Reformasi Dispatch

In this episode: Interview with Ristian Atriandi Supriyanto of Universitas Indonesia on Indonesia and China's joint agreement regarding South China Sea.  Also: New SMRC polling on Jakarta race, Prabowo's visit to US.

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Read Ristian's op-ed here: https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/check-not-check-mate-indonesia-s-nine-dash-line-mistake

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Season 4 Episode 37: Prabowo's moves, US election impact, Labor Law, electoral reforms

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In this episode: Interview with Anindya Restuviani of Jakarta Feminist.  Also: inauguration address, cabinet contours, arrest by AGO, BRICSmembership, new agencies.

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Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.beehiiv.com/

You can support us on: buymeacoffee.com/reformasi

Interview with 'Majapahit' author Herald van der Linde - pluralism, commerce and justice in pre-modern Indonesia.  Plus, a look at the likely new cabinet roster with some positive late-stage alterations.

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Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.beehiiv.com/

You can support us on: buymeacoffee.com/reformasi

In this episode: Asean Summit, Jakarta governor debate, investigation in South Kalimantan, fiscal deficit outlook, cabinet-roster prognostications.

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Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.beehiiv.com/

This week: Erin Cook talks to Rio Tuasikal on his paper regarding media coverage of AI in Indonesia. Also, Regional-head races, ethanol production, cabinet formation and new legislative leaderships

Read Rio Tuasikal's research on media coverage of AI in Indonesia: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15u1m5c7V0mfx_i2Jip2g687-HIKMVbZu/view

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Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.beehiiv.com/

This week: Sri Mulyani speculation, Kiwi pilot released, cabinet rumors and sand exports.  Also: Prof James Guild discusses the Widodo-era legacy of infrastructure development.

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Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.beehiiv.com/

This week: the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (Kadin) takeover, Widodo's offspring under fire, and updates on the politics of regional-head elections.

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Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.beehiiv.com/

Following the profound setback to democratization from Golkar's takeover, constitutional justices undertook a spirited effort to restore competition to regional-head elections -- only for parliament to countermand the court a day later with a Regional Head Election Law revision.  To examine the whiplash-like effects of events, we enlisted the veteran journalist Wahyu Dhyatmika of Tempo - the venerable news group that occupies a central role in documenting Indonesia's political convulsions. We discuss the circumstances of Golkar Chair Airlangga Hartarto's resignation, the ensuing cabinet reshuffle, two momentous Constitutional Court verdicts on 20 August and the legislative reprisal led by Gerindra in parliament.  We assess the prospects for demonstrations, the implications for the legitimacy of the regional‑head election system and the longer-term consequences for the rule-of-law versus "Ruler's Law".  Credit to our intrepid journalist-and-sound engineer Steven Handoko for turning around the audio file in record time and keeping the content fresh!

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President Widodo and Prabowo Subianto need no longer contend with restiveness from Indonesia's second-largest party: Golkar Chair Airlangga Hartarto sensationally resigned and his replacement will be the Widodo-Prabowo loyalist Bahlil Lahadahlia.

Kevin and Erin discuss the implications for democratization (spoiler: not good) and, specifically, regional-head races (not good either).  For Jakarta's race, the maneuvering will exclude incumbent Gov Anies Baswedan, ensuring the election of Ridwan Kamil as the only party-backed nominee on the ballot - and we examine comparable dynamics in several other provinces.  But, if Widodo emerges as chair of Golkar Advisory Board that has expanded powers, how will that function in practice?  Indonesia's attempt at a duumvirate inevitably entails inherent tensions. 

Also: the attempted comeback of the Constitutional Court's former chief justice, Anwar Usman; the abrupt resignation of a key Information Ministry official; and, in Thailand, the ouster of Prime Minister Sretta and his replacement with Paetongtarn (Ung Ing) Shinawatra. 

Finally: an interview on human trafficking with the Airlangga University PhD candidate in labor migration studies, Aniello Iannone.  We discuss the dimensions and dynamics of illegal trafficking (TPPO) in Indonesia, domestically and internationally, including the mechanisms of agents operating at the community level - and how certain civil-society organizations are striving to safeguard victims, including children.

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Read Erin's newsletter Dari Mulut Ke Mulut here: https://darimulut.beehiiv.com/