Reformasi Dispatch

Student protesters returned again to the HI Roundabout and faced off with police in an orderly but eminently civil manner, with fire haze at the forefront.  The MSCI calamity is still roiling the market, as Danantara's CIO Pandu Sjahrir emerged as a shareholder in a securities firm complicit, allegedly, in fraudulent trading. And KPK investigators are taking aim, ominously, at alleged tobacco...

Another dire and unanticipated warning from MSCI precipitated another crash of the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX), and for insights we consulted the Indonesia-based  independent equities analyst Angus Mackintosh of Cross ASEAN Research.  Also: Kevin and Erin discuss another limited reshuffle of some key posts, startling poll findings, Bali fuel queues and the arrival (and departure) of the first...

Munira Mustaffa joins then podcast for a discussion of memetic violence in Southeast Asia as well as Russian recruiting of Indonesians for combat in Ukraine.  Also: a wide-ranging cabinet reshuffle delicately preserves the status quo, and the oresident revives the defunct Advisory Council (Wantimpres). It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recordin...

Smoke and mirrors this week in Indonesia: Palangkaraya's air-quality index (AQI) routinely tops 1,000; a technocratic new finance minister suddenly takes over; Nadiem must appeal again; a ferry disaster kills over 130; and elites start maneuvering for an election. Also: in Malaysia, Najib Razaq wins house arrest. Please visit our YouTube channel as well:  https://youtube.com/@reformasidispatc...

Nazir Foead, formerly head of the now defunct Peatland Restoration Agency (Badan Pengelola Gambut) joins Kevin and Erin to talk about the fire ravaging Indonesia, especially peatland fires, of which Indonesia has 12-14 million hectares of. Also: The rise of Dedy Mulyadi's popularity gives Prabowo a run for his money, a string of disasters, natural and man-made struck Indonesia: Anak Krakatau...

New data provided insights on smog-producing emissions of nitrous oxides (NOx), which we discuss with the analyst Katherine Hasan of the Centre for Clean Energy and Air (Crea).  Also: Kevin and Erin delve into the nuances surrounding a moderate-sized demonstration, plans for a commodity trading bourse and cross-border haze from forest-and-land fires. Read CREA's report here: https://energyand...

As Indonesia's export control policies increasingly attract attention, Vietnam is tentatively embracing the Korean Chaebol model.  Max Abbott, a seasoned analyst of both countries, helps compare and contrast their respective policy approaches.  Spoiler: the more market-oriented trajectory happens to be in the Communist country... Watch the YouTube version here: https://youtu.be/JqoB5jbxK18 It...

Thinzar Shunlei Yi, Magnitsky human rights award recipient for Outstanding Young Human Rights Activist Award and activist of the human rights NGO #Sisters2Sisters joins the Reformasi Dispatch podcast to share the realities of oppression in Myanmar and the diplomatic gains being made by the junta in Asean and beyond.  Also, Kevin and Erin discuss the ouster of Indonesia's central bank governor...

Reliable new polling suggests the national mood may be shifting away from the president.  BI's esteemed governor abruptly resigns and attention will focus on whether the central bank will fall fully under personalized political control. MUI discusses Anti-LGBT legislation. A push is underway for recycling and composting in Jakarta.  And the ASEAN Ministers Meeting marks another incremental st...

An embarrassment of riches befell the top prosecutor in Indonesia's AGO when police discovered seven suitcases of gold bars in the closet of his golf home.  But the prosecutor, Deputy AG Febrie Adriansyah, has not entered custody and his AGO colleagues will ostensibly handle his prosecution.  The Reformasi Dispatch podcast delves into the details of what transpired, what it reveals about key...

Reformasi Dispatch discusses: the Nadiem Makarim verdict and its effects on sentiment as well as procurement; the VP sweepstakes ahead of the 2029 scheduled election; the increasing urgency of kickstarting deliberations on a National Elections Law revision; and a spate of visits to Jakarta by heads of state; and a spate of deaths in the training of Red-White Cooperative managers. Watch it on YouTu...

In this special Pride month episode of Reformasi Dispatch, Kevin and Erin talk to legendary LGBTQ activist Dédé Oetomo to talk about his activism work, the recent rise of homophobic attacks and his words for future activists. Watch the video version on our YouTube: https://youtu.be/m4Qqz61WI4k It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording service...

