August 26, 2014 edition

IN the luxury of the 26th floor of the five-star Grand Hyatt Hotel in Jakarta last week, Prabowo Subianto watched the special televised announcement that dashed his hopes of winning the 2014-2019 presidency. The Constitutional Court's panel of judges declared that charges of electoral fraud submitted by Prabowo was unsubstantiated, re-validating the win by his rival, Joko Widodo.
Accompanying him on that fateful Thursday evening was his running mate Hatta Rajasa and the elites of supporting parties. They were Golkar Party Chairman Aburizal Bakrie, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Anis Matta and United Development Party (PPP) Chairman Suryadharma Ali. The parties' secretaries-general and two senior politicians, Golkar's Akbar Tandjung and National Mandate Party's (PAN) Amien Rais, were also present, their eyes glued to the television monitors around the room. Of the 4,390-page verdict, the Constitutional Court chief justice read only the main points from 261 pages.

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August 19, 2014 edition

THE off-white house at Baciro, Yogyakarta, was the 'crime scene' that put Muhammad Yamin on trial by a military tribunal. Sixty-eight years ago he was charged with planning a coup at the house that at the time belonged to Sundoro Budhyarto Martoatmodjo.
In his defense, later published in the book Sapta Darma in 1950, Yamin said he was charged with issuing four maklumat, letters of declaration, which were presented to Sukarno on July 3, 1946. Yamin, who was born in Talawi, West Sumatra on August 22, 1903, was tried by the court, along with other defendants.

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August 12, 2014 edition

ON the Lebaran (Idul Fitri) holiday at the end of the fasting month, Joko Widodo's political calendar showed no slack. After praying at the mosque, he visited the home of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri and the home of National Democrat (NasDem) Party Chairman Surya Paloh. He then summoned some of the senior members of his campaign team to the official residence of the Jakarta governor in Menteng, Central Jakarta. Those who attended that meeting two weeks ago were Rini Soemarno, Andi Widjajanto, and Hasto Kristiyanto.
Jokowi repeated his previous statement that as the declared president-elect by the General Elections Commission (KPU) on July 22, he wanted to form a transition team. The Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono administration will end on October 20 and on that same day the new president will be inaugurated by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). This team's duty is to synchronize the old programs with the new. "I have to move quickly because there is not much time," Jokowi said, citing his reason for the urgent task.

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August 5, 2014 edition

PRESIDENT Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) immediately congratulated Joko Widodo when the General Elections Commission (KPU) named him as the country's president-elect. In a telephone conversation on Tuesday night two weeks ago, Yudhoyono also offered to help during the transition period. "We want the transition process to go smoothly," Jokowi told Tempo, two weeks ago.
Jokowi welcomed Yudhoyono's offer. They are set to meet at the Presidential Palace after the end of the Idul Fitri holidays. One pressing issue which needs to be discussed is the 2015 State Budget (APBN). Formulated by Yudhoyono's cabinet, the 2015 APBN will go into effect during the first year of Jokowi's presidential term. On August 15, Yudhoyono will read the 2015 State Budget Financial Note in the House of Representatives (DPR). In order to accommodate Jokowi's vision and mission, the incoming president needs to discuss the budget before then.

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January 1, 1970 edition

THE rain over North Jakarta's Sunda Kelapa harbor, built in 1610, died down just before midnight on Tuesday last week. Two VIP patrol boats approached the Hati Buana Setia, a traditional cargo sailboat known as a pinisi, moored at Dock No. 9. Percussion music could be heard and colorful lights shone around the area.
From the first patrol boat, Jusuf Kalla and his entourage climbed aboard the sailboat. From the second, Joko Widodo and those accompanying him followed, not long after. Less than an hour earlier, the General Elections Commission (KPU) declared Jokowi, 53, to be the next president of Indonesia for the 2014-2019 term, and Kalla, 72, was his vice president.

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January 1, 1970 edition

GOLKAR Party members packed the hall of the Perintis Kemerdekaan Building in Jakarta, last week. The air-conditioning was unable to compete with the heat which filtered in through the doors, which were kept opening and closing. Eleven senior members sat in a row under a map of Indonesia at the front of the hall.
Seated in the middle of that row was senior Golkar figure Ginandjar Kartasasmita. He was flanked by other senior party officials: Fahmi Idris to his right and Andi Mattalatta on his left. A few young cadres, such as Rusdinal Salim, Indra Jaya Piliang, and Andi Sinulingga, could be seen seated elsewhere. They had gathered to discuss the party's future. "We want to ensure Golkar remains a large and dignified party," said Ginandjar. After listening to Ginandjar's speech, they agreed to hold a national convention in October.

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July 15, 2014 edition

MEGAWATI Soekarnoputri wiped away tears of joy. On the porch of her house in South Jakarta, last week, a television station was broadcasting exit poll results on the presidential election. The chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) burst into tears when the broadcaster declared Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla were ahead of the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa ticket.
Jokowi was reported to be leading by about 5 percent. "This is a present for Mbak Mega," said PDI-P member Pramono Anung, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR).

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