Reformasi Dispatch

Send us a textThe state of the Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK), trends in the police and the atmosphere for discourse are factors affecting Indonesia's outlook for legal-system predictability and the rule of law -- which in turn drive development and democratization.  Joining the pod to evaluate a tumult of trends is Prof. Laode Syarif, a distinguished former KPK member (2014-19) and the current executive head of the Partnership for Governance Reform, an NGO that has long played a crucial role in reform.  Support us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasiIt takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Send us a textA scheme to nominate President Joko Widodo for vice president, which is suddenly occupying headlines, would face multiple hurdles – legal, ethical, political and electoral.  The idea may have arisen from the camp of Gerindra Chair Prabowo Subianto, but it has at least some currency with Widodo’s supporters.  It therefore serves as an indicator that they may be losing heart in the prospects for nominating Widodo’s ally, Central Java Gov Ganjar Pranowo.  In fact, Ganjar’s strong poll standing is still likely to attract sufficient party support for a nomination at some stage.  ‘Widodo for VP’ reflects the establishment's eagerness to find a path to a friendly successor regime.  Also in this episode: prospects for police reform emanating from the 'Brigadir J' case revelations, and how a change in PPP's chair could boost outgoing Jakarta Gov Anies Baswedan.  Support us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasiIt takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Send us a text Kevin and Jeff talk about President Joko Widodo’s decision to raise fuel prices and claw back some of the nearly 700 trillion rupiah in subsidies expected this year and how more price hikes may be in the offing. Said Iqbal of the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation warns of national strikes if the price hikes aren’t reversed. How Jokowi linked groups are beginning to campaign for Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo ahead of the 2024. And finally a brief discussion of grisly alleged murders and dismemberment by Indonesian military of Papuan civilians.Support us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasiIt takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Send us a textIndonesia’s Islamic firebrand suddenly won early release from prison.  The founder of the banned Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) has repeatedly shook national politics -- but conditions have changed since his zenith in 2017 and Reformasi Dispatch discusses what might come next.  Also: A major step back on climate policy as the government indefinitely postponed its long-awaited tax on carbon; Jeff and Kevin discuss the overlap of political and industrial interests at stake.  And the latest cooking-oil imbroglio.  Get a free trial of the Reformasi Weekly Newsletter at:https://bit.ly/reformasifreeSupport us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasiIt takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Send us a textKevin and Jeff talk with Harvard academic and pollster Seth Soderborg about the art and science of taking the temperature of the Indonesian electorate. It's a tough and expensive process. Use phones or online surveys and you risk missing huge chunks of the population with no regular access to the Internet. And respondents don't tend to like to express a definitive opinions, opting if possible for a middle-of-the-road answer. Still, answer they do -- at length -- meaning that if you have the resources and time reputable opinion surveys can turn out surprisingly accurate data. For well over a year, polling regarding presidential preference for the February 2024 election has clearly shown three potential nominees well ahead of all others, namely: two-time past contender Lt Gen (ret) Prabowo Subianto; Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo; and Jakarta Gov Anies Baswedan.  An April poll by Indikator Politik showed that, in a field of 19 potential candidates, Ganjar and Prabowo were on top, with support from 27 percent and 24 percent of respondents, respectively.  Because the poll’s error margin was three percentage points, this technically constitutes a tie.  But that poll also showed that only 73 percent of respondents recognized Ganjar’s name, while 98 know Prabowo – in effect, constituting upside potential for Ganjar as he becomes more well-known.  Baswedan garnered 19 percent in the poll, while no others won support from more than four percent.  In late May, a poll by Litbang Kompas also identified Ganjar and Prabowo in a virtual tie for first, with Baswedan in third.Enjoy the show!Get a free trial of the Reformasi Weekly Newsletter at:https://bit.ly/reformasifreeSupport us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasiIt takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Send us a textPresident Joko Widodo's sudden plan to engage in personal diplomacy with Putin involves high stakes.   Prospects for progress are daunting, but the  trip marks a welcome foray by Indonesia's leader into international affairs.  Ukraine's ambassador to Indonesia joins the pod to put the effort in context and help shed light on what is reasonable to anticipate.  Also: Megawati uncorks more vitriol aimed towards Ganjar, and all sides gear up for yet another tussle over an attempt to revise Indonesia's antiquated Criminal Code (KUHP).  Get a free trial of the Reformasi Weekly Newsletter at:https://bit.ly/reformasifreeSupport us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasiIt takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Send us a textIndonesia's new and renewable energy bill includes provisions to support development of fossil fuels including coal bed methane and coal gasification. Also on the pod: Elite support solidifies for Ganjar, and a mini reshuffle.Get a free trial of Reformasi Weekly Newsletter at:https://bit.ly/reformasifreeSupport us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasiIt takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Send us a textFormer VP nominee Sandiaga Uno joins Reformasi Dispatch to discuss his portfolio as tourism minister at a crucial juncture for the sector.   Jeff and Kevin examine the significance of Golkar's entrance into the 'United Indonesia Alliance' with Pan and PPP -- without any mention of Party Chair Airlangga Hartarto as its presidential contender.  Also: the mysterious Acute Hepatis outbreak and how the Widodo administration will utilize its remarkable windfall from an across-the-board boom in exports (spoiler: fuel subsidies die hard). Get a free trial of Reformasi Weekly Newsletter at:https://bit.ly/reformasifreeSupport us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasiIt takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Send us a textKevin and Jeff interview Andy Yentriani, chairwoman of Indonesia's National Commission on Violence Against Women. Indonesia's landmark law on sexual crimes offers unprecendented protections against unwanted sexual advances and recriminations from alleged perpetrators. It has big shortcomings, too. Legislators have left treatment of rape for inclusion in a long-delayed revised criminal code. And enforcement will be left up to Indonesia's mostly male criminal justice system. But the new law is at last official recognition of Indonesia's yawning gender divide.Get a free trial of Reformasi Weekly Newsletter at:https://bit.ly/reformasifreeSupport us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasiIt takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!

Send us a textControlling domestic cooking-oil prices is President Widodo's reason for banning Indonesia's exports of palm oleins, which the world relies upon for food and cosmetics.  Will the draconian measure actually work?  If so, when?  Global concerns about food inflation are at stake.  Also on the pod: the Lowy Institute's Ben Bland discusses Indonesian attitudes toward democracy, international relations and world leaders, based on Lowy's new poll findings.  Jeff and Kevin discuss the implications of Indonesia's first-quarter trade data and the start of the annual 'mudik' exodus from cities for Idul Fitri.Support us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasiIt takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor's salary and music licensing. Luckily, you, estemeed listeners of Reformasi Dispatch podcast can help us.You can donate to us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi and help us grow!