SOETANTO Pranoto still recalls clearly the events of seven years ago. This member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in the House of Representatives (DPR) for the 1999-2004 term, had been invited to the office of his colleague, Mangara Siahaan. During their 30-minute meeting, Mangara—the party’s deputy secretary-general—delivered a sharp reprimand.

At that time, which was June 2004, Soetanto was seen to be often absent