The wRap Indonesia: Sept. 12, 2014

JAKARTA, Indonesia – The public protest of mayors and district heads against the controversial regional elections bill and the locally made alternative car considered for future cabinet ministers lead our wrap of stories from Indonesia the past day.

1. Mayors, district heads join growing opposition to regional elections bill

After Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, other elected local government officials on Thursday, September 11, came out to strongly protest the controversial Regional Elections Bill (RUU Pilkada), which seeks to eliminate direct elections for regional executive positions like theirs. They include popular politicians like Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil and Bogor Mayor Bima Arya, who come from political parties that support the bill, and other members of the Indonesian Regional Government Association (Apkasi) and Indonesian Municipalities Association (Apeksi), this Rappler report says. An online petition on change.org rejecting the bill has more than 40,000 signatures now, including from artists and celebrities. A recent survey by the Indonesian Survey Circle showed more than 80% of Indonesians oppose the bill. However its backers – parties allied with losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto – control 63% of the legislature.  

2. Esemka instead of Mercedes-Benz for ministers? Possible, says Jokowi

After axing the plan to purchase brand new Mercedes-Benz cars for his ministers, President-elect Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said Thursday the locally made Esemka vehicles were a possible alternative. Esemka cars – which cost about 10% of Mercedes-Benz cars – were developed by vocational students from Solo with help from local automotive companies. It shot to national fame in 2012 when Jokowi, who was then mayor of Solo, said he preferred using it to foreign vehicles and suggested it be named the national car. However, poor marketing led to poor sales. Jokowi said his 10-year-old Esemka vehicle was still in good condition. 

3. 15 years jail sought for former chairman of ruling Democratic Party

In one of the biggest corruption scandals involving Presideng Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s party, prosecutors have asked the Jakarta Corruption Court to sentence former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum to 15 years in jail. Prosecutors also asked that the former lawmaker be banned from running from public office again. Anas is accused of receiving bribes to raise funds needed to finance his 2010 campaign for the Democratic Party chairmanship. The allegations against him were first raised by former Democratic Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin, who has already been convicted of corruption.   

4.  Aceh’s harsher Sharia-based criminal code will apply to non-Muslims 

If passed, a new criminal code in Aceh that imposes harsher penalties for more violations of Sharia Law means non-Muslims will not be able to even bring alcoholic beverages to the province, this Rappler report says. There are about 90,000 non-Muslims in Aceh, which enjoys special autonomy from Indonesia’s central government that allows it to implement Sharia law. The new criminal code imposes harsher penalties on more violations. For instance, under existing laws, only punish the consumption of alcoholic beverages with up to 40 lashes, but the in the proposed criminal code the mere purchase or possession of alcoholic beverages can earn a person 20 lashes.   

5. Sexual assault? Riau governor cries extortion, accuses alleged victim of defamation 

Riau Governor Annas Maamun said on Thursday he has reported a woman who claims to have been sexually assaulted by him to the National Police for defamation and extortion. The 77-year-old governor says he was with the woman for “less than 12 minutes and there were many witnesses,” the Jakarta Globe reported. He also claims he has been asked to pay IDR4 billion ($340,000) to silence press and NGOs over the case.