November 21, 2009 • 1:20 pm
| Evan A. Laksmana | Jakarta, 21 November 2009 |
Apart from the intense drama, the recent saga between the Indonesian National Police and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) also tells us something about the deeper dynamics unfolding in Indonesian politics.
Perhaps the most obvious is the growing “digitisation” of public pressure. A decade ago, public resentment could only be significantly felt if it had evolved into massive nation-wide rallies on the streets. Today, many can simply air their political discontent online without having to leave home.
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Filed under: Politics
November 11, 2009 • 7:52 pm
| Evan A. Laksmana | 10 November 2009 |
Is Indonesia’s democracy really blooming? If you read the English-speaking press, you might think the answer is a resounding yes. Papers in London and New York have applauded President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s cabinet picks and hailed his government as a post-authoritarian success story. Democracy is consolidating and the economy is growing, they say, thanks to Yudhoyono’s stewardship over the past five years. Why else would more than 60 percent of the electorate have voted for him in recent elections?
If you read the local press, however, a very different narrative emerges.
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Filed under: Politics
October 24, 2009 • 8:31 am
| Evan A. Laksmana | Jakarta, 24 October 2009 |
There were hardly any major surprises when Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono finally announced his Cabinet line-up on Wednesday night.
Still, analysts remain puzzled by his choice of Dr Purnomo Yusgiantoro (picture), the previous Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, for the country’s top defence post.
For one thing, although he once had a brief stint as vice-governor of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas), Dr Yusgiantoro’s educational and professional background is mainly in the mining and energy sector.
For another, the challenges surrounding Indonesia’s defence sector are increasingly complex. They range from the decaying state of operational readiness and lack of budgetary support to the rapidly-changing regional military balance of power.
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Filed under: Civil-Military Relations, Politics
