“Perhaps Jokowi can prove to be the more mature leader, recognising that despite Australian clumsiness and apparent tactlessness, it serves Indonesia to be conciliatory in this instance”.
Until now, President Jokowi, has displayed little maturity, little independence, little courage and little hard work. He may well be ethical (no reason to think he isn’t), but he seems to enjoy Megawati’s shadow as a good place to hide, as well as the always populist quick fixes, in ‘stamping out crime’ and ‘protecting Indonesia’s economic interests’. I think it is hard to argue that PM Tony Abbott and FM Julie Bishop have been that much clumsier than President Jokowi, who has 3-4 missteps so far.
I do not think President Jokowi has the mind of a diplomat, like former FM Marty Natalegawa had in spades. President Jokowi, after all, ran as a populist and I think that his comfort zone. I mean no disrespect, but I think the intellectual realm of diplomacy and probity, are beyond his capabilities. I am not sure the current Foreign Minister, either, can meet those standards. I already hear, perhaps prematurely and unfairly, from many Indonesian friends, “Can we have SBY back” ? Well, the answer is “No”. You make do with the hand you have been dealt.
For all his astute observations, Dr Kessler seemed to miss Tok Guru’s basic motivation, which is his complete and genuine faith in Islam. This would clearly and ‘naturally’ explain his actions and the outcome thereof. I would like to invite the good doctor and everyone else, like the Tok Guru, to savor fully this grandiose yet ‘austere’ adventure.
Jokowi and PDIP were not ‘good campaigners’ during the election. Their handling of their campaign was poor: unrealistic schedules, late arrivals, last minute cancellation, and poor communication with media crews. Only through the sheer will of Jokowi’s volunteers did Jokowi’s camp manage to rebound during the very last week of the campaign.
“These political manoeuvres should not distract from the obviously ideological outcome of the 2014 presidential coalition formation process. The choice for Indonesian voters is quite clearly between a belligerent nationalist rhetorician backed by Indonesia’s more conservative political elements, and a low-key would-be reformer, supported by a fundamentally pluralist coalition, whose campaign continues to tread water. Whatever the outcome, the coming weeks are sure to make for fascinating viewing.”
Excellant article Alicia. True with the strongly entrenched patriarchal ideology and reinforced by religious and political structures, main societal intepretation of gender relations are determined by such forces. To them, women are to be blamed for every negative things
There was no “genocide” in Gaza but nice try at pulling the anti-Zionist red card in a discussion about Indonesia. You are also full of durian, as both the Indonesian and Malaysian press hammered Israel. You are both ill-informed and in need of an English course. In 1965, 500,000 or more Indonesians were slaughtered. In 2014, 2000 Palestinians were killed; 10,000 or more Israelis would have been killed if they had no defence system, a system they sadly lacked in 1938-1945. Thankfully, you don’t own any side of politics, and in fact no greater an Islamic scholar than Gus Dur himself were he alive, would have taken you to task for using the straw man genocide red card. Post such goat bloat on a Muslim Brotherhood website please, not here.
Vimeo is still censored in Indonesia, so the video cannot be accessed here. Perhaps New Mandala could consider uploading the interview to YouTube instead?
Indonesia has a complex problem about politic,corruption and the power of the former politic and it need a leader not just clean and understand the people but more to how handling all the problem and mainly can consolidate all politic power.
And Mr Jokowi as the people are still dominately by his politic party and still can not escape from the politic power as what he has promised before.
Both my parents were Cocos Keeling Islands born. I am proud of them. I am born in Balung Estate Tawau Sabah Malaysia way back before Malaya granted Independence (1957) and formation of Malaysia in 1963 by the British.As a Malaysian I have seen the world.As Cocos descent I am writing a thesis.With due respect to the Clunies Ross family and Cocos people in the Islands let me share some facts about the Cocos people as I experience it and a tribute to my grandfather Jackson bin Abas who died during the difficult time in Balung Estate some 60 years ago.Will continue, cheers Daud Amatzin
Dear Fionn Travers-Smith,
Thank for your reply. You could look at part of my thesis in which I wrote a bit about my life in Australia. The title is “The Secret Nationalist Movement: 1880-1920: a Memoir of a Cambodian Princess”.
I have silently borne a “secret pain” that was caused by a news that my immediate family or “evryone was excecuted in Pol Pot’s Regime”.
This films is truly and partly relieves that secret pain. It seems that the world understands what and how a victim of KR regime struggles to be survived and “conduct herself” into a normal life, including social contributions to this great, kind, helpful and friendly Australian Community.
