September 9, 2014 edition
ADRIANUS Meliala-a member of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas)-nervously stroked his hair, scratched his face, stared at his hands and stammered when he spoke. "I never knew it would turn out so bad. What will Kompolnas do to me?" he asked.
The public was recently shocked by his statement in a television interview last month that two police officers assigned to the West Java Police Crime Unit had been indicted for the crime of gambling online. Even more astounding was his revelation that the same Crime Unit was an ATM (cash machine) for police officers. When other sections needed money, they always came to this unit for help. "Like it or not, we must admit that the police has indeed been involved in shenanigans," said Adrianus in the interview.
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January 1, 1970 edition
Goal!" came the shout from an 8-year-old boy, catching the attention of everyone nearby. He turned to his father, Chatib Basri, who sat next to him. "Papa is the worst player in FIFA 2014," said the boy, named Amartya Sen. On the screen, the score showed 2-0 for Germany.
Chatib, who played the Argentinian team, looked glum at trailing his son. "You cheated," Chatib told his son. His last effort, as soccer champ Mesut Ozil would have done, ended in failure. The final score was 3-0 for Germany. "It's a good game but I'm always losing," said Chatib.
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August 26, 2014 edition
JOURNALISTS covering Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as Ahok, are aware that whatever he says can become headlines. No other public official has a way of saying things that make it eminently quotable.
But Ahok's direct and open way of talking is not to everyone's liking. He has made enemies, and he is bound to make many more following the Constitutional Court's verdict that rejected the appeal last week by also-rans Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Rajasa and reconfirmed the election of Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo as president and his running mate Jusuf Kalla as vice president. Automatically, this paves the way for Ahok to ascend to the capital city's top executive job.
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August 19, 2014 edition
There has been discordant voices following the launch of the UNAIDS Gap Report on July 16, which details the prevalence of this deadly disease, and how governments attempt to prevent its spread. It was not particularly well received by Indonesian Health Minister, Nafsiah Mboi. "In the press release (about the report), they (UNAIDS) said that we are left behind. I ask, just how have we been left behind?" she told Tempo, at a press conference about Indonesia's HIV/AIDS program, 20 days after the report was launched
UNAIDS Country Director for Indonesia, Cho Kah Sin, agrees that the report could well lead to misinterpretations. "The GAP report is not meant to invalidate what countries are doing," explained Cho, who took office in Jakarta two years ago. He is impressed at the close cooperation between different community groups and the central as well as local governments in preventing the spread of the disease. "Other countries can learn from Indonesia," said Cho, who is Malaysian.
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August 12, 2014 edition
ASSORTED cakes lay on the table for guests at the home of Mahfud Md at Sambilegi, a district of Yogyakarata, during Lebaran week. The host, looking relaxed and clad in the traditional Muslim attire befitting the festivities, entered the living room and sat down on a sofa.
That evening, the former Constitutional Court chief justice and recently the campaign manager of the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa ticket, had just returned from paying his respects to Herry Zudianto, a fellow Gerindra campaign manager for Yogyakarta. At the home of Herry, a former Yogyakarta mayor, Mahfud was greeted by the crew of TV One, who proceeded to conduct an interview over the ongoing dispute on the results of the recently completed presidential election.
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August 5, 2014 edition
HUSNI Kamil Manik stared at the chess board in front of him, his brows wrinkling as he contemplated what to do with the black king, trapped by the white king and two of his pawns. "Look at this black king, he will definitely lose," he said. He picked up the black king and threw him out of the game.
Husni, the current commissioner of the General Elections Commission (KPU) is no stranger to pawns, rooks, ministers and kings, since his elementary school days. If there was no one to play with at home, he would play alone, learning by reading strategic tips published in newspapers. Playing chess has taught him to be cautious but also to be decisive at the same time, when contemplating important steps.
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January 1, 1970 edition