Reformasi Dispatch

Send us a textWe turn to an expert for an update on polling methodologies and what the numbers say thus far about where the candidates stand.  After gyrations during April, we ask the Harvard Ph.D. candidate Seth Soderborg about the constituencies, strategies and dynamics that could prove decisive in the months ahead.  Also, Kevin and Jeff recap the ill-fated 'Grand Alliance' and discuss how Anies Baswedan is elevating respect for democratic norms as a potentially powerful campaign theme.Get our special episode on the 4th Presidential Debate on:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/reformasi/extrasIt 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 textAfter nearly 20 years, a bill to help protect maids and household servants from exploitation finally appears poised to pass into law.  A longstanding proponent, former parliamentarian Eva Sundari, joins the pod to explain the bill's features, which she describes as moderate and modest.  A central feature will be a registration system to help track workers' whereabouts and guard against involuntary servitude.In addition, Jeff and Kevin review the ongoing whirlwind of party politicking, including options for parties of the United Alliance (KIB).  Also: an update on Jakarta's long-awaited Light Rail Train (LRT) due to commence operations in July.Get our special episode on the 4th Presidential Debate on:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/reformasi/extrasIt 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 textThis is the full interview with Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo on June 2021 in Indonesian.Get our special episode on the 4th Presidential Debate on:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/reformasi/extrasIt 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 textIn the wake of Megawati Sukarnoputri’s decision to back Ganjar Pranowo for president we thought we would replay our June 2021 interview with the Central Java governor. Kevin and Jeff talked with the governor about improving the pool of skilled labour, protecting the environment, the effectiveness of the KPK and Covid 19. The Delta wave of the virus would hit his province within weeks of our interview. What we didn’t know at the time was that our interview would be among the last he would grant to any media on worries he would appear to be swerving out of his political lane. No longer. Now he must build a national political profile with fewer than 10 months to go before the election. But with the help of Megawati’s ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the likely endorsement of the popular incumbent, Joko Widodo, Ganjar Pranowo has the wind at his back. We hope you enjoy the interview. The full original recording in Bahasa Indonesia is also available on this feed. We’ll be back on May 5th with another all new episode.Get our special episode on the 4th Presidential Debate on:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/reformasi/extrasIt 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 textGanjar Gets Go-Ahead (with Erry Hardjapamekas): The long waiting game with Megawati has ended as the PDI-P chair moved on 21 April 2023 to announce her intention to endorse the governor for president.  This improves Indonesia's political outlook; it also renders parties of the erstwhile United Alliance (KIB) adrift and triggers rampant speculation about vice-presidential running mates.  Jeff and Kevin discuss some scenarios ahead.  Also: a KPK founder joins the pod to discuss the commission's leadership, independence and potential dangers to democratization.  And finally: how the Jakarta-Bandung Fast Train may rankle bilateral relations with China for some time.Get our special episode on the 4th Presidential Debate on:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/reformasi/extrasIt 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 text10 months to the day before next year's momentous election, Indonesia's electoral process is plodding through a veritable gauntlet of meddling.  This includes spurious procedural disputes, unscrupulous legal attacks and a late-stage attempt to revise rules.  And the once-independent Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) is at issue: an editorial in Tempo, once a staunch KPK defender, asserts that the commission is now an instrument of abuse.  Machinations seemingly aim to indict Anies Baswedan regarding funding for a Formula-E grand prix -- but a weak charge against a presidential contender would likely call the election's legitimacy into question. Jeff and Kevin discuss the rapidly evolving state of play -- and assess the assertion of Jakarta's rumor mill that Megawati has finally decided to imminently endorse Central Java Gov Ganjar Pranowo as the presidential nominee of PDI‑Perjuangan.  Did the decision come about at considerable cost to Ganjar's support among football fans?  Indonesia lost its right to host the Under-20 football World Cup amid calls from Ganjar and others to ban the Israel team.  And finally, a look at the timeline for when the bulk of Indonesia's parties might finalize their presidential nominations.  Did we mention there are only 10 months to the elections? Enjoy the show.Get our special episode on the 4th Presidential Debate on:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/reformasi/extrasIt 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 textInternational scrutiny of the processes that produce batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) is inevitable -- and already beginning.  The author of a recent Wired article on the topic joins the pod.  Also: Jeff and Kevin discuss the implications of a potential attempt by the chair of the Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) to name former Jakarta Gov Anies Baswedan as a suspect, and a clear-cut case of a tourist-on-tourist stalking exposes law-enforcement frailties.Get our special episode on the 4th Presidential Debate on:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/reformasi/extrasIt 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 textSteven and Jeff speak with Awan Puryadi, one of the lawyers in involved in a class action suit on behalf of 25 families of victims who had drank cough syrup laced with industrial grade solvents that are lethal for humans. The families are seeking billions in compensation from pharmaceutical companies, distributors and the government for allowing the mass poisoning. The Pak Awan says the families want the government to devote resources toward long term care for those suffering debilitating injuries including organ failure and paralysis, which are permanent and an apology. Kevin is off this week, the guys will be back next week with a full show. For now, here’s Pak Awan. Get our special episode on the 4th Presidential Debate on:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/reformasi/extrasIt 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 textDisgraced former police general Ferdy Sambo was found guilty and sentenced to death for ordering the death of his subordinate, Yosua Hutabarat. Four more defendants including his wife were also found guilty with three dealt lengthy sentences behind bars. Even so, after a slew of high level dismissals last year the appetite for reform of Indonesia's crusty criminal justice system is still a long way off. Then, Jeff gets to segue neatly into Indonesia slump down Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index -- worst one-year fall since the dying days of Suharto. University of Michigan Professor Dan Slater joins Jeff and Kevin to discuss what Indonesian democracy can teach world and how efforts to criminalize critical speech and protest risk undermining the country's two decade transition from authoritarian rule.Get our special episode on the 4th Presidential Debate on:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/reformasi/extrasIt 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 textTito Ambyo, who is wrapping up a PhD on Indonesian horror, a lecturer on journalism at Melbourne's RMIT and co-host of the podcast Talking Indonesia joins Jeff and Kevin to discuss whether Jokowi is setting the table to break with Ibu Mega. We also get into the very real horror story of childhood stunting, and finally wheeling and dealing on the power grid that might make room for consumers who want to source electricity from renewable sources - scary stuff for coal fired power plants.Later Tito talks to the guys about the enduring love of horror in Indonesian popular culture and how discussing the supernatural and the ghosts of women and ethnic minorities who are wronged in this life is a way of backing into the taboo and fraught topics like the rights of women, and the communist purges of the 1960s. You can listen to Talking Indonesia here: https://open.spotify.com/show/6gwgrqZuYIw5gVaSjisQ1R?si=5juHLsamQmSgOD3iPvklbwGet our special episode on the 4th Presidential Debate on:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/reformasi/extrasIt 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!