Red-carpet treatment

Documents read: Law enforcement, human rights, eradicate corruption.

Background: House of Representatives building.

The new batch of legislators will literally be given the red-carpet treatment when they arrive for their official inauguration on October 1, which will reportedly cost the tax payers a whopping US$4.7 million.

Kompas – September 30, 2009

Regulation in lieu of law

Legislators: Regulation in lieu of law no, yes! Corruption Eradication Commission no, yes! no!

Man (bottom right): The last laugh.

Anti-graft activists have vowed to stop the House of Representatives – rated as one of the most corrupt institutions in the country – from passing the Corruption Court bill, saying lawmakers have altered it to undermine efforts to fight corruption.

Kompas – September 26, 2009

KPK, Perppu

Writing on dog: KPK, Perppu

Papers read: Bank Century case, Criminal Investigation Bureau

President Yudhoyono (left) is readying a regulation in lieu of law, or Perppu, to select replacements for three suspended officials from the country's anti-graft body (KPK). Anti-corruption activists have criticised the plan saying it threatens the impartiality and independence of the body.

Kompas – September 23, 2009

I forget lyrics again

Man: I forget, forget, forget the lyrics again... I just remember, remember, remember the title... (adapted from Forget Forget Remember by the Grave Band)

Amid the nationalism and chauvinism (including the “export” of terrorism”) being whipped up over Malaysia’s alleged theft of Indonesia’s cultural arts, a recent survey found that most people don’t even know the words to the national anthem.

Kompas – September 22, 2009

Don’t feign ignorance!

Arm bands: Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), National Police, AGO, House of Representatives.

Kid: Well, which one is corrupt?

Man: Ah come one, don’t feign ignorance!

As it becomes blatantly obvious the police’s trumped up charges against two KPK deputies are designed to weaken the institution and the fight against corruption, President Yudhoyono has been accused of hiding behind legal and constitutional arguments in defending and condoning the police’s actions.

Kompas – September 19, 2009

Farewell Jakarta

Farewell Jakarta... (for a while anyway)

This year's "mudik madness" saw 27 million people join the annual exodus from major cities and towns across the country to celebrate the Lebaran holidays marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Kompas – September 16, 2009

Today's special includes...

Waiter: Today's special includes terror omelette, terror pindang, fried egg terror, terror pancake, tofu terror, crusty eggs ala terror, drinks include sutemaja, honey and ginger milk terror...

Business savvy locals in Kepuhsari village in Solo, Central Java, have opened stalls selling "terrorist cuisine" to cater to a new tourist influx after terrorist Noordin M. Top and three others were killed during a police raid in the area.

Kompas – September 15, 2009

The election's over. Stupid!

Kid: Hey Mr, why isn't your political party setting up disaster relief coordination posts like before?

Man: What for? The election's over. Stupid!

With the election season over, tens of thousands of victims left homeless by a 7.3 magnitude earthquake that hit West Java on September 3 are using discarded campaign banners to build tents.

Kompas – September 12, 2009

Falling again, checking again...

Falling again, checking again... Falling again, checking again... Falling? (adapted from the hit song Falling in Love Again by Playboy)

Following yet another in a string of military air disasters President Yudhoyono ordered an audit into the military's budget. Military observers however say budget increases will not address problems of poor maintenance and safety without greater transparency and accountability.

Kompas – September 9, 2009

Bylaw No. 8/2009

This is their melody, a nice song from Jakarta, I’m like this because sadly I have no choice...

Sign reads: Bylaw No. 8/2009

Having no other way to survive other than to continue working the streets, a new public order bylaw will leave Jakarta’s thousands of beggars, buskers and street vendors even more vulnerable to violent and corrupt law enforcement officials.

Kompas – September 5, 2009

What kind of new virus is this?

What kind of new virus is this?...

In an eerie repeat of the 1998 Bank Indonesia Liquidity Support Scheme fiasco, withdrawals of more than $540 million were made from Century Bank shortly after it was bailed out and put under the control of the Deposit Insurance Agency. It soon became clear that bank's owners and politically connected depositors had looted the bank, leaving behind a massive debt for the government to pick up.

Kompas – September 2, 2009