Indonesia’s much touted image of pluralism and religious tolerance – enshrined in the country’s coat-of-arms by the words Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) – has been left in tatters following Sunday’s fatal attack on an Ahmadiyah congregation in Cikeusik, Banten, the latest in a series vicious assaults on members of the Ahmadiy
Drunken Republic Cartoons
February 2011
Man: They say to be involved in politics you have to be like a rat, sniff things out first, then bite!
Kid: That’s right dad! It’s also what’s called a political rat! – a play on the word politikus: politik (politics) + tikus (rat) = politician.
1st Man: Be patient, I’m sure the extreme weather will soon pass...
2nd Man: What about extreme corruption and the judicial mafia, when will they pass?
January 2011
Man: We don’t get wage rises so we don’t feel the lack... nature provides an overflow of garbage!
Headline reads: Regional heads, 28 out of 33 provinces involved in corruption.
Politician: Who says I’m lying
Rouge tax official Gayus Tambunan (right): I’m not lying...
Headline reads: Critics, lying to the public
Man: These days it’s not “many children, much fortune” (a famous Indonesian saying), but lots of corruption, lots of money.
Governor: For the sake of a clean governance, cases of corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) must be fully investigated!
Man: But what if you’re the one committing the KKN Mr?
Kid: Lots of people are committing suicide, others were poisoned after eating tiwul...
Man: That’s good, it’s a sign the country’s improving... it means poverty rates are going down!
Exhaust: Bank Century, Lapindo disaster, racial, religious & ethnic conflicts, judicial & tax mafia, migrant workers, Yogyakarta gudeg, tiwul food poisoning.
Man: Don’t forget about the other side Mr...
Signs read: Politics, Economy
December 2010
Corruption-collusion-nepotism, law enforcement, migrant workers beheaded, marginal...
Man: We’re not just going into the same room again are we?
Crowd: We won, we won...
Man: So when will we win against them? (jacket reads corruption)
Man: A monarchy? No way!
Kid: How right you are lord
Man: It’s not in accordance with the constitution!
Kid: It’s truly so your majesty
Man: It’s not in line with democracy!
Kid: Blessed be my lord
1st Man: Everything’s covered in dust...
2nd Man: But not the promises made to us, right?
Dentist: You’ll need lots of checkups Mr! So you don’t get toothless too quick and have them replaced by false teeth!
Government: It’s impossible to have a monarchy system
Man: What’s this, another ‘eruption’
November 2010
Woman: We’ll be furnished with cell phones remember...
1st Man: And if the employer asks for them?
2nd Man: The legal protections don’t connect do they? (a play on tulalit, bad phone connection)
Gayus: Happy here, happy there, happy happy everywhere...
Bakso seller: Mr President! Was it in the interests of Indonesian-American relations or for the sake of... bakso!