Coins for the KPK

A public donation campaign 'Coins for the KPK' has been launched after the House of Representatives (bottom) – which again topped a list of corrupt institutions according to a survey earlier this month – refused to release Rp225 billion allocated from the state budget for the desperately needed construction of a new Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) building. Many have accused the House of flagrant hypocrisy having proposed a hefty Rp1.13 trillion budget last year to construct a new building for itself, replete with a spa and recreation centre, which was eventually scrapped due to a massive public outcry.

Kompas - June 28, 2012

Business opportunities

Kid looking at election campaign posters: It's a pretty lively contest yeah...

Man: That's the way it is with business...

The hotly contested election for the next governor and deputy-governor of Jakarta – one of the most corrupt cities in Indonesia and the largest economy in the country – is more than just about winning an election but brings with it a windfall of business opportunities in the form of government contracts for foodstuffs, services and infrastructure, and of course the inevitable kickbacks and markups associated with them.

Kompas - June 27, 2012

Political hostages

Man: Which one's in reverse... and which one's in forward... (baggage reads 'political hostages')

Political observers say that despite the battering President Yudhoyono's (left) ruling Democratic Party is taking in the opinion polls over party chair Anas Urbaningrum's (right) alleged involvement in the graft-ridden Hambalang sports complex project, Yudhoyono is unable to force him out of the party for fear that he will retaliate by implicating Yudhoyono's son and party secretary general Edhie Baskoro in the same corruption scandal.

Kompas - June 23, 2012

Political corruption

As the political parties prepare to do battle in the 2014 general and presidential elections, anti-corruption activists warn that politically related graft cases over the next two years will increase sharply since most campaign funds are raised from illegal sources – corruption, corporate blackmail, milking state-owned companies and money from gambling, drug dealing and illegal logging.

Kompas - June 20, 2012

Save the earth

Speaking in Bogor before setting out for the UN Sustainable Development Conference in Rio de Janeiro, President Yudhoyono appealed to global leaders to move toward a green economy saying Indonesia had adopted an environmentally sustainable model of economic growth where its forests were prized and protected. Back in the real world, a report released by Greenpeace last month said a staggering 5 million hectares of forest has been lost since Yudhoyono announced a two year moratorium on deforestation last year.

Kompas - June 13, 2012

Mr Mud

Despite the best attempts by Golkar Party spin doctors to portray the massive Lapindo mudflow disaster in East Java in a positive light, insisting that he has shown a "moral commitment" in seeking to compensate the thousands displaced by the mud or claims that victims have been paid more than their land is worth, business tycoon and budding Golkar presidential candidate Aburizal Bakrie – whose company has been blamed for the disaster – still seems unable to shake off the "Mr Mud" label.

Kompas - June 9, 2012

Illegal fishing

According to the government illegal fishing in Indonesian waters cost the country US$3.21 billion over the last 10 years. Defense analysts say this is hardly surprising as the bulk of the defense budget is still being absorbed by the army for internal security purposes or on extravagant hardware purchases – which invariably involve generous kick-backs for senior generals – such as the recent controversial order for 100 Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks from Holland instead of desperately needed ocean-going patrol boats and surveillance equipment.

Kompas - June 6, 2012

What about some for us!

Hand reading 'Convicted narcotics prisoner': What about some for us!

Forgotten amid the uproar over an alleged political trade off with Australia after President Yudhoyono (right) granted clemency to convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby, is the fate of scores of political prisoners jailed for peacefully protesting against Jakarta rule in Papua. Unlike Corby, who has the Australian government on her side, Canberra fully supports Indonesia's sovereignty over West Papua and is turning a blind eye to Jakarta's brutal suppression of decent in the province.

Kompas - June 2, 2012