severe p

According to a recent survey by a coalition of NGOs, no matter which legislative candidates (caleg) people vote for in today’s general election, corrupt, lazy and incompetent politicians are set to dominate national and regional parliaments, with only 95 out of more than 200,000 candidates having clean records and reasonable levels of competency

Man: Well, there’s lots of used up legislative candidates aren’t there!

Signs read: Election stall, Buy and sell used votes. Documents read: Ballot papers.

1st Man: Look out, carbon emissions!

2nd Man: Look out, promise emissions!

Yermias Degei, Jayapura – Jayapura municipal police arrested two West Papuan students, Alfares Kapisa (25) and Yali Wenda (20) at a peaceful demonstration by the Papua Student Solidarity with Political Prisoners (SMPTN-Papua) in front of PT Gapura Angkasa at the Cenderawasih University (Uncen) in Waena, Jayapura, on Wednesday April 2.

Admin MS, Jayapura – Today on Wednesday April 2, Papua Student Solidarity with Political Prisoners (SMPTN-Papua), which is made up of students from various universities in the West Papuan provincial capital of Jayapura, held a peaceful demonstration calling for the release of Papuan political prisoners in jails throughout Indonesia.

Signpost reads: Riyal, dignity, poverty, improving quality of life.

Man (speaking to KPK chief Abraham Samad): There’s an unpleasant odor of social aid funds isn’t there Mr?

The tongue indeed has no bone
Is not marked by words
A mountain of a thousand promises
What is said may differ from what is felt

(from a song by Bob Tutupoly)

Document in legislative candidate’s pocket reads: Track record, money politics, corruption, collusion and nepotism.

Arnold Belau, Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) is calling on all West Papuan people from Sorong to Samarai to boycott both the legislative and presidential elections that will be held on April 9 and July 9.

Tomi Sujatmiko, Yogya – Demonstrators from the Student Struggle Center for National Liberation (Pembebasan) held a protest action at the zero kilometer point near the central post office in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on Thursday March 20 opposing the legislative and presidential elections.

Man: This isn’t a standup comedy is it? (documents in basket read ‘Perspectives 2009’)

Kid: For the sake of April 9 they’re all going on leave, who’ll run the country Dad?

Man: For... well that’s how it is!

With President Yudhoyono leading the pack, six ministers have now officially requested ‘campaign leave’ to stump for their political parties in lead-up to April 9 legislative elections.

Dedy Priatmojo, Syahrul Ansyari – Scores of demonstrators from the Alternative Political Committee (KPA) and the People’s Liberation Party (PPR) held a demonstration in front of the General Election Com

Yogi Bayu Aji, Jakarta – The Political Alternative Committee Alliance (AKPA) held a protest action at the General Election Commission (KPU) offices on Jl. Imam Bonjol in Central Jakarta on Thursday March 13 calling on the public to oppose the 2014 elections.

Before election...

After election...

Badge reads Legislative Candidate. Chest reads Budget.

Edzan Rahardjo, Yogyakarta – The elections will be held soon on April 9. For various reasons however, there are still many who are expressing their opposition to the five-yearly festival of democracy.

Ivan Aditya, Yogya – Scores of demonstrators from the Central Java and Yogyakarta Province Advocacy Circle for Women (Link-AP) held an action to commemorate International Women’s Day (IWD) at the Yogyakarta Monument on Saturday March 8.