A great leader departs, Lee Kuan Yew dies; and then what? One hopes: an empty seat.

THESE days, the YouTube blog of Sacha Stevenson, 32, appears to be somewhat dry. Besides her busy schedule shooting for a film, she has become more selective in what she uploads. Yet two years ago this Canadian wrote a weekly piece full of satirical humor on the ways of Indonesians, like the ubiquitous bureaucrat, the busker with his cellphone, or the way Indonesians use the toilet. All of them the fruits of Sacha's observations since she first came to Indonesia 14 years ago.

After a yearlong investigation, and interviews with 40 current and former crewmembers of fishing vessels, the Associated Press exposed PT Pusaka Benjina Resources as a slave operation. The company's mostly Burmese employees told of being kicked, whipped with stingray tails and forced to drink unclean water. A number of them were imprisoned in a remote village in the Aru Islands called Benjina. Their catch was shipped as far afield as Europe and the United States.

Four cells at the end of the hallway of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN)'s detention center are now empty. The rooms, each measuring 30 square meters, are sealed off with police tape. Iron bars block access to the cells and separate them from the other eight cells. Down the hallway, at the bottom of an iron ventilation grille panel, is a gaping hole the size of a 21-inch TV screen. Right above is an active CCTV camera.

IT'S high time the government gave the Mahakam concession block in East Kalimantan back to Pertamina. In many other oil- and gas-producing countries, state-owned companies stand first in line to get such concessions. This applies to new projects as well as old concessions whose contracts are expiring.

THE Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) provisional decision on the Golkar party has opened a new chapter in debate over which faction of the party has a rightful claim over its leadership. In his ruling, Judge Teguh Setya instructed the Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly to postpone the confirmation of Agung Laksono's authority to manage the party on account of complaints from Aburizal Bakrie's faction. "Alhamdulillah, the truth is starting to show," said the Bakrie faction chairman, Ade Komarudin.

Pothole-filled Roads

The Institute of Eijkman Molecular Biology, Jakarta, made a visit to Rampasasa, Flores, in early 2014, to compare the genetics of the local pygmies to that of other ethnic pygmy groups. "We can simply compare them because the data have been uploaded," said Professor Herawati Sudoyo, vice director of Eijkman Institute. The result of Eijkman research will be published at the end of this year.

TAX
Revenue Slumps, Tax Target Remains

When traders are asked whether the current Rp13,000 per USD level is the currency's comfort zone? You'd most likely get a qualified answer. Even those that confirm say it is temporary. But how long is temporary?

This year, Indonesia and India mark 75 years of diplomatic relations. However, the ties between the two nations have existed much longer, predating the establishment of the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of India. These connections span social, cultural, religious, economic, and trade aspects. But do those close ties of the past have any bearing on the present relationship? Why is there no direct flight between the capitals of the two countries?

Indian Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Sandeep Chakravorty, shares his views on this matter at TEMPO TALKS.