Backgrounder

Tenggara Backgrounder is a weekly briefing service combining insights and analysis by experts from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Universitas Prasetiya Mulya, as well as background information from The Jakarta Post journalists. Tenggara Backgrounder provides you exclusive insights into what’s happening behind the scenes along with insider scoops that are not published in the media.

KPK bill tests Jokowi’s will and power

Tenggara Backgrounder September 13, 2019

The House of Representatives, in its very last month of seating before it is dissolved, has dropped a bombshell on President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s doorstep: A bill that will remove the independence of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The goal is clear: House members want to exact revenge on the KPK for sending dozens of colleagues, including speaker Setya Novanto, to jail for graft.

Rini strengthens her grip on SOEs

Tenggara Backgrounder September 6, 2019

State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Rini Soemarno punished Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) president director Suprajarto by appointing him to lead state housing lender PT Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN). Suprajarto retaliated by turning down the new job.

Jakarta faces growing resistance in resource-rich Papua

Tenggara Backgrounder August 30, 2019

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has invested a lot of resources, as well as his personal time and energy, in the last five years in developing Papua and trying to raise the welfare of the people. There is justification: Papuans count among the poorest in per capita income, although their homeland is the richest, with massive gold and gas operations, and now forestry and plantations in the sparsely populated territory.

Indonesia’s palm oil-based biofuel faces another hurdle in EU

Tenggara Backgrounder - Aug. 23, 2019

The European Commission has imposed since Aug. 13 a temporary import duty ranging from 8 to 18 percent on biodiesel products from Indonesian companies. Indonesia submitted a letter to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Aug. 16 to challenge the anti-subsidy import duty.

Megawati, from wannabe queen to most powerful kingmaker

Tenggara Backgrounder - Aug. 16, 2019

Megawati Soekarnoputri, the president of Indonesia from 2001 to 2004, is the country’s most powerful kingmaker today. Her appearance at the congress of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) from Aug. 8 to 10 in Bali displayed how much political power she possesses.

Massive Java blackout turning into political fiasco

Tenggara Backgrounder - Aug. 09, 2019

The massive blackout that paralyzed Jakarta and other cities and towns in the western half of Java on Sunday until Monday (August 5-6) is turning into more than just an economic fiasco. The failure of state-owned power company PLN in providing a satisfactory answer only fueled more speculation and it raised serious questions not only about energy security, but also about national security.

KPK bill tests Jokowi’s will and power

Rini strengthens her grip on SOEs

Jakarta faces growing resistance in resource-rich Papua

Indonesia’s palm oil-based biofuel faces another hurdle in EU

Megawati, from wannabe queen to most powerful kingmaker

Massive Java blackout turning into political fiasco

Indonesia reinforces security in Natuna

One-door policy for maritime security discussed

Key infrastructure projects on schedule in 2019 despite political heat

KPK, police join hands to eradicate corruption

Standoff challenges RI’s Natuna approach