Indonesian maids now on sale

Bubble reads Legal Protection, cash box reads Foreign Exchange

A leaflet advertising 'Indonesian maids now on sale' has triggered a public outcry over the exploitation of migrant workers (TKI) in Malaysia. The government recently revoked a two-year moratorium on sending workers to Malaysia, but critics say that migrant workers – which Jakarta likes to refer to as 'foreign exchange heroes' – have little legal protection and are still venerable to abuse.

Kompas - October 31, 2012

Menu of Terror

Board reads: Indo-clown-ia Cuisine

Kid (speaking to President Yudhoyono): The most appetizing is the terror omelette and crusty terror... and to drink the honey and ginger terror milk, seriously Mr!

Analysts say that the recent arrest of 11 suspected Islamic militants said to be planning attacks on foreign embassies is evidence that legal extremist groups are becoming emboldened by the Yudhoyono government's failure to curb religious violence.

Kompas - October 27, 2012

Triad of dark forces

In addition to the myriad of social and economic problems that plague the capital, newly elected Jakarta governor and deputy governor Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo (right) and Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama (left) also face what some observers have called the 'triad of dark forces' – business interests that have enjoyed decades of rampant unregulated development, sabotage by entrenched political forces that dominate the city council and racial and religious bigotry cultivated by the previous administration to shore up electoral support.

Kompas - October 17, 2012

It's like this! But it's also like that!

President Yudhoyono: It's like this! But it's also like that!

Kid: For the salvation of what. And for the sake of who Mr?

Under intense public pressure to intervene in the escalating feud between national police and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) over its investigation into graft at the police's traffic corps, President Yudhoyono finally broke his silence Monday only to issue a series of vague and confusing instructions seen by many as a compromise to protect powerful vested interests within the police.

Kompas - October 13, 2012

Intimidation, threats

Man standing behind KPK chief Abraham Samad: Just when there's so much work. Writing on shadowy figure reads 'Intimidation, threats'.

Hundreds of people took to the streets Friday calling for President Yudhoyono to prove his commitment to corruption eradication. The president has remained silent over the escalating standoff between the national police and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) over its investigation into a corruption case at the police's traffic corps.

Kompas - October 10, 2012

Republic of Indonesia-Clowns

1st Legislator: Revise the KPK law! 2nd Legislator: No way!

Man (talking to KPK chief Abraham Samad): They proposed it themselves now they're rejecting it, it's just to build their party's anti-corruption image right Mr?

Kid: The Republic of Indonesia-Clowns

Smarting from a massive public backlash against yet another attempt to weaken the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) by revising the KPK law – a move backed by all the parliamentary political factions – lawmakers are now tripping over each other trying to convince a sceptical public that they opposed the revisions all along.

Kompas - October 6, 2012