Reformasi Dispatch

Send us a textDefense Minister Prabowo Subianto continues to garner the president's favor, providing poll momentum.  This marks a dramatic re-invention of his perceived persona since 2019, when he rejected the election outcome and violence ensued. Jeff and Kevin examine the latest twists in the presidential contest and consider the crucial role of Joko Widodo.  As for another chameleon: the 'Hollywood Con Queen' case is garnering international headlines.  Reformasi Dispatch talks with an enterprising Indonesian researcher -- Bintang Lestada -- who played a pivotal role in uncovering the mystery that will soon itself become a Hollywood picture.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 textCourting Disaster —The Constitutional Court appears poised to hand down a ruling that would give political party leaders including Megawati Sukarnoputri, chair of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) power to hand pick representatives to sit in parliament following  legislative elections. Such a ruling would erode voter choice while enhancing the the sway of elites. With the head of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Firli Bahuri, seemingly bent on pressing  corruption charges against former Jakarta governor and presidential candidate Anies Basewdan, President Joko Widodo was compelled to say he would do nothing to “tarnish democracy” — something that should go without saying. Also Jeff and Kevin talk with Amilia Rosa, a veteran Bali reporter to talk about Bali Governor Wayan Koster’s latest populist gambit: a ban on climbing any of the island’s 22 mountains.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 textIndonesian constitutional justices saw fit to extend the tenure of Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) members, while also considering a late-stage alteration of the legislative electoral system.  Also before the court: a request to lower the minimum age for a vice‑presidential nominee, which would allow Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming (the president's son) to be Prabowo Subianto's running mate.  And the court's chief justice is Gibran's uncle...  (Note: subsequent to the recording, the court critic Denny Indrayana, a former vice law minister, became the target of criminal charges of defamation and leaking state secrets.)  Later Jeff and Kevin discuss a setback to the clean energy transition: an imminent ministerial decree will end net-metering for rooftop solar installations, which will disincentivize residential homeowners from contributing clean energy to the grid.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 textA veteran human rights expert joins the pod to reflect on press freedoms a quarter-century since Soeharto's fall.  Andreas Harsono also provides an update on the Widodo administration's gesture to acknowledge 12 cases of past rights cases.  Also: Jeff and Kevin assess Ganjar's initial campaign performances and messaging -- along with an abrupt move by the Prabowo camp to 'go negative' at an early stage.  And finally: sudden rancor over the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and the Bandung fast train's trial run.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 textThe former US ambassador to Indonesia and Myanmar joins Reformasi Dispatch to share his views -- compiled from a career devoted almost entirely to diplomacy throughout the Asean region.  Ambassador Marciel's book uses a wealth of personal vignettes to highlight over-arching themes such as democratization, institution-building, and engaging with the region on its merits -- rather than as a foil to China.  Jeff and Kevin ask the ambassador about legal-system institutions, Indonesian democracy, conditions in Myanmar, and the tools available to US diplomats in SE Asia.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 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!