Iron-Sand Mining

Document reads: 'Iron-Sand Mining Project Permit'

Environmental activists say that iron-sand mining activities are out of control as corrupt local officials scramble to grant permits to mining companies in order to boost regional earnings – and of course line their own pockets in the process – without considering the negative impacts on the environment and the livelihoods of local communities.

Kompas - October 30, 2013

A fantasy umbrella

Man: A fantasy umbrella waving in the morning sun, hey, hey who is she...

Kid: May I see your radiant face... hey, hey Bunda Putri... (from the song Payung Fantasi by Ismail Marzuk)

An irked President Yudhoyono has ordered the police to launch an investigation into the true identity of mystery woman Bunda Putri after allegations emerged during a court hearing into the beef import quota scandal that the president and Putri enjoyed a cozy relationship and shared information about the inner workings of Yudhoyono's ruling coalition.

Kompas - October 26, 2013

Litany of corruption

Observers say that the arrest of Constitutional Court Chief Justice Akil Mochtar on corruption charges has severely shaken the public's faith in the judicial system and ordinary people are starting to despair in the face of a litany of corruption and bribery cases involving every branch of power – legislative, judicial and executive.

Kompas - October 21, 2013

Political dynasty

Cat: A dynasty? What's wrong with that if you can do it...

Man: If you can bribe people right Mr?

The investigation into disgraced Constitutional Court (MK) Chief Justice Akil Mochtar (right) for accepting bribes related to MK rulings on the election of the district heads has now turn to Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah, the head of a powerful political dynasty in Banten province, which has been accused of siphoning off tens of billions of rupiah in public money.

Kompas - October 19, 2013

Migrant worker law

Migrant workers: We're always the victims. Platform reads Foreign Exchange Heroes, bubble reads Legal Protection.

While lawmakers squabble among themselves over the ratification of urgently needed amendments to the 2004 migrant worker protection law, according to Migrant Care some 265 migrant workers – which the government likes to refer to as 'foreign exchange heroes' – are facing the death sentence in various counties.

Kompas - October 16, 2013

Save the Constitutional Court

President Yudhoyono: Save the MK

Kid: That's all very well but when will we be saved Dad?

In a characteristically knee-jerk reaction to the arrest of Akil Mochtar – chief justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) which is tasked with handling electoral disputes – Yudhoyono plans to issue a regulation in lieu of law (perppu) to restore the court's image amid fears the scandal will invalidate scores of past MK electoral rulings and further undermine the credibility of the 2014 elections in the eyes of an increasingly cynical public.

Kompas - October 12, 2013

The only real surprise

The only real surprise about Constitutional Court (MK) chief justice Akil Mochtar's arrest on corruption charges is the political amnesia of those who have joined the chorus of condemnation against him: former MK chiefs who paved the way for graft in the court by curtailing the Judicial Commission's oversight powers, lawmakers who extend Akil's term without undergoing a screening test despite past graft allegations, and President Yudhoyono who blatantly disregarded the proper selection process by choosing political appointee Patrialis Akbar as a MK justice.

Kompas - October 11, 2013

National disgrace

The arrest of Constitutional Court (Mahkamah Konstitusi) chief justice Akil Mochtar on corruption charges has been described as a 'national disgrace' and highlighted the fact that corruption had infiltrated all levels of the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government.

Kompas - October 9, 2010

A comic farce

Man: A comic farce! Meanwhile our legal system remains a tragedy!

The squabble over President Yudhoyono's nomination of controversial Democratic Party lawmaker Ruhut Sitompul to head the House of Representatives Commission III overseeing law and human rights – which has actively sought to weaken oversight and control of the country's notoriously corrupt legal system – took a comic twist this week with Sitompul threatening to expose the 'dark records' of colleagues who oppose his appointment on the grounds he lacks 'moral judgment'.

Kompas - October 5, 2013