Articles
Having three heroes does not necessarily mean having three presidential candidates. They have a long way to go. Dahlan Iskan and Jokowi need to have political support generated from their public base of admiration. Sri Mulyani needs to complete her World Bank service before announcing her candidacy. And the party that plans to nominate her, SRI, needs to overcome government legalistic obstacles to formalize their active network in 33 provinces, nearly 500 Kabupaten and thousands of Kecamatan. But the seeds of political insurgence have been planted. Three potential candidates have won the public imagination. And imagination is the most powerful political capital. Without imagination, politics is business as usual perpetuating the corrupt political-business oligarchy.
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This article has appeared in various media publications. The reason for highlighting it is our respect for the Jakarta Post, the most credible English language newspaper in Indonesia. It is testimony to the veracity of our position at SRI (Serikat Rakyat Independen). It is a stamp of legitimacy.
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Prime Minister Yingluck must foster greater free speech now, or risk seeing radicals do so later Instead of promoting an open society, Ms. Yingluck has allowed her ministers to implement harsher measures against perceived anti-monarchy elements. The government has spent millions of dollars installing spy software to monitor antimonarchy websites. Chalerm Yubumrung, deputy prime minister and minister of interior, even boasted, "My government has closed down more websites than in the previous administration."
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It is not crucially important to analyze the SBY Cabinetr Reshuffle. After all, it is his prerogative and the proof should be in the pudding. Better to follow the actions by the new team. But still, the media wants people to say something. So here are some of Wimar's comments on the matter
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September 30, 1965 remains history and has lost direct relevance to our future. Indonesia’s future should belong to everyone without exclusivity. The true story will never be known because truth is somewhere in the middle.
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Tulisan Chatib Basri di Kompas: ..Untungnya, pasar domestik kita besar. Karena itu, dampak negatif terhadap pertumbuhan ekonomi relatif terbatas. Ingat 2008, kita masih bisa tumbuh 4,5 persen. Namun, stimulus fiskal harus dilakukan. Masalahnya, daya serap anggaran kita terbatas. Bagaimana fiskal stimulus bisa efektif? Tahun 2008, kita punya ruang menurunkan tarif pajak. Repotnya, penurunan tarif pajak membutuhkan persetujuan DPR, yang memakan waktu lama. Maka, mau tak mau pemerintah harus memastikan proyek infrastruktur bisa jalan.
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Wimar's answers to foreign ivestors, a composite of several briefings with groups of foreign investors
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The bailout was the one thing that saved Indonesia from a financial collapse. So alot of people outside the government, outside the parties were fuming and depending on the Democrat Party and the president, which did not defend her. But now that she is no longer a part of this government these people can now stage an independent movement. We are certainly not a part of this govenment nor are we part of any political party. Most of them are professionals who are not with political parties but who have considerable political experience
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Seminar Publik bertema “Pertumbuhan Rendah Emisi: Mau Kemana? kerja sama antara Kemitraan dan Yayasan Perspektif Baru (YPB)digelar Kamis (28/7) di Jakarta. Hadir sebagai pembicara kunci dalam seminar yang dimoderatori oleh Wimar Witoelar ini adalah DR. Ir. Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, Ketua Unit Kerja Presiden untuk Pengendalian dan Pengawasan Pembangunan (UKP4), yang sebelumnya memimpin Satgas REDD+. Sementara pembicara lain yang hadir sebagai narasumber adalah Dr. Mubariq Ahmad, Dosen Fakultas Ekonomi Universitas Indonesia, Bustar Maitar, Juru Kampanye Greenpeace untuk Asia Tenggara, Rezal Kusumaatmadja, Partner Starling Resources, dan Jeffry G. Saragih, Sawit Watch.
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The gap between strong words and strong action has become more striking as more issues supersede previous unresolved challenges. Politically driven criminal acts stretch out from the Lapindo Mud Disaster to the Gayus Tax Fraud case to the ongoing tug of war between national interests and business-political collusion over Newmont. On the other hand, antidotes against crime led by the KPK and his own crime busters are inadequately supported by the President. Public disruption by extremists using religious symbols are ignored in the blackest period of flaunting disregard for the nation’s pluralist foundation.
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We are navigating between icebergs of religious violence captained by a leader whose forte is to remain outwardly calm while the ship of state runs headlong into crisis. In the big picture, this is what Indonesia is facing. We have been plagued by numerous issues since the beginning of time, now made visible by the climate of free media and free speech. The twin problems of corruption and violence still form the prevailing vicious circle, now as in the Soeharto era. But whereas the twin evils are eroding the nation, religious conflict could split it asunder.
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In case you haven't heard, we have launched tvTWO, with episodes listed in the lect margin of this Perspektif Online home page. Some in English, most in Indonesian. Check it out!!
NOW WITH UPDATE: tvTWO gains recognition with new contributed website from a big fan cum web designer, then invited to join the VOD content of a major Indonesian cable TV channel. Browsing our collection is now simple. Just click http://tvTWO.info
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Jakarta Globe reports my words accurately but they were a bit careless in checking MetroTV's testimony. First of all, Talkindo airs on Sunday, not Saturday. More complicated are the inconsistencies of MetroTV statements. As far as I am satisfied that my colleagues have the chance to go on with the show. Poor management ethics are not my direct concern but I deplore the disservice done to Metro owners.
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The brouhaha surrounding the changes at Talkindo-Metro TV has ended with the relaunching of Talkindo today, featuring Dalton, Rahayu Saraswati and soon to be announced new co-host. We talk about the process and result. The result is good, keep the show alive and taking me off the team. Totally within Metro TV rights and something I would readily have agreed to, had it been done in proper fashion. As it was, MetroTV management used the story in their internal meetings that I had insulted Mr. Surya Paloh, owner of MetroTV. I did no such thing, and never in the years of public comment have I attacked a person personally. We look at policies and action. And the fault of Metro TV policies and action lie in the hands of management, not of the owners. Here is a complete audit of my tweets on that day, when NATO air strikes begun in Libya.
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The two long-lasting presidents we have had, Sukarno and Suharto, came from neither political parties nor direct elections. They came to power by force. Without such use of power, Indonesia has had a succession of short-term presidents: Habibie, Abdurrahman Wahid, Megawati, and SBY. They all had party credentials but only Megawati was supported by a party with a long history, longer in fact than the New Order. So the choice is between an undemocratic president or a party-captive president. Hardly an appealing choice. Out of desperation, people call out for an independent candidate to be elected by the people. The jury is still out.
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The simple recipe says replace incompetent Cabinet ministers, ignore the coalition and govern by policy and performance and regain voter confidence by stepping up campaigns against corruption and tax evasion. This is hardly a secret recipe; it is so simple everybody knows it must be done. But the President may have secret reasons not to follow it
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Find all episodes on YouTube - Metro TV showtime is every Sunday 9 a.m. with rerun on Monday at 01:00 a.m.
email your comments and opinions to talkindo@matrotvnews.com, they may be read on the show
Cannot find this list? Just go to YouTube and Search 'Talkindo'
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Wimar sings 'Smile', Baby sings 'I Fall to Pieces', anhd top entertainer Tantowi Yahya sings and chats on Metro TV 'Coin Country' sometime in 2007
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Everty one in a while I find an audioi recording you can listen to. Here is the latest one, broadcast by Radio Australia's Saturday Extra show a few hbours after Mubarak stepped down
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