Indonesia Intelligencer (Feb 3 - Feb 9)
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Politics
The battle over a revised version of Indonesia’s Criminal Code (RKUHP) continued this week. UN High Commissioner on Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein visited the country Feb. 5-7 and concluded his trip by warning Indonesia against implementing the bill’s most controversial and ultra-conservative statutes, particularly those criminalizing homosexual acts. Lawmakers from ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) also urged Indonesian politicians to reject the problematic revisions.
The opposition seems to have had some sway on discussions. While lawmakers agreed on Monday to articles in RKUHP that would potentially criminalize both all sex outside of marriage as well as cohabitation, they also agreed to limit complainants to spouses, children and parents in order to prevent the new laws from being abused by third parties. Kate Walton writing for New Naratif has a good breakdown of the history, political motivations for and opposition to RKUHP that describes the bill’s enormous potential for abuse.
Today (Friday) will be a big test as lawmakers for all 10 political parties will meet to seek a consensus on a final version of the bill that could go to a vote as early as this month.
President Joko Widodo has remained mum on the RKUHP controversy, even after getting a talking to about it and the country’s other human rights issues from the visiting UN commissioner. He did promise to take care of another long-standing source of tension with Indonesia’s neighbors, however, telling Singapore and Malaysia that 2018 would be a haze-free year and calling on Indonesian officials to take a hardline stance against forest fires, particularly ahead of this year’s Asian Games (which will be hosted in Jakarta and Palembang this August).
Jokowi’s persistent push on infrastructure projects, coupled with his strategic silence on controversial issues like human rights abuses, seems to have paid off politically. The incumbent’s strong poll numbers show he is likely to “steam towards an easy second term.” But, of course, a lot can still happen before the 2019 presidential elections.
Read also
Jakarta’s new governor in a bait-and-switch (Asia Times)
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan recently marked his first 100 days in office after an election campaign that played on religious and racial divisions while promising low-income city dwellers generous social programs. While he continues to stir divisive controversy, it’s not clear he’ll be able to deliver on his populist vows.
Business
The Indonesian stock market was one of many around the globe hit hard by Monday’s historic drop in the Dow, but ended its two-day losing streak by Wednesday.
Despite growing social and political tensions, the International Monetary Fund seems to think a steady hand is on the archipelago’s economic rudder. In its latest report, the IMF said Indonesia’s annual growth rate will rise to about 5.6 percent over the medium term thanks to robust domestic demand. It also strongly advised the country to take advantage of its young and growing workforce by stepping up reforms to boost growth and create more quality jobs.
Read also
Why Bandung could be Indonesia's Silicon Valley (BBC)
In Indonesia, the mayor of Bandung is driving a grand vision for his city. His aim of turning it into a tech capital has led to heavy investments in technology and creative industries. Some pet projects include building a Star-Trek inspired command centre and free public wi-fi across the city.
Retailers suffer as Indonesians choose travel over shopping (Nikkei Asia Review)
Other News and Notable Features
The Indonesian government may have declared the health crisis that saw 72 children in Papua’s impoverished Asmat region die of malnutrition and measles to be over, but have they done anything to address the underlying systemic reasons that caused the crisis in the first place? The latest blog post from Elizabeth Pisani, the always insightful author of Indonesia Etc, has an eye-opening data analysis of the country’s extreme inequity in terms of access to basic health services.
In another disheartening sign of the country’s health priorities, data shows that the already high percentage of Indonesian smokers, including among underage children, is actually on the rise.
After being hit by an earthquake and being shocked by the collapse of a mezzanine in the stock market building, Jakarta this week saw (another) round of flooding, caused in large part by heavy downpours in neighboring Bogor. The extreme weather forced more than 11,000 people to be evacuated from their homes and caused at least six deaths due to landslides in the Greater Jakarta Area. The meteorology agency predicted that the rainy season will last until March and told Jakartans to brace for more floods.
Also read
What’s in a name in Indonesia? (New Naratif) — “Arabization is changing how parents name their children, a trend to be enforced in areas by a new ban on giving Western names.”
To Muslim zealots’ dismay, Indonesians love raunchy dangdut music (The Economist)
Dangdut is Indonesia’s closest answer to American country music, says Indra Yudhistira of Indosiar. Younger singers croon about heartbreak and romance. Older ones warble about religion, alcoholism and poverty. The music appeals particularly to the rakyat, the people (as opposed to the elite), especially in the countryside. As with country music, it is used by politicians at rallies to drum up support from voters. Already several high-profile dangdut singers have been lined up to play at campaign rallies ahead of the regional elections in June.
But unlike much that comes out of Nashville, there is a strain of dangdut that often surprises foreigners. Much of it is unashamedly erotic, despite various attempts by hardline Muslim groups to censor it. Its enduring popularity hints at the diversity and tolerance of the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.
'Most of the children still have parents': behind the facade of a Bali orphanage (The Guardian)
An orphanage using the name of an Australian Bali bombing victim has been accused of sourcing children with living parents from a remote island to help solicit donations from Western tourists….
Former volunteers and staff, in interviews with the Guardian, said up to five tour groups could be moved through the orphanage each day, bringing donations, potential sponsorships, food and gifts.
Do Multi-level Marketing Schemes Help Women? (New Naratif)
For women in developing countries with limited opportunities, multi-level marketing schemes like Oriflame’s seem like a path to success and a better life; a way to achieve financial well-being while also fulfilling responsibilities at home…
Serious doubts remain over whether such schemes really empower and benefit their participants. Large amounts of money — sometimes beyond the means of the women who sign up — are required up front, with meagre financial return.
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