The students are back!  And so is Reformasi Dispatch co-founder Jeff Hutton, who rejoins Erin and Kevin after his academic sojourn.  He shares his impressions of Indonesia's latest generation of campus youth -- their views, changes over time, and the pressures they face.  Plus, insights on the Jakarta protests that producer Steven Handoko covered up close in person.  And finally: a look at th...

After a precipitous drop in both the rupiah and the Indonesian Stock Index, Kevin and Erin round up the assorted moves implemented by the government to bolster confidence and restore stability (spoiler: there were none).  Next, do a sudden spate of arrests denote rifts between rival elements of the security forces?  And what do the contents of suspects' garages tell us?  Finally, the Palace r...

As the rupiah continues to slide, the government is exacerbating business sentiment by imposing an export marketing board for palm oil, coal and ferroalloys.  Kevin and Erin discuss the background, implications, and outlook in the latest edition of the Reformasi Dispatch podcast on Indonesian politics and policymaking.  Also in this episode: a fourth presidential visit to Paris; the Army's Pe...

Manila awaits the fate of the Dutertes. Prabowo makes an impression in Cebu for Asean's Summit, militarily and sartorially. Amien Rais's claims of an "offside" relationship between Prabowo and Teddy sparks a backlash.  The Police Reform Commission wraps up just as unrest affects Jayapura. And the Rupiah slides to a new low, posing a quandary for the president and focusing atten...

Indonesian politics this week featured mini-reshuffle of three cabinet & cabinet-level posts -- Kevin and Erin discuss the motives, consequences and who gained an advantage (spoiler: the Army).  Also: a rail disaster, the start of the trial of Andrie Yunus's attackers and uproar over Lt Col Teddy eating cake.  Also: a long-awaited trade reform package finally receives some discussion. It...

Amid pressure on the freedom of expression in Indonesia, Reformasi Dispatch examines the dynamics with Wahyu Dyatmika, a director of the Tempo Media Group.  Wahyu joins the pod to discuss attitudes in civil society and the media in the wake of the acid attack on Andrie Yunus, including whether self-censorship is becoming more prevalent in the media.  Wahyu, Erin and Kevin also discuss institutiona...

An interruption in shipments of LPG, the ubiquitous cooking fuel in Indonesia, will likely cause shortages soon, with consequences for the image of the administration.  And to safeguard petrol and diesel, Indonesia is moving towards rationing and even greater use of biodiesel.  Meanwhile, Tempo has produced revelations about how the acid attack on Andrie Yunus unfolded -- with signs of an institut...

In this week's episode of the Reformasi Dispatch podcast on Indonesia - with an energy crunch looming, will the government hike fuel prices or ration subsidized petrol? Will LPG supplies hold out? And will discomforts prove particularly awkward politically, given Prabowo's membership on the Board of Peace? Also: How energy shortages are manifesting in regional neighbours. In policy devel...

A military critic from the human rights group Kontras suffered a harrowing attack with acid that burned him badly. What does this portend for expression? In turn, police examined over 80 CCTV cameras and identified the suspected perpetrators - officers from military intelligence. Does this reflect rivalries between elements of the state apparatus? Also: How ASEAN states are reacting and adapting t...

President Prabowo reacts to the US-Israel invasion of Iran -- offer to mediate, assembles luminaries including former presidents, and then sets 'ready alert' (siaga satu) status for the military.  An array of groups and figures speak out against Prabowo's alignment with the US in the Board of Peace and concessions in the Recriprocal Trade Agreement.  Likelihood of a prolonged confli...

This week in Indonesia - Erin & Kevin examine Indonesia's reciprocal trade agreement (ART) with the US; a slander case brewing against the popular satirist Pandji Pragiwaksono; and, further afield, Thailand's election and the growing popularity in the Philippines of VP Sarah Duterte. It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording ser...

Electoral changes and a possible move to amend the Constitution are topics that Iqbal Kholidin of the Center for Democracy (Perludem) discusses in this week's edition of the Reformasi Dispatch podcast on Indonesian politics.  Erin and Kevin also discuss the stock market sell-off, the abrupt resignation of the chief financial regulator Mahendra Siregar, and the president's cancellation of...

To examine Thailand's upcoming election, Uday Bakhshi of Apac Assistance joins the Reformasi Dispatch podcast and outlines the players, prospects and scenarios -- including the 8 February referendum on yet another Constitution.  Also: Myanmar conducts a sham election; Indonesia joins Trump's Board of Peace -- generating backlash; rumors abound of an imminent change in the foreign affairs...