Talking Indonesia

Twenty-five years since embarking on its reform era following the fall of the New Order, observers, scholars and global democracy indexes agree that Indonesian democracy is in a state of regression. Recent challenges levelled at key institutions including the Constitutional Court, the Corruption Eradication Commission, and threats to freedom of speech brought by the Information and Electronics Law (ITE Law) are evidence of significant degradation of the quality and integrity of democracy. Further, over the past two decades influence and control across the four branches of power – politics, media, civil society and business – is increasingly centred in the hands of just a few. With the elections next year set to deliver a new government and new president, what must be done to halt further damage to Indonesia’s democracy and rule of law? What are the risks if it fails to do so? In this week's episode Jemma Purdey chats with Professor Jimly Asshiddiqie, Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of I