His smile helps wash away...

Man: His smile helps wash away...

Senior politicians running as legislative candidates (caleg) in the 2014 elections have been forced to defend themselves against charges of opportunism after several political parties setup so-called 'coordination posts' (posko) providing free rest stops and refreshments along major highways being used for the annual Lebaran holiday exodus known as mudik.

Kompas - July 31, 2013

Holiday Bonus Gift Project

Kirmanto: Lebaran's just around the corner...

Kid: Why's it only just before Lebaran that the roads get fixed Dad?

Man: It's what you might call a Holiday Bonus Gift Project fool!

As around 30 million people prepare to join the annual Lebaran holiday exodus, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto has admitted that roadwork on Indonesia's major highways – which have been dogged by accusations of graft, bureaucratic delays and shoddy repairs – won't after all be finished on time.

Kompas - July 27, 2013

Bhinneka Tunggal Ika

Bhinneka Tunggal Ika – The national motto Unity in Diversity. Club reads Mass Organisation X.

Despite a series of fatal clashes involving the hard-line Islamic Defenders Front, the government has refused to act against the group, reinforcing the view that the real motivation behind the enactment of the draconian mass organisation law – which lawmakers argued was needed to shut down violent groups and gives the government the power to disband organisations deemed to threaten the state – was to muzzle public criticism of the government.

Kompas - July 24, 2013

Don't just twitter about it

Man: Don't just twitter about it (sign reads 'Pantura mudik route')

With some 15 million Indonesians expected to join the annual Idul Fitri holiday exodus known as mudik – many of whom are hoping that services such as Twitter's Info Pantura will save them from the worst of the traffic and impassable roads – fresh allegations have been leveled at the public works ministry alleging that ongoing roadwork on Java's northern coastal highway (Pantura) has been ridden with graft, delays and shoddy repair work

Kompas - July 17, 2013

Pork barreling

Mirror reads Conscience of the People, badge reads Presidential Candidate, can reads BALSEM.

The government's temporary direct cash assistance program (BLSM, sometimes jokingly referred to as BALSEM, to provide instant pain relief) – ostensibly to compensate the poor for the recent fuel price hike – has been branded as mere pork barreling, with ministers that have no connection to the scheme but thought to harbor presidential ambitions scrambling to be seen distributing largesse among voters ahead of next year's elections.

Kompas - July 13, 2013

Ramadan

Man: Best wishes in fulfilling the obligations of the holy fasting month

As the holy month of Ramadan arrives and Muslims prepare for a season of fasting and reflection, this year’s celebrations will be dampened by the impact of the recent subsidised fuel price hike – which along with the annual Ramadan-induced inflation – has effectively doubled the cost of many sample foods, placing a massive financial burden on Indonesia's poor.

Kompas - July 10, 2013

Mass Organisation Bill

Kid: Is that for me, or you Mr?!

Ignoring a chorus of mounting protest, the House on Tuesday passed into law the repressive Mass Organisation Bill (RUU Ormas) arguing that it is needed to protect the public from in 'mob violence' (kekerasan). Critics say the law is a grave threat to democracy and harks back to Suharto's New Order regime giving the government the power to arbitrarily disband organisations deemed to be a threat to the state.

Kompas - July 6, 2013

Prices going up

Basket reads "Prices going up"

Soaring inflation resulting from the government's widely criticised decision to increase subsidised fuel prices is already impacting on household consumption – which contributes around 60% to GDP growth – with the World Bank saying economic growth will fall below 6% for the first time in two years.

The iconic Heros Statue in Jakarta inspired by Indonesia's independence struggle depicts a peasant man carrying a rifle while a women offers him a dish of rice.

Kompas - July 5, 2013

National Police anniversary

Speaking at a ceremony marking the 67th anniversary (HUT) of the National Police (Polri) Monday, President Yudhoyono praised the force for their 'outstanding performance in enforcing the law and maintaining security and public order'. 14 years after its separation from the military, the police remain plagued by graft, impunity and torture, with a recent survey finding that 57% of the public were dissatisfied with law enforcement, up from 41% in 2010 and 50% in 2012.

Kompas - July 3, 2013