July 1, 2014 edition
THERE has never been a presidential contest as boisterous and heated as this one. The two candidates, Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo, along with their running mates, Hatta Rajasa and Jusuf Kalla respectively, have divided the people into opposite camps: us and them.
This polarization has become more acute with the amplification on social media. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Path and Instagram have become the campaign media that know neither time nor place. Every second, every minute, 24 hours a day, netizens from all corners yell out their views: support, praise, criticism, slurs, insults and even character assassination. Information and disinformation fill the air. People may have already decided who to vote for, but their choices may not be based on common sense or accurate information.
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More Opinion articles in other editions
January 1, 1970 edition
THIS is the irony of Indonesia: it is blessed with 3 million square kilometers of coastline, its sea waters filled with abundant resources, yet it imports substantial quantities of fish. Not just 'luxury fish' not found in Indonesian waters, but commonanchovies and other such fish are supplied from overseas. To make matters worse, some of these fish come from Indonesia's own seas, stolen by foreign fishing vessels and resold back to us.
This crooked business has continued for years, and the government seems powerless to stop it. These maritime thieves come from Thailand, Vietnam and even China, using various methods. One practice is to use Indonesian-flagged ships and to fraudulently use permits.Owners of these thieving ships have even successfully lobbied to get theMaritime and Fisheries Ministry to pass regulations in their favor.
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June 17, 2014 edition
THERE is nothing wrong with retired army officers becoming members of presidential campaign teams. Since they are non-active, they are no longer bound by Law No. 43/2004 on the Indonesian Military, which bans soldiers from involvement in politics.
This law banning soldiers from taking up any political activity was drawn up by taking into account the fact that soldiers perform 'unusual' service to the nation. They are armed and command other men, so it was seen as dangerous if they are allowed to participate in the quest for power. And a cornerstone of the 1998 reforms was the need for civil supremacy-a doctrine that obliges soldiers to return to the barracks.
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January 1, 1970 edition
THE black or smear campaigns going on prior to the presidential elections has reached unacceptable levels. The perpetrators feel that disseminating lies and malicious gossip is part of gaining votes for the party of their choice.
They must be well paid to do this atrocious work. They use all kinds of communication and information tools, from social media to 'press products' like the tabloid Obor Rakyat (People's Light) whose distribution is also done by subterfuge although it appears systematically carried out.
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January 1, 1970 edition
THE suspected corruption of haj pilgrimage funds, involving Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali, has uncovered several ways in which the management of the huge business was manipulated. It appears that the abuses involved everything from the way prospective pilgrims' initial deposits were used to the selection of accommodation in the Holy Land. And sadly the impact of these abuses that have been going on for years is felt most keenly by the weakest people: the haj pilgrims.
There is nothing that can be done about this: millions of 'Allah's guests' have no choice but to follow the rules laid down by the Religious Affairs Ministry, even though these rules cause problems. Prospective pilgrims are not allowed to receive interest on their initial haj deposits, despite the fact that these funds sit in accounts for years. The faithful are also asked to simply accept everything that the organizers do. Those who protest are seen as 'lacking conviction'. And rather than offer protection, some ministry officials take advantage of the pilgrims' weak position to enrich themselves.
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January 1, 1970 edition