August 19, 2014 edition
An Indonesian recruitment call for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) went up on YouTube on July 22. The video was titled Join the Ranks and was conducted by a man calling himself Abu Muhammad al-Indonesi. This man, whose real name has been revealed to be Bachrumsyah, made a public speech about jihad and ISIS's struggle to become a world state. In June, the group, which has since changed its name to the Islamic State (IS), also released a video exhorting Australians, Germans and Canadians to join up.
Indonesian terror convict Abu Bakar Ba'asyir has stated his own support for IS, a group of rebels that has declared a new government in Iraq and Syria. Ba'asyir's involvement was shown by photos circulating on social media of him with 13 men unfolding the IS flag. Later, in various parts of Indonesia including Malang, Solo and Bima, IS supporters took oaths of loyalty to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
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August 12, 2014 edition
IN the news last month were revelations that police and military had overseen the systematic exploitation of Indonesian migrant workers passing through Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta Airport. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) blew the scandal wide open when it made a sudden inspection at the airport's Terminal 4, which is under the jurisdiction of the National Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Overseas Workers (BNP2TKI). Two policemen and a soldier were among those arrested.
Up to 1,000 migrant workers pass through the terminal each day, and a variety of methods have been used to take advantage of them. According to Tempo's investigation, they could be forced to exchange money, buy cell-phone credit or luggage carrier services or procure documentation or a ride home at exorbitant rates.
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August 5, 2014 edition
EVERY year the Public Works Ministry flushes away Rp1.2 trillion to fix the roads along Java's north coast, familiarly known as pantura. During the weeks before Idul Fitri at the end of Ramadan, when masses of people flock from the cities to their home villages, the 1,341 kilometers of road are usually repaired in a hurry.
Four years ago, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) discovered indications of 'feasting' by unscrupulous officials on pantura repair projects. KPK deputy chief Busyro Muqoddas said the KPK was investigating allegations concerning the 2010-2011 repairs. For example, the antigraft agency discovered that the names of several roads that had been rehabilitated were not listed at the Public Works office. Those projects were thus "prone to fraud," he said.
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January 1, 1970 edition
OF the 38 survey and quick count pollsters registered with the General Elections Commission (KPU) ahead of the recent presidential election, Radio Republic Indonesia Public Broadcast Board (LPP RRI) Research and Educational Development and Training Center is one that has come under intense scrutiny. RRI's quick count on the day of the election, July 9, showed that Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla had received 52.21 percent of the vote, while the ticket's only opponents, Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa, had taken 47.49 percent.
Ramadhan Pohan, deputy chairman of House of Representatives' (DPR) Commission I, which oversees defense, foreign affairs and communication, believes RRI should not broadcast quick count results. "RRI's funding is a source of suspicion because it comes from the State Budget (APBN)," he said.
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January 1, 1970 edition
Long before the presidential election President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned both presidential candidates, Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo, to be ready for winning or losing. This advice was given in May and was repeated four days before the July 9 vote.
"The winner should not be arrogant and the loser should not run amok," the president said in a video titled 'President SBY's Message to Jokowi and Prabowo', uploaded to YouTube on July 5. The 14-minute message was not without reason. Yudhoyono is concerned over the possibility of riots since both candidates' electability are equally strong.
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July 15, 2014 edition
DURING the presidential campaign, the public seemed torn apart. One side was for Joko Wododo-Jusuf Kalla, the other for Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa. A tug-of-war in both real and virtual worlds was unavoidable.
In Yogyakarta, hundreds of Jokowi volunteers clashed with Prabowo supporters when their campaign processions passed at the Ngabean Terminal junction. Both sides threw stones, causing a serious traffic jam. Supporters from both candidates also taunted each other at the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout in Jakarta. Meanwhile the war in the virtual world was just as violent, from bantering with rhymes to slandering.
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January 1, 1970 edition