Sign: Dirt cheap political restaurant

Waiter (SBY): The special today luxury cars fried in butter, oyster sauce wage rise... or a peppered reshuffle... drinks include a joyous soda or... very bitter black tea!

Typewriter: Press Freedom?

Man: Relax, I’ve already got some coins ready...

Journalist organisations say that press freedom in Indonesia is under serious threat with the increasing use of lawsuits and the criminalisation of the press to coerce and silence the media.

Kid: Wage rises and luxury cars for government officials... it’s just the same as salting the sea Mr. (a waste of time)

Man: Politics is expensive don’t you know!

Wave: Chinese products

Boat: Indonesian products

Man: Ready to compete Mr?

Trade unions say that the Asean-China Free Trade Area agreement – which came into full effect on January 1 – will result in a flood of Chinese products, destroying domestic industries and raising the spectre of more job losses.

What was supposed to be a key environmental speech from West Kalimantan Governor Cornelis in the increasingly deforested district of Kubu Raya, which is suffering from alarming levels of deforestation due to land conversion for palm oil plantations, turned to embarrassment when the occasion was repeatedly interrupted by trucks carrying freshly f

Fortune teller: In time all truths will come out. But no matter how bitter, it must be faced wisely. This is the Year of the Tiger!

2010 is shaping up to be another year of drama and controversy with most of the political scandals that dominated the close of last year yet to run their course.

1st Man: So who’s responsible?

2nd Man: Oh come on now, don’t play stupid...

Kid: It’s been like this for years...

Prisoner: If there’s an inspection you’ll deal with it right, I’ll give you some more pocket money later ok?

Bottom cells: Chicken thief, pickpocket, clothing thief.

Kid: It’s daytime, why are you carrying a torch?

Man: Ubi est veritas? Where are you, in truth? (Socrates)

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!

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.

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.

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.