Reformasi Dispatch

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

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/

This week, Southeast Asia's politics witnessed the dissolution of Thailand's most popular party (again), and strides in Indonesia's regional‑head elections to thwart the administration's rivals -- in which case, ballots in November may literally feature empty boxes for voters' only alternative to a nominee of a hegemonic alliance.  Also: Erin and Kevin discuss Sheikh Hasina's downfall in Dhaka, as well as a breakthrough Indonesian health reform and latest developments on the Nusantara capital project.

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

Indonesia's president-elect set a distinctive tone by making visits to France, Serbia, Turkey and Russia.  Kevin and Erin examine some takeaways (more on the Kremlin call in the next pod.)  Meanwhile, President Widodo breaks in the Nusantara Palace and hosts influencers.  Also: the Asean foreign ministers' retreat in Laos and a grotesque verdict for a grotesque crime in Surabaya.

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

The passing of the Communist Party's general secretary has the makings of a watershed for modern Vietnam - yet the public domain is distinctly unruffled.  To talk through the reactions and implications of the unfolding transition, we reach out to the writer and podcaster of Vietnam Weekly, Mike Tatarski.  Spoiler: unknowns abound.  And in Indonesia: Erin and Kevin consider a bevy of Prabowo-oriented appointments, the military's yen for business and the pitfalls of zoomorphic forms in palace architecture.

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

To read about Vietnam Weekly, go here: https://vietnamweekly.substack.com/

In a special 1-hr interview, Reformasi Dispatch consults the Indonesian polling expert, Dr Seth Soderberg, on a new batch of survey findings for gubernatorial contests in five major provinces.  With contests taking place in over 570 regions simultaneously, the 27 November elections pose a momentous juncture for shaping Indonesia's political future.  With new data from Indikator Politik and Kompas, we examine the context and conditions for the jockeying and campaigning that lies ahead.  This includes prospects for Anies Baswedan, Ridwan Kamil, Bobby Nasution, Airin Diany and the firebrand upstart Basuki Purnama ('Ahok') -- along with some of the possible permutations of party alliances.  And finally: weighing the prospects for the president's younger son Kaesang Pangarep.

Curious circumstances surround June's hack of a national data center (PDNS II) and Nenden of Safenet, a premier CSO on online rights, joins the pod to help de-encrypt.  We discuss the safety protocols, the hackers' demands and where accountability lies.  Also: Erin and Kevin examine a momentous change at the top of the General Election Commission (KPU) and the implications for the president's younger son.  And finally: the president-elect's brother-in-law weighs in on building new capitals versus disbursing free lunches.

 For a free trial of Reformasi newsletter, go to reformasi.info

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