Forget Forget Remember

Kid: Forgetting, forgetting the people again... thinking, just thinking about positions... (Adapted from the hit song Forget Forget Remember by the Grave Band)

Finding the "truth" and "serving the public interest" appears to have been forgotten in the lead up to the house's Bank Century inquiry plenary session with "opposition" and ruling coalition parties alike pledging to support the government in return for help with legal cases or more cabinet seats.

Kompas – February 27, 2010

Medical bills

A recent case in which a hospital was accused of denying a family the right to take home and bury the body of their deceased newborn baby because the parents could not meet their medical bill has highlighted the fact that hospitals are still discriminating against poor families who are entitled to free medical treatment.

Kompas – February 24, 2010

Vested interests

Suits: Co-ali-tion. Sign: Vested interests

Man: Who said a coalition for the truth?!

Kid: And not for us right Dad?

The Golkar Party has threatened to pull out of the governing coalition over threats that coalition partners would be stripped of cabinet seats if they that failed to support the government on the Bank Century bailout probe.

Kompas – February 20, 2010

You lookin' for something?

1st Man: You lookin' for something?

2nd Man: His conscience.

A spate of recent cases in which ordinary people have been arrested and tried for minor offences such as stealing a few pieces of fruit while big time crooks roam free has only reinforced the view that the judiciary has no sense of justice and is completely detached from the public it is supposed to serve.

Kompas – February 17, 2010

Dirt cheap political restaurant

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!

President Yudhoyono's increasingly flustered Democratic Party says it plans to meet with coalition partner leaders to threaten the revocation of cabinet positions if they fail to back the government over the Bank Century case.

Kompas – February 13, 2010

Press Freedom?

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.

Kompas – February 10, 2010

Salting the sea

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!

Most people don’t think the country's lazy and incompetent officials deserve the generous perks they already receive and critics say experience shows raising wages is no guarantee that they will stop being corrupt.

Kompas – February 6, 2010

Ready to compete Mr?

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.

Kompas – February 3, 2010