1st Man: You lookin’ for something?
2nd Man: His conscience.
1st Man: You lookin’ for something?
2nd Man: His conscience.
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.
Moksa Hutasoit, Jakarta – The Supreme Court appeal decision to release former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy Muchdi Purwoprandjono from all charges of involvement in the Munir murder was because the judges were incompetent. The Three Supreme Court judges handling the case were not experts in criminal law.
Moksa Hutasoit, Jakarta – After conducting a 1-year-study, the Public Examination Board (MEP) looking into the murder of human rights activists Munir has released a number of recommendations to the police, Attorney General’s Office and the courts. One of these is that the Munir case be reinvestigated.
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.
Hery Winarno, Jakarta – As usual, Jakarta will again be marked by protest actions by people wishing to convey their demands. Once again, the parliament building and the State Palace will be the favorite locations for people to voice the public’s hopes.
Amanda Ferdina, Jakarta – Greater Jakarta will be rocked by five protest actions today, which will be held at a number of different locations.
The following is a compilation of abridged translations of the January 28 protest actions held around the country to commemorate the first 100 days of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's second administration. The reports are ordered alphabetically by city.
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
R.A. Khairun Nisa, Jakarta – The Indonesian People’s Opposition Forum (sic) (FOR Indonesia) believes that the first 100 days of the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono (SBY-Boediono) has been a failure.
The North Sumatra Pro-Democracy Movement says that the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and Vice President Boediono, as well as the rotten political elite, have failed to implement the mandate to end the Indonesian people’s suffering.
Sepudin Zuhri, Jakarta – The Indonesian People’s Opposition Front (FOR Indonesia) is calling on the government to immediately stop trade liberalisation and pull out of all existing free trade cooperation agreements.
Palu – The Central Sulawesi Indonesian People’s Opposition Front (FOR Indonesia) was officially declared at 10am at the Gor Palu Park.
A new alliance or united front organization was formed in January in Indonesia to fight the current neo-liberal policies of the Indonesian government. Its leaflet calling for a January 28 protest action lists 17 organisations.
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.
Kompas – The families of the victims of forced disappearances in 1997-1998 are hoping that the government will soon form a team to search for the 13 people still missing. It is hoped that this demand will be fulfilled before the end of the 100 hundred days of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono administration.
1st Man: So who’s responsible?
2nd Man: Oh come on now, don’t play stupid...
Jakarta – Acts of violence and human rights violations in Papua have continued throughout 2009. This situation has further complicated efforts to resolve various problems in Papua through dialogue, as desired by the majority of Papuan people.