We fully support the strike by PT Freeport Indonesia workers for better wages and conditions. The government must guarantee legal protection to the workers and protect them against intimidation and threats while they are on strike and conducting negotiations with the company in accordance with Law Number 13/2003 on Labour.

I’m a thief cos he’s a thief too...

Newspaper headline reads: Banggar, cabinet reshuffle.

1st Man: How come nothing’s being done?

2nd Man: It’s just like everything else in the country yeah...

Exhaust reads: Holdups, rapes, pickpockets, illegal road fees, traffic violations...

Man: Cleptocractic republic? No way! I stand at the forefront of eradicating corruption! There will be no favoritism (lit no matter what ‘feathers’ you have’)! There will be no remissions for corruptors!

Kid: It depends Mr! On what feathers... and whose feathers!

Woman: Watch out Mr! Don’t get sleepy!

Man: Isn’t it the same everywhere if you sit in “chairs” with air-conditioning, you always get sleepy, right Mrs...

Jakarta – State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Sutanto has refuted a leaked Jakarta United States Embassy diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks.

President Yudhoyono has received a new blow amid his own declining popularity, with the results of an Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI) survey showing a sharp drop in public approval of his cabinet, dropping from 52.3% in January 2010, and then 46.5% in September 2010, to 37.7% this month.

Man (holding forged document): You’re the chicken thief!

Until next time image building...

Sign reads: For the 633 victims of Mudik (holiday road accidents).

Jakarta – Jayapura district police have been accused of torturing 15 witnesses who were initially suspected of being members of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) in a violence related case in Abepura.

Kid: Please forgive my physical and emotional wrongdoings (a traditional Idul Fitri greeting) and for all my crimes of corruption...

Man: The same to you...

Man: Respected corruptors, judicial mafia, tax mafia, project mafia, budget mafia, election mafia, political (rat) mafia, Lying House of Representatives, bribery mafia, mafia XYZ... Let us welcome this great day and hope that our pious deeds will be accepted by God the Most Holy!

1st Man: Didn’t he say he would be at the forefront of eradicating corruption?

2nd Man: He’s already sent a letter right...

Jakarta – Cases of human rights violations during the conflict in Indonesia’s northern-most province of Aceh must be investigated and resolved in accordance with the Helsinki peace agreement and the Law on Aceh Governance (UU PA). This is extremely important in order to provide justice to the victims and to ensure future peach in Aceh.

Man: He’s been arrested? Cool... then I’m safe!

Kid: How come?

Man: Psst... previous whistle-blowers have also ended up having their whistle silenced.

Man: Nazruddin’s been arrested, so why are so many people are getting nervous?

Jakarta – The government is being urged to prioritize dialogue over a militaristic approach in resolving the Papua problem. It is precisely this militaristic approach that is provoking continued violence. Because of this therefore, violations of civilian human rights must stop.

Man: A person can also be judged by what they say!

Jakarta – The political elite in this country should use the holy fasting month of Ramadan as a moment for introspection and evaluation, to ask whether their policies side with the ordinary people or not.

[The following essay by Surya Anta was written in response to a series of questions, I emailed him yesterday, August 4, 2011 - Max Lane]

‘I am here to give solidarity, not as a provocateur’