Prof Kessler, thanks for the memoir. Actually helped me to understand more about Tok Guru especially his involvement in Malaysian Politics especially in Kelantan. Amazing that you have done your phd thesis in this area, am wondering if u are able to speak kelantanese? As a kelantanese myself, Tok Guru was a gift to us. My siblings grew up listening to his speech minimum once a week. We will miss him dearly.
[…] grounds, that was headlined “VIPs stranded as Nok Air cancels flight.” Discussants at New Mandala have pointed out that the “VIPs” were an interesting lot, accompanied by a hoard of […]
[…] Program at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), believes Anwar’s jailing might not be so detrimental to the opposition. He argues that some of the leaders of the DAP and PAS had tired of Anwar’s leadership style, […]
It would be very interesting to know what “…privy councillor Palakorn Suwannarath, National Reform Council president Thienchay Kirananada, PTT chairman and former Thai Airways president Piyasvasti Amranand, and Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul” were doing in Nan province.
WOW ! Prime Minister Najib is more acceptable (barely) than Prime Minister Hun Sen. Now that is a vote of REAL confidence.
I would say that both Indonesia and Thailand are barely better than Malaysia. But at least, so far, current PMs there have not been implicated (well, not in Indonesia, anyway) in murder. Malaysian politics, being what it is, is a very strange beast. On the other hand, Malaysia is fortunate that it did not undergo genocide……not yet, anyway.
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Strategic imperatives for Australia-Indonesia relations
“Perhaps Jokowi can prove to be the more mature leader, recognising that despite Australian clumsiness and apparent tactlessness, it serves Indonesia to be conciliatory in this instance”.
Until now, President Jokowi, has displayed little maturity, little independence, little courage and little hard work. He may well be ethical (no reason to think he isn’t), but he seems to enjoy Megawati’s shadow as a good place to hide, as well as the always populist quick fixes, in ‘stamping out crime’ and ‘protecting Indonesia’s economic interests’. I think it is hard to argue that PM Tony Abbott and FM Julie Bishop have been that much clumsier than President Jokowi, who has 3-4 missteps so far.
I do not think President Jokowi has the mind of a diplomat, like former FM Marty Natalegawa had in spades. President Jokowi, after all, ran as a populist and I think that his comfort zone. I mean no disrespect, but I think the intellectual realm of diplomacy and probity, are beyond his capabilities. I am not sure the current Foreign Minister, either, can meet those standards. I already hear, perhaps prematurely and unfairly, from many Indonesian friends, “Can we have SBY back” ? Well, the answer is “No”. You make do with the hand you have been dealt.
Remembering “Tok Guru”
For all his astute observations, Dr Kessler seemed to miss Tok Guru’s basic motivation, which is his complete and genuine faith in Islam. This would clearly and ‘naturally’ explain his actions and the outcome thereof. I would like to invite the good doctor and everyone else, like the Tok Guru, to savor fully this grandiose yet ‘austere’ adventure.
The unfulfilled promise of Joko Widodo
Jokowi and PDIP were not ‘good campaigners’ during the election. Their handling of their campaign was poor: unrealistic schedules, late arrivals, last minute cancellation, and poor communication with media crews. Only through the sheer will of Jokowi’s volunteers did Jokowi’s camp manage to rebound during the very last week of the campaign.
Australia’s leadership spill, with a Myanmar twist
I am pleased to learn that Australian MP, Mr Simpkins is interested in the struggle of ethnic minorities. It has been long over due.
Is there an ideological cleavage in 2014?
I’m really agree with above statement:
“These political manoeuvres should not distract from the obviously ideological outcome of the 2014 presidential coalition formation process. The choice for Indonesian voters is quite clearly between a belligerent nationalist rhetorician backed by Indonesia’s more conservative political elements, and a low-key would-be reformer, supported by a fundamentally pluralist coalition, whose campaign continues to tread water. Whatever the outcome, the coming weeks are sure to make for fascinating viewing.”
Rape and the pantomime of misogyny
Excellant article Alicia. True with the strongly entrenched patriarchal ideology and reinforced by religious and political structures, main societal intepretation of gender relations are determined by such forces. To them, women are to be blamed for every negative things
The unfulfilled promise of Joko Widodo
There was no “genocide” in Gaza but nice try at pulling the anti-Zionist red card in a discussion about Indonesia. You are also full of durian, as both the Indonesian and Malaysian press hammered Israel. You are both ill-informed and in need of an English course. In 1965, 500,000 or more Indonesians were slaughtered. In 2014, 2000 Palestinians were killed; 10,000 or more Israelis would have been killed if they had no defence system, a system they sadly lacked in 1938-1945. Thankfully, you don’t own any side of politics, and in fact no greater an Islamic scholar than Gus Dur himself were he alive, would have taken you to task for using the straw man genocide red card. Post such goat bloat on a Muslim Brotherhood website please, not here.
