Reformasi Dispatch

This week: Prabowo and Widodo together again; signs of sensitivity on free lunches; the new finance minister makes a rocky start; and the Al-Khoziny disaster in Sidoarjo. It 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...

This week: Prabowo's address to the UN General Assembly and the signing of trade agreements (CEPAs) with both Canada and the EU.  Prabowo's signature program, free school lunches, faces criticism with almost 6,000 children having suffered food poisoning.  Almost 1,000 people remain in custody for the August demonstrations and riots. And radioactive Cesium-137 turned up in tons of exporte...

In this episode: A new finance minister, a cabinet reshuffle, the Nation's Conscience Movement, Thaksin detained, Anti-elite movements from Kathmandu to Manila, deadly floods in Bali and Freeport workers trapped For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.info     Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.substack.com/ It takes a lot of money to run...

Joining us to consider recent developments -- namely, unrest, economic frustrations and democratic hopes -- is Prof Ian Wilson, principal fellow of the Indo-Pacific Research Centre at Murdoch University. Read Ian Wilson's article here: https://indonesiaatmelbourne.unimelb.edu.au/who-speaks-for-the-riot-youth-agency-and-the-contest-over-protest-narratives/  It takes a lot of money to run a pod...

'Let them eat kue!' Kevin and Erin update the escalation of protests over the weekend throughout Indonesia, surrounding the death of 21-year-old delivery-bike driver Affan Kurniawan, crushed by an armored police vehicle.   The ensuing frenzy witnessed the looting of houses of several parliamentarians as well as that of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati (she was away).  Who is the or...

This week, protests Monday set the scene for a chaotic week. Elsewhere, Immanuel Ebenezer's arrest marks the first cabinet alleged corruption case and a new addition to the Constitutional Court shores up government support on the bench. Please note this podcast was recorded Thursday afternoon Jakarta time and there will be more to come. For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformas...

Prabowo celebrated Indonesia"s 80th anniversary of Independence at the Palace. Residents of Pati protested against their district chief, backed by a nationwide online campaign.  And Setya Novanto, disgraced former Speaker of the House who was sentenced to 15 years in prison, won release. For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.info Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke M...

Better than expected GDP data shows resilience in the economy, but is not without controversy.  Also: startling personnel changes in Gerindra and a state bank, and a plan for aiding Gazans. It 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 podca...

This week -  the patronage politics of pardon power plays; a test to freedom of expression from cartoon pirates; funding cooperatives from the accumulated deficit-financing surplus (Sal); and a listener's question on good sources for analysis of the ASEAN-wide political economy. It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor&...

Tensions erupted along the Thai-Cambodia border as five days of skirmishing caused 32 deaths. Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia sat down with the Thai and Cambodian PMs; ASEAN centrality shone as he brokered a ceasefire. The next day he visited Prabowo and addressed the ASEAN Secretariat. Prabowo gives an hour-long speech at PSI, talking about elephants; the new PSI logo, his commitment to elephant conser...

Prabowo went to Brussels to meet with Ursula Von der Leyen to finalize the long awaited Indonesia-EU CEPA. Trump announced 19% tariff announcement on Truth Social. Tom Lembong was sentenced to 4 and a half years, a loud political statement on what dissent will cost and a warning for other Ministers not to cross Prabowo.

This week: we discuss a Java-Bali ferry disaster, Gibran's new assignment, Prabowo's Brics Summit, Trump's revised tariff threat and, not least - aura farming. For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.info Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.substack.com/ It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hos...

Paetongtarn is out, an Indonesian influencer is arrested and sentenced to 7 years in Myanmar's Insein prison, a new Constitutional Court decision on election scheduling is causing a stir. For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.info Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.substack.com/ It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscri...

In this interview with Dr. Rien Dam, an expert on water and land management, Kevin talks about the long-discussed plan of North Jakarta sea wall program. It 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...

Prabowo snubs G7 invitation and heads for St. Petersburg to meet Putin. Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement coming to a conclusion. A spotlight on nickel mining island in Raja Ampat islands. A dispute between Aceh and North Sumatra regarding the status of four islands. Fadli Zon's insistent on denying rapes happening in 1998 riots showed willingness from Government to ch...

A tension brewed up albeit briefly between Thailand and Cambodia after Thai forces kill a Cambodian soldier. A group of retired soldiers continue to push for Gibran's impeachment, an allegation towards Education Ministry's tender can put Former Education Minister Nadiem Makarim in a crosshair It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recordin...

Kevin talks to Glenn Hurowitz of Mighty Earth on Food estate program in Papua. Also, French President Emmanuel Macron pays a visit to the Palace and Borobudur. Police arrested 93 Trisaksti students on the day of remembrance of Reformasi. Ojek drivers held a demonstration responding to the talks of merger between Grab and Gojek. Visit Mighty Earth on mightyearth.org For a free trial of Reformasi ne...

Kevin and Erin talk to Alon Aviram of Gecko Project on his collaborative investigative reporting regarding Chromium-6 exposure in waters of Obi Island as a result of Harita's nickel expansion. Also, PM Albanese visits Indonesia a day after his second inauguration. Read Gecko Project's investigation here : https://thegeckoproject.org/articles/clean-cars-poisoned-water/ For a free trial of...

Policies of consigning youths deemed problematic to military barracks caused a controversy and an ITB student who made an ai-generative image of Jokowi and Prabowo kissing was arrested with ITE law.  For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.info Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.beehiiv.com/ It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need s...

As Singaporeans go to the polls, Kevin and Erin talk to Kirsten Han of We The Citizen and Mekong Review on the country's 9-day campaign. Also, Jokowi's visit to the Vatican and later to police HQ to file defamation charges against those who call his diploma a forgery.  And a formidable group of military retirees call for impeaching the VP. For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to...

Kevin and Erin talk to Angus Mackintosh of CrossASEAN research on the recent stock market dynamics and outlook. Also a report on Russian airbase in Biak became a hot topic for the Australian election. And Widodo received visitors while an Indonesian delegation starts tariff negotiations. For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.info Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut...

Ristian Atriandi of ANU joins Kevin and Erin to discuss TNI Law. Also, Prabowo finally meets Mega, response to Trump tariffs and its delay. It 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 buymeacoff...

A 7.7 Richter scale earthquake devastates Myanmar, Thanksin Shinawatra joins the board of Danantara, Indonesia braces for a new set of reciprocal tariffs from Trump, and protests against TNI law continues in several cities.  For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.info Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.beehiiv.com/ It takes a lot of money to...

Kevin and Erin spoke to Fabby Tumiwa of IESR on renewable energy. Also: the new military law, IHSG plunges, and Tempo received threats. For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.info Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.beehiiv.com/ It takes a lot of money to run a podcast. You need subscription fees for hosting, audio recording services, editor&a...

Jonathan Head of the BBC joins the pod to discuss Myanmar's scam center For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.info Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.beehiiv.com/ It 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 li...