The politics of frothing at the month

Man: It's not the politics of procrastination... but the politics of frothing at the month! (fuel pump reads 'policy')

Endless announcements touting some new but unworkable scheme to limit subsidised fuel use, only to then declare that the plan has been "postponed indefinitely", is fueling uncertainty among a public already fed up with ill conceived and counterproductive government polices, with inflation accelerating at its fastest pace in seven months and consumer confidence dropping to its lowest since November 2010.

Kompas - April 28, 2012

Subsidised fuel will be limited...

Loudspeaker: Subsidised fuel will be limited...

Drivers: It's very shrill. Will it happen or not...

VP Boediono has criticised the volume of loudspeakers used to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer, appealing to mosques to turn the volume down. The government meanwhile, which is bombarding the public with calls to limit subsidised fuel use, announced that a fuel management program will "definitely" be launched in May, only to declare a few days later that the plan was still being deliberated.

Kompas - April 25, 2012

Going their own way

Man: Harmony is damaging, disagreements are damaging (a play on a Javanese proverb about family quarrels). Flag reads 'Joint Secretariat', sign reads 'Fuel'.

Tensions within the government's fractious ruling coalition similar to those that erupted over last month's fuel price hike are set to intensify in the lead up to the 2014 elections as the coalition's larger partners – the Justice & Prosperity Party (left) and the Golkar Party (second right) – see more political gain in going their own way.

Kompas - April 21, 2012

Military impunity

An admission by police that members of the Indonesian military – allegedly backed by senior general – were involved in a string of motorcycle gang attacks in Jakarta over the past week that left two civilians dead and dozen of others injured, has again highlighted the military's continuing involvement in illegal businesses activities such as narcotics, gambling and prostitution.

Kompas - April 18, 2012

Government coalition

Chair legs: National Awakening Party, United Development Party, Justice & Prosperity Party (PKS), National Mandate Party.

Despite angry calls for the PKS to be expelled from the ruling government coalition over its opposition to a planned fuel price hike earlier this month, President Yudhoyono is likely to retain the often uncooperative and underperforming PKS, partly so it can burnish its Islamic credentials but also over fears it would become too dependent on its equally problematic but larger coalition partner Golkar.

Kompas - April 14, 2012