The unfulfilled promise of Joko Widodo
Hello all
The video has now been uploaded to YouTube so that readers in Indonesia can view it.
You can also access the video online here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgulY9IumZA
Enjoy!
The unfulfilled promise of Joko Widodo
Sometimes, as has been seen in the West, good campaigners do not necessarily make good Presidents.
The unfulfilled promise of Joko Widodo
One need only look at the blanket silence in the Indonesian press during the Gaza Genocide to see who owns both sides of Indonesian politics
The unfulfilled promise of Joko Widodo
Vimeo is still censored in Indonesia, so the video cannot be accessed here. Perhaps New Mandala could consider uploading the interview to YouTube instead?
The unfulfilled promise of Joko Widodo
Indonesia has a complex problem about politic,corruption and the power of the former politic and it need a leader not just clean and understand the people but more to how handling all the problem and mainly can consolidate all politic power.
And Mr Jokowi as the people are still dominately by his politic party and still can not escape from the politic power as what he has promised before.
Australia’s Malay population
Both my parents were Cocos Keeling Islands born. I am proud of them. I am born in Balung Estate Tawau Sabah Malaysia way back before Malaya granted Independence (1957) and formation of Malaysia in 1963 by the British.As a Malaysian I have seen the world.As Cocos descent I am writing a thesis.With due respect to the Clunies Ross family and Cocos people in the Islands let me share some facts about the Cocos people as I experience it and a tribute to my grandfather Jackson bin Abas who died during the difficult time in Balung Estate some 60 years ago.Will continue, cheers Daud Amatzin
Interview with director of Enemies of the People
Dear Fionn Travers-Smith,
Thank for your reply. You could look at part of my thesis in which I wrote a bit about my life in Australia. The title is “The Secret Nationalist Movement: 1880-1920: a Memoir of a Cambodian Princess”.
I have silently borne a “secret pain” that was caused by a news that my immediate family or “evryone was excecuted in Pol Pot’s Regime”.
This films is truly and partly relieves that secret pain. It seems that the world understands what and how a victim of KR regime struggles to be survived and “conduct herself” into a normal life, including social contributions to this great, kind, helpful and friendly Australian Community.
Remembering “Tok Guru”
Prof Kessler, thanks for the memoir. Actually helped me to understand more about Tok Guru especially his involvement in Malaysian Politics especially in Kelantan. Amazing that you have done your phd thesis in this area, am wondering if u are able to speak kelantanese? As a kelantanese myself, Tok Guru was a gift to us. My siblings grew up listening to his speech minimum once a week. We will miss him dearly.
Soldiers with democratic hearts?
[…] grounds, that was headlined “VIPs stranded as Nok Air cancels flight.” Discussants at New Mandala have pointed out that the “VIPs” were an interesting lot, accompanied by a hoard of […]
Anwar Ibrahim’s incarceration and its implications
[…] Program at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), believes Anwar’s jailing might not be so detrimental to the opposition. He argues that some of the leaders of the DAP and PAS had tired of Anwar’s leadership style, […]
Soldiers with democratic hearts?
Apparently it was something to do with cake eating:
http://2bangkokforum.com/showthread.php?4077-News-relating-to-His-Majesty&p=47072#post47072
http://2bangkokforum.com/showthread.php?4077-News-relating-to-His-Majesty&p=47035#post47035
Soldiers with democratic hearts?
Seems like a meeting of an interesting little clique got some unexpected publicity due to a Nok Air failure.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/VIPs-stranded-as-Nok-Air-cancels-flight-30254388.html
It would be very interesting to know what “…privy councillor Palakorn Suwannarath, National Reform Council president Thienchay Kirananada, PTT chairman and former Thai Airways president Piyasvasti Amranand, and Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul” were doing in Nan province.
Southeast Asian elections worst in the world
WOW ! Prime Minister Najib is more acceptable (barely) than Prime Minister Hun Sen. Now that is a vote of REAL confidence.
I would say that both Indonesia and Thailand are barely better than Malaysia. But at least, so far, current PMs there have not been implicated (well, not in Indonesia, anyway) in murder. Malaysian politics, being what it is, is a very strange beast. On the other hand, Malaysia is fortunate that it did not undergo genocide……not yet, anyway.