Author: alvinnicola
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How presidential clemency fuels impunity
Like a benevolent Santa Claus, President Prabowo Subianto has once again extended his generosity to those convicted of corruption. Most recently, exercising his constitutional authority, he granted rehabilitation to three former executives of state-owned ferry operator PT ASDP. Before that, the public was likewise taken aback when he issued pardons to two of his political…
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Indonesia’s anticorruption fight: Serving politics, not justice
A year into the Prabowo Subianto – Gibran Rakabuming Raka administration, Indonesia’s fight against corruption stands at a dangerous crossroads. The language of reform still fills speeches, but the practice of power tells another story. Behind promises of “clean governance” lies a quiet but profound transformation: Law enforcement is no longer serving justice; it is…
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Tannos, Golden Passports, and the Price for Impunity
For years, fugitive businessman Paulus Tannos has managed to evade justice in Indonesia despite being a key suspect in the multi-trillion-rupiah e-ID project, one of the country’s most egregious corruption scandals. His prolonged freedom is not just an isolated case, but a troubling reflection of two overlapping failures. First, it exposes how the global system…
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To Defend the Public Interest, Indonesia Must Protect Those Who Expose It
Indonesia’s commitment to anti-corruption has often been articulated through laws, institutions, and international treaties. It ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption in 2006, established the Corruption Eradication Commission, and frequently promotes public participation as part of its integrity agenda. But for all these commitments, a fundamental gap remains. Indonesia still has no enforceable legal…
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Indonesia’s CPTPP bid must begin with procurement reform
Indonesia’s formal application to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in late 2024 marks a milestone in the country’s trade diplomacy. Policymakers have hailed it as a pathway to boost exports, attract investment and deepen economic ties with key global markets. But behind the optimistic headlines lies a more sobering…
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From Antarctica to Amnesty: The Twists and Turns of Prabowo’s Anti-Corruption Drive
Upon assuming office in October 2024, President Prabowo Subianto delivered a forceful inaugural address, underscoring his commitment to eradicating corruption. His bold declarations, including a vow to “pursue corruptors to Antarctica,” signaled an uncompromising stance. The administration’s anti-corruption agenda is encapsulated in ASTACITA, which aims to reform political, legal, and bureaucratic institutions while strengthening enforcement…
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Salah Obat Amnesti Koruptor
Selain kontraproduktif terhadap semangat antikorupsi yang selama ini dikampanyekan Presiden Prabowo Subianto, memberikan maaf kepada koruptor dengan syarat mengembalikan uang hasil korupsi ke negara juga hanya akan kian mendegradasi kepercayaan publik terhadap supremasi hukum. Apabila dilanjutkan, pengampunan terpidana korupsi justru menjadi preseden buruk bagi pelaku korupsi di masa mendatang. Meskipun juga tidak terlalu jelas bentuk…
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KPK dalam Ketiak Kekuasaan
Permisifnya sikap Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) terhadap merebaknya isu gratifikasi pesawat jet pribadi Kaesang Pangerep, putra bungsu Presiden Jokowi mencerminkan telah paripurnanya penundukkan lembaga antikorupsi itu oleh pengaruh kekuasaan eksekutif. KPK yang tampak teramputasi keberaniannya ini jelas akan menjadi preseden buruk bagi peluang pengungkapan korupsi yang menyenggol elit politik di masa depan. Tamparan keras ini…
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The 2024 Indonesian Elections: Prabowo’s Likely Victory and a Real Test for Democracy
The world’s third-largest democracy is holding its fifth presidential and legislative elections since shaking off a dictatorship in 1998 in last February 14th. Indonesia’s General Election is considered the world’s biggest one-day democratic election ever since 204.8 million Indonesians have voted for the next president and vice president of the world’s third-biggest democracy and more…
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Indonesia may need 100 years to be free from corruption
The battered mess in eradicating corruption in Indonesia results from the absence of political leadership. If corruption continues to be as rampant as it is today, it is estimated that Indonesia will take no less than 100 years to return to the path to becoming a clean country. The tragic reality contained in the 2023…