Politicians are statesmen too

Kid: These politicians are statesmen too right Dad? (headline reads Rival National Congress, Rival Chairperson)

Politician: Yes... but no... politicians think about seats, statesmen think about the people! (chair reads 'Basic Commodities Party')

Observers warn that the power struggle for control of Suharto's former ruling party Golkar – which intensified after a breakaway faction opposing the leadership of Aburizal Bakrie appointed Agung Laksono as chairperson in a rival congress in Jakarta – is risking the party's electoral chances.

Kompas - December 20, 2014

Making a fuss

Man: They make a big fuss when there's a disaster, after that they forget about it

While government officials continue to point the finger at each other following last Friday's deadly landslide in Central Java's Banjarnegara district that left more than 100 dead or missing, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency – which blamed the disaster on deforestation caused by illegal logging – said more than half the population now live in landslide prone areas as more and more people are forced of their land to make way for housing, industrial estates and palm oil plantations.

Kompas - December 17, 2014

Democracy in tatters

From an op-ed piece titled Democracy in tatters at parliament.

The House of Representatives wrapped up its first session for 2014 without accomplishing a thing as a result of a month-long standoff between New Order general Prabowo Subianto's Red and White Coalition and the parties backing President Widodo's government, which has essentially paralyzed the parliament since it was inaugurated in October.

Kompas - December 15, 2014

Bootleg liquor

Kid: Political brawling... political dynamics... or oplosan Dad? (drum reads 'Politics is the commander')

Amid the ongoing power struggles inside the Golkar Party and the United Development Party, there has been a spate of deaths due to the mushrooming production and consumption of oplosan – bootleg liquor often containing methanol – due to cheaper alcoholic beverages being priced out of the poor's reach by heavy taxation and religiously motivated 'public morality' prohibitions on sales.

Kompas - December 13, 2014

Anti-Corruption Day

International Anti-Corruption Day was marked across the country Tuesday, with many calling for harsher sentences and the seizure of graft convict's assets. Anti-graft activists say that light prison terms are partly to blame for the lack of deterrent effect, with the majority of defendants – particularly those with political connections – receiving only around 1-2 years and waking free with their ill-gotten gains in only a fraction of this time thanks to generous remissions and early releases for 'good behaviour'.

Kompas - December 10, 2014

Who's responsible Mr?

Kid: Once again... for the sake of humanity, who's responsible Mr?

Man: The one up there!

Business tycoon Aburizal Bakrie who this week bought, bullied and bribed his way into a second term as chairperson of Suharto's former ruling party Golkar, is facing fresh calls to compensate victims of the mud flow disaster in East Java widely blamed on drilling activities by his company Lapindo (which claims the disaster was an act of God) after a retaining wall burst over the weekend inundating scores more homes addition to the thousands already submerged under millions of tons of toxic mud.

Kompas - December 6, 2014

Proxy fight

A power struggle inside Suharto's former ruling party Golkar is seen as a proxy fight between New Order general Prabowo Subianto's Red and White Coalition (KMP) and the parties backing President Widodo's government in parliament. Under the leadership of business tycoon Aburizal Bakrie (left), the party symbolised by the banyan tree has positioned itself as the backbone of the KMP, but senior members represented by Agung Laksono (right) want to end Bakrie's reign and join Widodo's coalition in the hope of receiving cabinet seats.

Kompas - December 3, 2014