The wRap Indonesia: Dec. 9, 2014

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Coalition hints in Jokowi-Yudhoyono meeting, the shooting of Papuans on Monday, arrests in Jakarta taxi robberies, and more

JAKARTA, Indonesia – What President Joko Widodo and his predecessor discussed when they met and the shooting of Papuan residents lead our wrap of stories from Indonesia the past day.

1. In Jokowi-Yudhoyono meeting, hints of coalition talks

COALITION TALKS? President Joko Widodo (L) greets the chairman of Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono shortly before a meeting on December 8, 2014. Photo by Mast Irham/EPA

With former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his successor on the same page about making sure direct regional elections continue in Indonesia, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said on Monday, December 8, this could open the door to a more permanent cooperation. The special government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) that Yudhoyono issued in October to cancel the controversial Regional Elections Law (RUU Pilkada) goes to a vote in the House of Representatives in January. Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party is expected to vote alongside the minority coalition supporting Jokowi to ensure the Perppu is upheld and direct regional elections are maintained. “We can continue (pushing the Perppu to be passed), why not? At the very least, this will be the gate (for further Democratic Party-government coalition talks),” Jokowi told reporters after meeting with Yudhoyono on Monday.    

2. What led to the shooting of Papuans on Monday?

Anti-riot police officers pass by Papuan children in this file photo. Photo by AFP

A group of teenagers from Paniai district in the restive region of Papua were gathered Sunday night, December 7, to put up Christmas decors when they said men driving a vehicle similar to the one used by Indonesian military arrived and attacked them. A 16-year-old boy fell into a coma after being beaten up, local resident Yones Douw told Rappler. In retaliation, locals looked for the vehicle the next morning and torched it. Police said the office of the elections commission was also burned. Not satisfied, locals reportedly stormed the local military district command to demand accountability. This is where things get sketchy: locals claim the military opened fire, leading to the death of 5 people, with several more injured. But Papua Police say they don’t know where the shots came from, and that they’re still investigating what really happened.

3. Two suspects arrested in Jakarta taxi robberies 

Jakarta Police have made quick arrests in the case of the taxi robberies that has scared commuters in the capital. Jakarta Police spokesperson told reporters on Monday that two suspects were arrested in two different locations on Sunday, Tempo.co reported. Two women were reportedly victimized by the same modus operandi: they get on a white taxi that looks like an Express cab, then a robber hiding in the trunk enters through the backseat to rob them. Police say they are pursuing other suspects.  

4. What to do with the problem of Golkar?

WHO'S THE REAL CHAIRMAN? Aburizal Bakrie (L) is greeted by his supporters during an election campaign rally in Medan, North Sumatra, in March 2014. A Golkar Party congress re-elected him chairman, but a rival camp has elected his former deputy Agung Laksono. File photo by EPA

The government is in a sticky situation when it comes to dealing with the division in the country’s largest opposition party. It seems politically impossible for the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights to state which elected chairman and camp is the valid party: The Golkar camp under Aburizal Bakrie is allied with former presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto under a strong opposition coalition, while the Golkar camp under Agung Laksono is seen to be friendly to the administration. So what’s the ministry to do? Form a special task force to examine the documents from both camps.

5. Indonesian rupiah drops to 6-year-low

Indonesian rupiah. File photo by AFP

The rupiah dropped to 12,349 per dollar on Monday – a 6-year low – as the outlook for Indonesia’s exports dimmed. Bloomberg reported the problems to be the contraction in the Japanese economy and the slowing Chinese demand. In response, Bank Indonesia said it was conducting “measured intervention” in foreign exchange markets. “We don’t do excessive intervention, [we do] measured intervention. We will find a new equilibrium,” spokesman Peter Jacobs told Reuters. “We are not letting the rupiah depreciate too much.” – with a report from ATA/Rappler.com

 

 

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