The aggressive implementation of neoliberal policies in Indonesia cannot be halted by a small handful of groups. At the moment moreover neoliberalism has again succeeded in maintaining the status quo by taking advantage of the interests of the political parties that are thirsty for power and positions.

Anang Zakaria, Yogyakarta – Ten non-government organisations (NGOs) and student groups in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta are demanding the annulment of the recently enacted law on regional elections (UU Pilkada) that abolished the direct election of regional heads.

Tri Susanto Setiawan, Febriana Firdaus, Prihandoko, Jakarta – After abolishing the direct election of regional heads by the people, Prabowo Subianto’s Red and White Coalition has initiated a discourse on returning to a system by which the president is elected by the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR, upper-house).

Solo – A document detailing the division of parliamentary leadership positions allegedly agreed to by members of Prabowo Subianto’s Red and White coalition and the Democrat Party has been circulating on Twitter.

Muhammad Muhyiddin, Jakarta – The walkout by 129 members of the Democratic Party faction just prior to the House of Representatives (DPR) vote on the Draft Law on Regional Elections (RUU Pilkada), which abolished the direct election of regional heads, appears to have been a political maneuver or game.

As former New Order general Prabowo Subianto’s Red and White Coalition parliamentary majority prepares to pass a law that would put an end to the direct election of regional heads, a poll released Tuesday by the Indonesian Survey Circle found that 81.25% of respondents want local leaders to be elected directly by the people – not regional legisl

Man: The people’s rights are being hijacked Mr

Pribadi Wicaksono, Yogyakarta – The Yogyakarta Workers Alliance (ABY) has slammed the draft law on regional elections (RUU Pilkada) saying it will bring suffering to workers in the future.

Kid: The next episode in the presidential election dispute soap opera right Dad?

Kid: There are false oaths, false promises, fake surveys, false teeth... what else Dad... oh yeah, fake websites!

Man: Usually... it’s because the owner’s aren’t real!

Men: ...criminal survey!... paid survey!

Kid: Make the wrong choice = suffer for five years!

Kid: Dad... come on legowo (accept something unpleasant in a sincere manner)

1st wayang character: hooray... A world first! Having a twin presidency! (writing reads ‘slander’)

2nd character: For the sake of democracy hehe... (writing reads ‘fraud’)

3rd character: It’ll be clear on July 22 right Mr?

Dini Pramita, Jakarta – The Kawal Pemilu (Guard the Elections) website www.kawalpemilu.org, which is maintained by volunteers to report the movement of vote results from the presidential election was attacked by hundreds of hackers throughout Wednesday afternoon.

Jakarta – The strategic Development and Policy Research Center (Puskaptis) has refused to attend an audit by the Association of Indonesian Public Opinion Surveys Firms (Persepi).

Persepi ethics council member Hamdi Muluk said that the refusal was conveyed directly by Puskaptis executive director Husein Yazid through an SMS message.

Jakarta – The Association of Indonesian Public Opinion Surveys Firms (Persepi) completed its audit of the Strategic and International Studies-Cyrus Network (CSIS-Cyrus), Indikator Politik (Political Indicator), the Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI) and the Saiful Mujani Research Center (SMRC) on the morning of Tuesday July 15.

Despite quick counts from reputable posters showing presidential candidate Joko Widodo (left) ahead by around 5 percentage points, rival candidate Prabowo Subianto (right) continues to claim he won the July 9 presidential election based on his campaign team’s ‘own count’ and is refusing to concede defeat until the General Election Commission ann

Writing on wayang figures: Money politics, [electoral] fraud, horizontal conflicts, smear campaigns

Man: Stay calm, it’s safe...

Atmi Pertiwi, Jakarta – US investigative journalist Allen Nairn has spoken out about Indonesia’s two presidential candidates. Although he has a negative opinion of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, his views about presidential candidate Joko “Jokowi” Widodo are not necessarily positive either.

Kursi Istana, Jayapura – Human rights activists and organisations have launched the Movement Against Forgetting in Papua. The activists are calling on the Papuan people not to vote for a presidential candidate that has a track record of human rights violations.