Reformasi Dispatch

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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).

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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.

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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 eruption, forest and land fire, food poisoning that strikes over 2000 children in a week. And finally, Haji Isam gets an offer he couldn't refuse.

Watch the Youtube version here: https://youtu.be/VP9...

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://energyandcleanair.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/EN-CREA_Press-release_First-of-its-kind-satellite-based-analysis-reveals-29-hazardous-NOx-hotspots-across-Indonesia.docx.pdf

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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

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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 and the upcoming pre-trial suit of the disgraced deputy attorney general Febrie Adriansyah.

Watch the Youtube version here: https://youtu.be/NvJjNcD4rMw

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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 step towards accepting Myanmar's junta.

Watch the video version on our YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y-IgjajkciE

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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 security organs and their mutual hostilities -- and what it means for politics.  Also: opprobrium for the public works minister, an ammunition factory for Haji Isam and polished viral videos of violence against trans women.

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 YouTube: https://youtu.be/ASEPMbIW2Ew

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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

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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 the government's messaging on the rupiah and conditions for investment.

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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 reaction to criticism of Prabowo's penchant for Paris, and a ditty about the energy minister pairs a delightful tune with venomous lyrics.

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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 Pesta Babi counter-narrative (spoiler: it was Soros); and the EU Parliament calls for accountability for the Andrie Yunus acid attack.

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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 attention on policymaking.

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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.

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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 institutional rivalries that the acid attack exposed, as well as potential fallout ahead from the global energy crisis and LPG supply constraints.

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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 institutional approach and broad targets.  And Kevin and Erin discuss a consortium poll on attitudes toward democracy, military politics and President Prabowo's foreign policy approach to Gaza and the Board of Peace.

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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 developments, a draft decree in lieu of law (Perppu) would focus on economic crimes. And the military ousted the three-star head of intelligence (Bais) as a 'form of accountability' for the acid attack on Andrie Yunus. Kevin...

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 to the war on Iran, including geopolitics as well as energy disruptions. Prabowo called for 100 Gigawatts of solar power.

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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 conflict in Iran point to economic impacts for Indonesia.  A court acquits Delpedro Marhaen, an activist apprehended last August for demonstrations.  And the government is restricting social media accounts for minors under age 16.

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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.

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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 Jardine Matheson's Martabe gold mine in North Sumatra.  Also: a tragic youth suicide case has gripped the nation's attention.

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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 portfolio; and the tragedy of the collapse of a mountainside in Cisarua.

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Kevin and Erin talk to former  US diplomat  Brandon Possin on Trump's invasion of Venezuela and what to expect of the administration. Also: Stand up comic and government critic Pandji Pragiwaksono could face a blasphemy charge for his Netflix special Mens Rea after he was reported by a youth group. And Thomas Djiwandono, the President's nephew is named as a candidate for Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia, a move that shows administration's reach on monetary policy.

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Joining the pod is Isanksarsyah Bakri, senior advisor to the Aceh governor, for a discussion of the livelihoods crisis facing the province after the 23 November Senyar Cyclone devastated half of Aceh's districts.  Also: Erin and Kevin look at the Information Ministry's ban of the Grok AI nudify function on Elon Musk's X; Prabowo's travel plans; and Megawati's emphatic denunciation of Trump's neo-colonial folly.  And a spelling correction for last week's blurb: our interview guest was Monica Wihardja (not Suhardja).

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Burhanuddin Muhtadi of the polling firm Indikator politik, together with Monica Wihardja of ISEAS, join the pod to discuss their empirical analysis of disinformation mesaging in the 2024 Presidential contest. Spoiler: Beware of TikTok. Pak Burhan also comments on Presidential support ratings. Also; Kevin and Erin discuss disaster relief, a regional head election bill and KPK scrutiny of Ridwan Kamil.

You can read Burhanuddin and Monica's research here: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.iseas.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/TRS10_25.pdf

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Dr Chris Chaplin joins the pod to discuss the latest in politics, and the background to his new analytical endeavor, www.cearta.co.  Also: police appointments, electoral law revisions and international cyclone aid.

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Kevin and Erin talk with researcher Garda Ramadhito on Prabowo's Palestine peace-keeping plans and political Islam in his term. Also, the political and environmental reckoning in Sumatra's devastating flooding and the KPK takes a look at its own handling of a case involving Bobby Nasution.

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A week of superlatives for Indonesia - the tragic Senyar cyclone is the largest on record to hit Indonesia; a tax bribery case is affecting a key owner of the most profitable bank, BCA; a leadership struggle has incapacitated the largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), at a time when Indonesia prepares for its largest-ever deployment of peacekeepers to Gaza; and Danantara seeks a role in a long-awaited potential GoTo-Grab merger that would constitute an on-demand behemoth with 90% market share.  Otherwise, no drama.

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Kevin talks to Matt Busch on his new book "The Contested State: The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency during the Asian Financial Crisis."

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Joining the pod is Dr Seth Soderborg to discuss polling trends in Indonesia.  Also discussed: Soeharto's annointment as hero, the outlook for the new Police Reform Commission, improved BI foreign reserves, an Australian Defence Treaty and a bombing by a youth at a school in Kelapa Gading.

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In this episode: plans for bestowing hero status on Soeharto, exonerating parliamentarians for August excesses, the president's message to police, and Myanmar's junta poses for polls.

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In this episode: the Golkar chair seeks criminal defamation charges for social-media users who distribute disagreeable memes; Prabowo proffers Gaza engagement, but with political pitfalls - as seen at Asean's summit attended by Trump; and Sjafrie seriously considers a purchase of yet more fighter jets, from China.

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Our pod guest Krista Shennum from Climate Rights International discussed CRI's extensive field research on nickel sector impacts on communities across a swathe of Eastern Indonesia -- from pollution such as acid rain, health adversities such as skin afflictions, disasters such as dam breaks and disputes over land rights and compensation.  An interviewee asked, 'Does anyone care?', which is CRI's report title.  Also in this episode: Erin & Kevin discuss the "Hari" referred to by two presidents, Trans7's pesantren debacle and expatriate directors in an SOE.

Read Climate Rights International report here: https://cri.org/reports/do...

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.

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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 exported shrimp.

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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

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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/ 

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'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 orchestrator?  Who is the dastardly criminal mastermind?  Is it "foreign actors"?  (Morgan Freeman?)  Spoiler alert it was the internet... 

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