200 civil-society groups decried a re-writing of Indonesia's Election Law enabling the president's son to stand for vice presodent.  Jeff and Kevin discuss the implications and why there is hesitation about a Prabowo-Rakabuming ticket.  Also: Ganjar chooses Mahfud and police pursue the KPK.

Agricultural exports have been in focus and the podcast enlists an expert on sustainability science to share his experiences across the archipegalo wth cultivators of coffee, cocoa, palm oil and rubber.  He addresses opportunities afforded by the controversial EU Deforestation Regulation and longer-term implications of rising temperatures.   Also: Jeff and Kevin cover recent campaigning as well as the outlook for politics ahead of a momentous Constitutional Court ruling on VP nominee age...

Live from Jakarta! Dr Thomas Loidl, Austria’s ambassador to Indonesia joins the pod as Reformasi Dispatch records its 100th episode in front of a capacity audience at the Austrian Embassy. Kevin and Jeff talk with Ambassador Loidl about why Indonesia’s elections matter, the threat of disinformation. Kevin sets the stage for Pemilu 2024. And a pop quiz uncovers a shocking lack of familiarity with the Sound of Music among embassy staff. All this plus audience Q&A! Support us on...

BBC's veteran Southeast correspondent joins Reformasi Dispatch to assess how Asean is coping with super‑power rivalry in a 'post‑globalization' framework.  The answer (spoiler alert): could be better.  Jonathan contributes his perspective on conditions in Myanmar and the importance of Indonesia's diplomatic efforts via Asean; he also touches on EVs in SE Asia.  Also in the episode: Jeff and Kevin cover some sudden shifts in Indonesia's presidential nominating alliances and the VP sweepstake...

Indonesia's foreign policy is even freer and more active than usual, as President Joko Widodo  negotiates the G20, Asean, IPEF, Aukus, the OECD, Brics and other acronyms.  On the eve of Asean's Jakarta Summit and in the wake of Widodo's address to Brics, the pod consults foreign policy expert Dewi Fortuna (of the Habibie Center and the National Research and Innovation Agency or 'Brin') who sets forth her "Hedging Plus" description of Indonesia's approach.  Also: Jeff and Kevin discuss...

The Indonesia analyst for the Helsinki-based NGO Crea joins the Reformasi Dispatch podcast to cut through the haze concerning the world's worst smog.  We examine SO2, NOx and 2.5ug particulates in Jakarta's 'airshed' and consider the urgency of revamping regulations on coal.  While the issue pits coal-related interests against considerations of public health -- and official pronouncements tend to defend coal while faulting the transportation sector -- we ask where policymakers' priorities...

Earlier this month Indonesia government data showed the country’s GDP grew at an annualized rate of 5.2 per cent during the three months to June 30. It’s a rate of growth that would be the envy of most big economies not least because it has so far avoided triggering rapid price inflation while paralleling an overall improvement in government services. The state of the economy has helped support a generally sunny outlook among Indonesia’s voters and their favorable views of their outgoing ...

A cap-and-trade scheme to encourage emissions reductions is imminent, with application for the power sector as well as avoided deforestation.  Jeff welcomes back Bill Sullivan from Christian Teo & Partners to talk about new regulations paving the way towards carbon exchange next month. While small and likely restricted to the domestic market, Indonesia stands out among its neighbours for venturing into the market for carbon trading and offsets, with all the first-mover advantages that the...

Jeff, Kevin and Steven talk with the Special Rapporteur for the UN on Myanmar about the country's worsening crisis and what levers ASEAN can use to further its Five Point Consensus. Also: Airlangga Hartarto faces 12 hours of scrutiny from the Attorney General’s Office while facing a rift in his own Golkar party; yet more intrigue affects Pertamina; and Foreign Minister Marsudi in the recent Asean ministers' summit.  Support us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi

Kevin and Jeff speak with the human rights activist and high profile lawyer on unfinished business criminal justice reform under the Widodo presidency, his defense of Time Magazine and the Bali Nine, and prospects for governance reform under a Prabowo presidency about which he’s surprisingly open-minded. Support us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi

We consult the Teneo SE Asia expert Bob Herrera Lim on the intricacies of what may be a watershed juncture in the politics of Thailand.  Also: breaking down Prabowo's Najwa Shihab interview and re-assessing prospects for the indictment of Anies Baswedan. Support us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi

The leadership of Indonesia’s governing party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) indicates a rapprochement between their respective leaders Megawati Sukarnoputri and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, ending their yearlong estrangement and potentially upending President Joko Widodo’s governing parliamentary coalition. PDIP elites resent Widodo’s reluctance to distance himself with his two time rival and presidential candidate, Prabowo Subianto. Also in the episode: the government...

