The wRap Indonesia: March 6, 2015

JAKARTA, Indonesia — In today’s wrap of stories, the latest development in the row between the Jakarta governor and the local legislature, and the opening of the Java Jazz Festival 2015 tonight.

1. Entire Jakarta legislature reported to Constitutional Court

The growing row between Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama and the Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) now appears to be headed to the Constitutional Court. A civil society organization called AMAR-DPR on Thursday, March 5, filed a constitutional complaint against all 10 political parties in the DPRD. “We filed the constitutional complaint because of the inquiry rights they voted to exercise, which is hampering the development of Jakarta and clearly causing losses to the people as the taxpayers,” AMAR-DPR coordinator Ayat Hidayat said, according to Antaranews.com. They’re asking the court to warn the political parties. If the lawmakers don’t back down, then AMAR-DPR wants the court to dismiss them.  

2. Former Democratic Party chairman to appeal his graft conviction again

Former Democratic Party Chairman Anas Urbaningrum plans to appeal his graft conviction in the Hambalang sports center corruption case again. The Jakarta High Court on February 4, 2015, already reduced his sentence to 7 years in jail from 8 years. But his lawyer, Adnan Buyung Nasution, said he does not deserve it because he was a victim of a political plot. “He feels he hasn’t received justice because he was a political victim under (former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono)’s regime,” Adnan said. Anas was convicted of receiving bribes to raise funds needed to finance his 2010 campaign for the Democratic Party chairmanship, and of money laundering. 

3. Twitter officially opens Indonesia office

Selamat Pagi! @RickMulia is in Jakarta and has some good news: our Twitter office is now open in Indonesia! #AwalBaru pic.twitter.com/fhEUW8B1rB

— Twitter Indonesia (@TwitterID) March 5, 2015

Social media giant Twitter has officially opened its office in Indonesia. Its Twitter account @TwitterID on Thursday, March 5, tweeted its CEO Rick Mulia having a meal at its new office in Jakarta, the company’s second branch in Southeast Asia after Singapore. According to a 2013 Twitter report, Indonesia’s Twitter users are 5th highest in the world with 29 million users, following the US, Brazil, Japan, and UK. But Jakarta is the most active Twitter city in the world.

4. Controversial rocker Ahmad Dhani might run for Surabaya mayor

Former presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto’s Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party is considering nominating controversial musician Ahmad Dhani in the Surabaya mayor election in December 2015. “Ahmad Dhani’s name was proposed by young groups to our party, and we really appreciate it,” Sutadi, the head of Gerindra’s Surabaya branch, said on Friday, according to Antara news agency. “Musicians are smart. Even though he is an artist, if he is capable, then (people) believe he can lead, such as Rano Karno in Banten and Dedy Mizwar in West Java.” The former Indonesian Idol judge was heavily criticized last year for appearing in a campaign music video for Prabowo wearing what looked like a Nazi uniform.

5. It’s time to party: Java Jazz Festival 2015 starts tonight

The annual 3-day Java Jazz Festival opens tonight, with international headliners such as Christina Perry, Jessie J, and Chris Botti. A total of 55 international and 87 local acts are set to perform on 16 stages at the Jakarta International Expo in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta during the event. Local acts Sheila on 7 and Reza Artamevia, who have not been heard in the music scene for a while, will return to the Java Jazz stage too. An estimated 120,000 people attended the festival last year. —Rappler.com