Reformasi Dispatch

A cap-and-trade scheme to encourage emissions reductions is imminent, with application for the power sector as well as avoided deforestation.  Jeff welcomes back Bill Sullivan from Christian Teo & Partners to talk about new regulations paving the way towards carbon exchange next month. While small and likely restricted to the domestic market, Indonesia stands out among its neighbours for ventu...

Jeff, Kevin and Steven talk with the Special Rapporteur for the UN on Myanmar about the country's worsening crisis and what levers ASEAN can use to further its Five Point Consensus. Also: Airlangga Hartarto faces 12 hours of scrutiny from the Attorney General’s Office while facing a rift in his own Golkar party; yet more intrigue affects Pertamina; and Foreign Minister Marsudi in the recent A...

Kevin and Jeff speak with the human rights activist and high profile lawyer on unfinished business criminal justice reform under the Widodo presidency, his defense of Time Magazine and the Bali Nine, and prospects for governance reform under a Prabowo presidency about which he’s surprisingly open-minded. Get our special episode on the 4th Presidential Debate on: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/reform...

We consult the Teneo SE Asia expert Bob Herrera Lim on the intricacies of what may be a watershed juncture in the politics of Thailand.  Also: breaking down Prabowo's Najwa Shihab interview and re-assessing prospects for the indictment of Anies Baswedan. Get our special episode on the 4th Presidential Debate on: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/reformasi/extras It takes a lot of money to run a po...

The leadership of Indonesia’s governing party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) indicates a rapprochement between their respective leaders Megawati Sukarnoputri and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, ending their yearlong estrangement and potentially upending President Joko Widodo’s governing parliamentary coalition. PDIP elites resent Widodo’s reluctance to distance himself with his two...

The long-awaited ban on exports of raw bauxite ore is in place and Reformasi Dispatch turns to an expert on resource‑sector regulations to examine the drivers of policymaking -- including stark variations that differentiate assorted minerals such as nickel, bauxite, copper and tin.  Also: a review of the start of Minister Luhut Panjaitan's defamation proceedings against two prominent human ri...

Defense 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...

Courting 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...

Indonesian 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 mat...

A 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 ne...

The 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 foi...

We 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 Ba...

After 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 i...

This 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/extras 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 Di...

In 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 interv...

Ganjar 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...

10 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...

International 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...

Steven 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 w...

Disgraced 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 lo...

Tito 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 w...

Erin Cook, author of substack Dari Mulut ke Mulut, joins Jeff and Kevin to discuss the presidential horse race. With almost exactly a year to go to elections, the stage is set for the big coalitions to announce their standard bearers after Agus Yudhoyono of Partai Demokrat drops demands for VP nominee and endorsed Anies Baswedan. Erin walks the guys through elections in Thailand and the impact of...

Ruby Kholifa of the Muslim Action Network (Aman) joins the pod to discuss campaigns against female genitalia mutilation (FGM) and other aspects of a recent landmark conference that she helped lead.  Also: Imam of the Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) discusses his trip to Morowali and Jiangsu Delong's Gunbuster Nickel (GNI), site of recent deadly worker clash.  And finally: Jeff and Kevin discu...

A landmark 2-hour address by the PDI‑Perjuangan chair -- to a red-clad audience of 3,000, including the president and half the cabinet -- made no mention whatsoever of Ganjar Pranowo, the PDI-P Central Java governor who leads presidential polls. Preparations may now be underway for his split from the party in order to join the United Alliance (KIB) -- a process that will likely be messy.  Also: un...

New poll data provides depicts the state of the presidential race and a World Bank report assesses economic reform.  Jeff and Kevin discuss listener questions about a recent controversy surrounding foreign property interests in the Widi Islands and the state of the planned capital move.  Also, hear from sound engineer Steven Handoko, whom we unmute (on purpose). Support us on buymeacoffee.com/refo...