May 24, 2016 edition
HISTORY has proven that communism is unable to mature in most societies. Currently, only a few countries still practice the ideology, with some adjustments. For instance, Vietnam adopted capitalism in 1986 through their Doi Moi policy. China, too, has slipped in democratic principles into its government.
What about Indonesia? Officially, a 1966 People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) provision remains in force, meaning communism is banned. However, security forces and several mass organizations insist communism is coming back. To eradicate the perceived-some would say manufactured-threat, they have confiscated t-shirts, books with 'leftist' teachings and even shut down discussions and films about the lives of political prisoners.
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More Indicator articles in other editions
May 17, 2016 edition
A letter from FIFA, the world football organization, provided relief that the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) was looking for.
The letter recommended that the government lift a freeze issued in April 2015 by Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi that banned the PSSI from competition.
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May 10, 2016 edition
Over the past year, the government has been aggressively pursuing negligent taxpayers. President Joko Widodo set a goal of Rp1.29 quadrillion for 2015, but the government was only able to collect Rp1.06 quadrillion. This year, the target has been increased to Rp1.55 quadrillion.
Several factors have prevented the government from reaching its target. One is that businessmen have stashed huge sums of untaxed money abroad. To reach its target, the government is planning to pardon these tax dodgers in the hope they will start paying taxes again.
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May 3, 2016 edition
THE government has not budged from its refusal to apologize for the September 30, 1965 tragedy, when hundreds of thousands of Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) members and those thought to be affiliated with the group were killed or arrested and held for years without trial. Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the victims of the tragedy had been the army generals whom PKI members allegedly killed in an attempted coup.
Both the families of generals and the families of those killed and jailed in the ensuing crackdown have been wronged.
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April 26, 2016 edition
After being exposed by the Panama Papers, Icelandic Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugson chose to step down. A similar fate befell Spain's Industry, Energy and Tourism Minister Jos Manuel Soria, while British Prime Minister David Cameron has been forced to release his tax returns in the face of public protest.
So what about Indonesia? It was easy to predict how those linked to the documents would react-denial.
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April 19, 2016 edition
JAKARTA Governor Basuki Tjahaja 'Ahok' Purnama says no one can manipulate his leadership. The pledge was made after the Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK) slapped a travel ban on staff member Sunny Tanuwidjaja for allegedly bribing a Jakarta lawmaker from the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party, Mohamad Sanusi, in relation to the Jakarta Bay reclamation project.
The KPK confiscated Rp140 million and US$8,000 from a Rp1 billion agreed-upon fee. Sunny is suspected of acting as the middle man between Sanusi and a group of investors involved in the reclamation project. These firms were united in opposition to a hike in 'added contribution' that was then being debated at the Jakarta City Council (DPRD).
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April 12, 2016 edition