Jakarta – A coalition of non-government organisations (NGOs) have expressed their opposition to the appointment of Lieutenant General Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin as Deputy Minister of Defense saying that he was involved in many cases of gross human rights crimes when he was an active member of the Indonesian military (TNI).

1st Man: Wow, our state officials are getting even more amazing.

2nd Man: What? Their performance? Closeness to the people? Or their social sensitivity?

1st Man: No, their new official cars!

Jakarta – A existence of a human rights court and ad hoc human rights judges needs to be reexamined. Moreover ad hoc human rights judges are seen as excessive and consideration needs to be given to whether such ad hoc judges are in line with international justice.

Wisdom cannot be measured by how long one has lived...

Man: Ahh, it’s only the first 100 days.

Kid: But that’s going to be the basis for the next five years Dad.

Indonesia’s fourth president Abdurrahman ‘Gus Dur’ Wahid died at the age of 69 on December 30. Widely respected for his commitment to religious tolerance and pluralism, he was known for his way with words and his love of jokes. He often used the offhand remark ‘Why sweat it?’ (Gitu aja kok repot?) to dismiss issues he considered unimportant.

Jakarta – Like previous years, 2008 was marked by a variety of actions by students who took to the streets opposing government policies that they believe harm the people.

Only, in concert the approach of the 2009 legislative and presidential elections, so too has the tendency for these student actions to end in clashes and violence.

Muhammad Taufiqqurahman, Jakarta – The Solidarity Action Committee for Munir (Kasum) sees 2009 as a year of gloom that failed to provide any clarity in the ongoing investigation of Munir’s murder.

Amanda Ferdina, Jakarta – Shouting “Long live SBY”, on Wednesday December 30 scores of protesters form the Indonesian People’s Solidarity Coalition (KSRI) demonstrated at the launch of the book Unmasking the Cikeas Octopus: Behind the Bank Century Scandal.

Amanda Ferdina, Jakarta – Supporters of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) from the Indonesian People’s Solidarity Coalition (KSRI), who were protesting against the launch of the book Unmasking the Cikeas Octopus: Behind the Bank Century Scandal, were challenged to take part in the event.

Kid: 2009 has been full of reality shows, corruption, bribery, debtors fleeing the country, evictions, communities clashing with police, student brawls, the gecko vs crocodile scandal, the Bank Century inquiry, it’s been exhausting Dad!

Man: Let us hope for peace on earth and in 2010 and that they’ll be lots of real reality shows!

The House of Representatives – consistently rated as one of the most corrupt institutions in the country – is seeking to strip the Corruption Eradication Commission of its wiretapping powers, which anti-corruption activists say is an essential tool in its fight against corruption.

Umi Kulsum and Ignatius Kristanto – Two months have passed, but like an engine, they have also yet to “warm up”. Yet, their numbers have increased significantly compared with the previous period. What’s going on?

Kid: It turns out that a coin can carry more weight, right Dad?

Scales read: Justice/Law.

Man: You’ll be exonerating those who are right and blaming those who are wrong, right Mr?

Protester: Hey Mr, corruption’s taking a holiday today... come on, you wanna join the demos?

...Political negotiations? Will it be a win-win solution or just be put on ice like other inquiries?

Man: Someone’s defiantly playing with fire.

Analysis say that the House of Representatives’ Bank Century inquiry is rapidly turning into a fight within the political elite in which the originally stated goal of uncovering the truth behind the bailout decision is being sidelined by competing political interests.

Ramadhian Fadillah, Jakarta – The Indonesian military (TNI) is cited as the party that murdered five Australian journalists in the film “Balibo”. The TNI however does not plan to make a rival film to straighten out what actually happened.

Irwan Nugroho, Jakarta – The Indonesian Film Society (MFI) believes that the banning of a film about the deaths of five Australian journalists in East Timor or the Balibo Five makes no sense, saying it was surprised over why the government is so afraid of the film being seen by the Indonesian public.