Click on the link below each excerpt to read the full article. 1. President Joko Widodo’s Image Problems 26 JAN 2021 “The opposition’s weakness means that the Indonesian president’s recent problems carry few political costs – for the moment. Last year, President Joko Widodo’s image as a populist “close-to-the-people” political leader suffered a series of […]
The Democrat Party Split: Dynastic versus All-Party Politics by Max Lane
“On 2 February, Agus H Yudhoyono (AHY), the Chairman of the Democrat Party (PD), publicly accused President Joko Widodo’s Chief of Staff, retired General Moeldoko, of plotting to organise an Extraordinary Congress (KLB) of the PD to seize the leadership of the opposition party. Moeldoko, not a PD member, denied the accusations. AHY is the son […]
To Be Young and Rich: Indonesia’s Vaccination Controversies by Max Lane
No parliamentary opposition means the government is not held to account for its vaccination programme. Indonesia’s pandemic response and relief efforts continue to struggle with the tensions between economic and health priorities. Last year, this manifested itself in the uneven and changing “lockdown” policies restricting social mobility. At the very beginning of the pandemic’s spread […]
Criticising Indonesia’s Anti-Criticism Law: Irony of Ironies by Max Lane
Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo has called for criticism of his administration. He got more than he bargained for. On 8 February, President Joko Widodo made a call for more criticisms of his government from society. Ironically, his call was met with a shower of criticisms that many people had been charged and jailed precisely for making criticisms, […]
Re-released: Unfinished nation : ingatan revolusi, aksi massa dan sejarah Indonesia / Max Lane
PRESIDENT JOKO WIDODO’S IMAGE PROBLEMS by Max Lane
The opposition’s weakness means that the Indonesian president’s recent problems carry few political costs – for the moment. Last year, President Joko Widodo’s image as a populist “close-to-the-people” political leader suffered a series of blows. 2020 was marked by regular demonstrations protesting many of these issues, especially the Job Creation Law as well as a constant […]
Relating to the Third World today compared to the 60s – an article by Max Lane
Why Anti-Imperialism Must Be Central for the Left in Imperialist Australia and Divided World Why Anti-Imperialism Must Be Central for the Left in Imperialist Australia and Divided World By Max Lane5900 Words I was born in 1951. I was in my early teens when the American war in Vietnam started to become news. I just missed […]
THE WIDODO GOVERNMENT IN 2020: THE TADPOLE FLAILS by Max Lane
“As Covid year 2020 ends, so too does the first year of the second and final term of the presidency of Joko Widodo. One year in, all the sheen of being the “hope” for Indonesia has vanished. No longer viral are the iconic silhouettes of Jokowi’s head, copying the famed style of the silhouette of […]
Protests Against the Omnibus Law and the Evolution of Indonesia’s Social Opposition
by Max Lane “On October 8, unionised workers as well as university and high school students protested for the repeal of the Omnibus for Work Creation Law (Omnibus Law) that had been passed by Indonesia’s House of Representatives on October 5, 3 days earlier than expected. Some small protests took place immediately on October 5, […]
Thousands take to Indonesia’s streets in angry protests against pro-business law
by James Balowksi. “Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Indonesia last week in a series of angry and sometimes violence protests against the passage of the government’s widely unpopular Omnibus Law on Job Creation, which will further deepen attacks on working conditions and the environment. On October 5, […]
