December 16, 2014 edition
THE website www.jariungu.com was once so inundated by visitors that it crashed, became paralyzed just before the legislative elections last April. People visit the site to get information on the legislators who will be running for office. "The volume of visitors shows that many are still confused," said Teuku Radja Sjahnan, 46, founder of the website.
Radja, a former auditor of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), funded as well as became a programmer to manage the website. He received no financial profit from his activities because he considered it his social responsibility to the community. "So people won't choose the wrong person to represent them," Radja told Tempo last month.
Read More
More Cover Story articles in other editions
January 1, 1970 edition
Forever Curious
Munir was known as a smart student despite his modest and at times, even below-average academic record. But he made up for any shortcomings with his inexhaustible curiosity and a passion to help the downtrodden. Even his choice of life-partner, Suciwati, was someone equally committed to his causes. Until his untimely death, Munir dedicated his life to fighting injustice and intolerance.
BORN to a modest merchant family, each day Munir would assist his elder brother Muhfid to sell cloth, shoes and slippers at the local market, Pasar Batu. He started helping out after his father died when he was still a sixth grader. As such, Munir had to earn extra money to pay his way through school and until he completed his law studies at Brawijaya University.
Munir's primary-school friend, Saiful Amin, recalled how they loved to swim in the Brantas River. He was thin and small in stature, often an object of ridicule, but he always fought back. He made friends easily and was always willing to give a helping hand. "He was a caring person and often showed empathy," Saiful said.
But it was his rebellious attitude, evident from a very young age, that was to define Munir's character and fate. "He was so stubborn," recalled Farida, 60, a teacher of Muhammadiyah elementary school 4 at Batu, Malang, where Munir studied. It was a trait to be found at home, where he was the only one from among seven children of Said Thalib and Djamilah who dared to question his parents. According to his brother Muhfid, Munir would always demand a logical explanation if his request was turned down. "If mother refused to give in to something without much thought, he was sure to protest," recalled Muhfid. He admitted, however, that Munir's arguments often made sense, so his brothers would always support him.
Munir was known as a smart student despite his modest and at times, even below-average academic record. But he made up for any shortcomings with his inexhaustible curiosity and a passion to help the downtrodden. Even his choice of life-partner, Suciwati, was someone equally committed to his causes. Until his untimely death, Munir dedicated his life to fighting injustice and intolerance.
Read More
January 1, 1970 edition
THE party entered the year confident it would emerge from the 2014 elections as the largest party. The incumbent president was retiring and his party faced the prospect of many 'fan club' parties, namely a sharp collapse in electoral support once their leader departs the national stage.
In addition, unlike earlier elections Golkar decided on its presidential candidate very early, thus giving the party plenty of time to prepare for the campaign. While some in the party had misgivings about their candidate's chances of victory, all expected that some of their members would surely sit in the new cabinet regardless of who won. After all, since its establishment in 1964 the party has been a member of every government.
Read More
January 1, 1970 edition
PRESIDENT Joko Widodo met with some of his cabinet ministers at the State Palace at the end of last October. This was not a cabinet meeting. They were hosting a foreign visitor: Sam Pa, a businessman from China accompanied by two functionaries of the National Democrat (NasDem) Party, Enggartiasto Lukita and Rerie L. Moerdijat.
"The president spoke about a plan to open up the transportation, port and energy sectors to foreign investment," said Enggartiasto, last week.
Read More
November 18, 2014 edition
UNDER the public spotlight for implementing a crucial corporate act at the end of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's term, the chief executive of Telekomunikasi Indonesia claimed to be unconcerned. The share-swap option between the companies, Dayamitra Telekomunikasi (Mitratel) and Tower Bersama Infrastructure (TBIG) nevertheless proceeded, although a member of its board of commissioners disapproved of the move.
Intra Utoyo, acting CEO of Telkom insisted no politics were involved in the transaction. In an interview with Tempo reporters Akbar Tri Kurniawan and Gustidha Budiartie last week he clarified the motives behind the share-swap transaction. Excerpts:
Read More
November 11, 2014 edition
A JUDICIAL decision at Bantul District Court did not merely acquit Dwi Sumaji, also known as Iwik, of charges of premeditated murder. It also shattered any notion that Udin was murdered because of a love triangle, as the police had concluded.
For Udin's family and close friends, Iwik's acquittal also strengthened their conviction that Udin was killed because of articles he had been writing. "From the outset, I didn't believe in the infidelity scenario," Marsiyem, Udin's wife, said at her house at the end of August.
Read More
November 4, 2014 edition