The long-awaited ban on exports of raw bauxite ore is in place and Reformasi Dispatch turns to an expert on resource‑sector regulations to examine the drivers of policymaking -- including stark variations that differentiate assorted minerals such as nickel, bauxite, copper and tin.  Also: a review of the start of Minister Luhut Panjaitan's defamation proceedings against two prominent human rights activists; and a look at one of the world's most prominent Indonesians, the 17‑year...

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto continues to garner the president's favor, providing poll momentum.  This marks a dramatic re-invention of his perceived persona since 2019, when he rejected the election outcome and violence ensued. Jeff and Kevin examine the latest twists in the presidential contest and consider the crucial role of Joko Widodo.  As for another chameleon: the 'Hollywood Con Queen' case is garnering international headlines.  Reformasi Dispatch talks with an enterprising...

Courting Disaster —The Constitutional Court appears poised to hand down a ruling that would give political party leaders including Megawati Sukarnoputri, chair of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) power to hand pick representatives to sit in parliament following  legislative elections. Such a ruling would erode voter choice while enhancing the the sway of elites. With the head of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Firli Bahuri, seemingly bent on pressing ...

Indonesian constitutional justices saw fit to extend the tenure of Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) members, while also considering a late-stage alteration of the legislative electoral system.   Also before the court: a request to lower the minimum age for a vice‑presidential nominee, which would allow Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming (the president's son) to be Prabowo Subianto's running mate.  And the court's chief justice is Gibran's uncle...  (Note: subsequent to the recording, the court...

A veteran human rights expert joins the pod to reflect on press freedoms a quarter-century since Soeharto's fall.  Andreas Harsono also provides an update on the Widodo administration's gesture to acknowledge 12 cases of past rights cases.  Also: Jeff and Kevin assess Ganjar's initial campaign performances and messaging -- along with an abrupt move by the Prabowo camp to 'go negative' at an early stage.  And finally: sudden rancor over the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and the...

The former US ambassador to Indonesia and Myanmar joins Reformasi Dispatch to share his views -- compiled from a career devoted almost entirely to diplomacy throughout the Asean region.  Ambassador Marciel's book uses a wealth of personal vignettes to highlight over-arching themes such as democratization, institution-building, and engaging with the region on its merits -- rather than as a foil to China.  Jeff and Kevin ask the ambassador about legal-system institutions, Indonesian democracy,...

We turn to an expert for an update on polling methodologies and what the numbers say thus far about where the candidates stand.  After gyrations during April, we ask the Harvard Ph.D. candidate Seth Soderberg about the constituencies, strategies and dynamics that could prove decisive in the months ahead.  Also, Kevin and Jeff recap the ill-fated 'Grand Alliance' and discuss how Anies Baswedan is elevating respect for democratic norms as a potentially powerful campaign theme. Support us on...

After nearly 20 years, a bill to help protect maids and household servants from exploitation finally appears poised to pass into law.  A longstanding proponent, former parliamentarian Eva Sundari, joins the pod to explain the bill's features, which she describes as moderate and modest.  A central feature will be a registration system to help track workers' whereabouts and guard against involuntary servitude. In addition, Jeff and Kevin review the ongoing whirlwind of party politicking,...

This is the full interview with Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo on June 2021 in Indonesian. Support us on buymeacoffee.com/reformasi

In the wake of Megawati Sukarnoputri’s decision to back Ganjar Pranowo for president we thought we would replay our June 2021 interview with the Central Java governor. Kevin and Jeff talked with the governor about improving the pool of skilled labour, protecting the environment, the effectiveness of the KPK and Covid 19. The Delta wave of the virus would hit his province within weeks of our interview.  What we didn’t know at the time was that our interview would be among the last he would...

Ganjar Gets Go-Ahead (with Erry Hardjapamekas): The long waiting game with Megawati has ended as the PDI-P chair moved on 21 April 2023 to announce her intention to endorse the governor for president.  This improves Indonesia's political outlook; it also renders parties of the erstwhile United Alliance (KIB) adrift and triggers rampant speculation about vice-presidential running mates.  Jeff and Kevin discuss some scenarios ahead.  Also: a KPK founder joins the pod to discuss the commission's...

10 months to the day before next year's momentous election, Indonesia's electoral process is plodding through a veritable gauntlet of meddling.  This includes spurious procedural disputes, unscrupulous legal attacks and a late-stage attempt to revise rules.  And the once-independent Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) is at issue: an editorial in Tempo, once a staunch KPK defender, asserts that the commission is now an instrument of abuse.  Machinations seemingly aim to indict Anies Baswedan...

International scrutiny of the processes that produce batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) is inevitable -- and already beginning.  The author of a recent Wired article on the topic joins the pod.  Also: Jeff and Kevin discuss the implications of a potential attempt by the chair of the Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) to name former Jakarta Gov Anies Baswedan as a suspect, and a clear-cut case of a tourist-on-tourist stalking exposes law-enforcement frailties. Support us on...