January 24, 2017 edition
Sidelines
Brutal. Vile. Skilled at killing. Ambitious. Suspicious. The film Game of Thrones is full of such characters. It is hard to think of another film that depicts the tight link between politics and war more explicitly; people are always prepared to kill each other. The wager is total: win or die.
The ambitious and tragic queen, Cersei Lannister, utters the bitter truth quoted above because she experiences it in every aspect of her life. She is a queen who commits adultery with her own brother, who lives under constant threat, and who finally has to witness her son, who becomes a cruel young king, be killed. Cersei assumes the throne, but the kingdom is targeted from outside and betrayed from within. Unsurprisingly, she plays a political role with a heart of stone, as though following Mao Zedong, the leader of the Chinese revolution, who saw no difference between war and politics, 'Politics is bloodless war; War is bloody politics.'
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Interview
In the past few months, the nation has been besieged by cases linked to religion. They range from blasphemy, which tend to emerge intermittently, to banning the public worship of certain faiths and the celebration of religious holy days, which led to the rejection of Tengku Zulkarnain, deputy secretary-general of the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI), when he attempted to arrive at Sintang, West Kalimantan, two weeks ago.
Meanwhile, as the influence of hardline mass groups like the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) grows stronger, moderate Islamic organizations like the Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, seem to be distancing themselves from the government. Understandably, the public wonders whether the religious affairs minister is doing his job.
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Horizons
Mahdi Musa has lived in Qatar for 18 years. He was in Indonesia recently for a month to take care of his business and to attend the Trade Expo Indonesia 2016. But before returning to his adopted country, he shared his experiences on a panel at the Indonesian Diaspora Business Forum held by the Indonesian Diaspora Business Council and the Indonesian Diaspora Global Network.
"I love to motivate people," said the 64-year-old over tea at a caf in Depok, before his flight to Qatar, adding that as someone who came from a very poor family, he was eager to share his passion and experience with others.
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Word Watch
It is fascinating to see how different languages handle profanity and abuse-where their sensitive spots are, so to speak. Some languages focus on religion and blasphemy. Some target ethnicity and appearance. Others curse with animal names, or parts of the body. Many languages, English included, have developed a rich vocabulary of abuse around sexual intercourse, genitalia, and excretion.
In times past, cursing in English was more religion-based than it is today. 'God's Blood' used to be an extreme profanity. Abuse words relating to sickness and disease, like 'poxy' or 'scurvy' were also much more common when disease itself was a curse. "A plague on both their houses," Mercutio famously says in Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare's plays are absolutely full of rich, inventive insults, but one word you will not find is today's most prevalent swear-word in English-the 'f' word. This is not because it was too offensive-but on the contrary, because in those days it was not. It was then a relatively recent addition to English meaning 'to copulate'. Today, 'f-k' is certainly not a word to be used in polite conversation, and is still coyly avoided in print (hence the hyphens). Yet it is one of the most colorful and versatile words in the English language, appearing in expressive combinations with various adverbs (off; about; around; up; with) and in various parts of speech (as noun, verb, adjective).
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Outreach
Conversation in the WhatsApp group for Lombok tempe (soybean cakes) producers is animated, though the topic is far from what one might expect from youths between the ages of 17 and 29. The trending topics? Tricks and tips on processing soybean into milk and tempe, to the most recent innovations in soybean farming.
Based in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), the group is also known as UB Tempe Lokal Lombok. "For us, chatting about tempe and soybean is more interesting than romance and other chitchat," said Ahmad Tarmizi, the group's chief.
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Economy
As we enter 2017, the government has been busy seeking ways to stabilize the rupiah. With the Federal Reserve raising US dollar interest rates late last year, other world currencies, including the rupiah, have weakened. Our currency, which in the third quarter of last year averaged about Rp13,100 per US dollar, closed the year at Rp13,400. Unfortunately, the rupiah will continue to face pressure, given the Fed's plan to further raise interest rates this year.
It is no surprise that the government recently allowed mining companies to export their mineral ores. This is to increase exports and foreign exchange earnings, to help stabilize the rupiah. Previously, the government banned mineral exports to encourage mining companies to go up the value chain and build the smelter production phase. Under the new arrangement, 70 percent of ore production is allowed for exports, while the remaining is required to be sold to local smelter companies. Currently, there are about 30 plus local smelter facilities, some in various phases of construction, a few already completed.
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Cover Story
Opinion
THERE is no reason for the government to hastily set up new state holding companies. However desperate it may be, the government should do meticulous and careful business calculations and at all times adhere to the pertinent laws.
The plan was spearheaded by State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Tanri Abeng in 1988, but was never fully implemented. So far, there are only three such firms and they are involved in fertilizer, cement and plantation/forestry businesses.
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Letters
I travel by motorbike almost every day, passing Jalan Kalimalang on the way from Bekasi to East Jakarta. At present, the Bekasi-Cawang-Kampung Melayu (Becakayu) toll road is under construction along Kalimalang. This toll road will certainly reduce traffic congestion coming from and going to Bekasi.
The problem is, the construction is causing much road damage with many potholes and rocks strewn on the street. Even if repair work is done, it would only be a temporary patch-up that wouldn't last long. It gets worse when it rains. Furthermore, vehicles tend to drive into these potholes, particularly motorbikes, because of inadequate street lighting.
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Tempo Talks
Improving Connectivity, Boosting Cooperation
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.
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