Perhaps Apocalypse Now! is being shown right now in the Middle East. Not as a film.

The National Police Crime Investigation Division (Bareskrim) has come under the public spotlight for its questionable actions. Recently, the national ombudsman found that the Bareskrim had mishandled the case of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan, who has been charged over a crime he allegedly committed years ago.

It took five months for members of the National Ombudsman to convince Danang Girindrawardana to validate recommendations on Novel Baswedan's report. Initially, the chairman of the Ombudsman office refused to sign off on the result of their investigation of Novel's report, which began in May last year.

Dawn was breaking when four men gathered in front of the security post of the Taman Harapan Baru housing complex in Bekasi on Wednesday two weeks ago. The four mostly remained silent, absorbed in their cell phones. Their eyes were alert, scrutinizing passing cars. Now and again, they glanced east toward the complex's exit gate that led to the main road. There, too, several men were observing incoming and outgoing cars.

It is increasingly clear that the charges against Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan were mostly fabricated. The National Ombudsman found suspected fraud in the police investigation. The prosecution's case against Novel, concluded the Ombudsman, should not even have qualified for a court hearing.

THE public suspects the integrity and independence of the five Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders for the 2015-2019 period. More than half of Tempo respondents do not believe that the new team lead by Agus Raharjo is clean and will be left to work with no interventions.

Chuck Suryosumpeno's Right to Reply

Although it's not unheard of, the ethnic fusion music genre is not as popular as modern jazz, rock or pop. In Indonesia, only a handful of musicians has ventured to the considerably more limited market. A successful one is I Wayan Balawan, better known as Balawan.

Replaying a role in a film once performed by another actor is not easy. That is what Tio Pakusadewo, 52, faced when he was offered to redo the role of a migrant Batak in the filmBulan di Atas Kuburan ('Moon over The Graveyard') written by Asrul Sani in 1973. In that year, Aedy Moward performed that role. Aedy's acting was so powerful that he won the 1973 Citra (Indonesia's film festival award) for Best Supporting Actor.

MINING
Freeport Boss Resigns

As part of the younger generation, Willix Halim understands well what it takes to begin a startup company in an industry that attracts people in their early to mid-twenties. Freelancer.com, an outsourcing marketplace founded in Australia in 2009, provides a platform for young people to opt outside 9-to-5 jobs, earning some income from one project through another.

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.