OPINION

Article 18 Paragraph (4) of the RI Constitution of 1945 stipulates that the Governor, Regent, and Mayor, each being the regional head of the province, the regency, and the township, respectively, shall be elected democratically. The term “democratically” was then interpreted by Law No. 1 of 2015 concerning the Election of Governors, Regents, and Mayors to mean that “the selection of regional heads and deputy regional heads shall be performed by direct election by the people, or a Regional Election”.

Indonesia’s National Resilience Institute, known locally called Lemhanas, has a new Head: Andi Widjajanto. Frankly, he came as something of a surprise, since his name had not previously been circulated much in domestic defense/strategic communities, after the position was vacated by retired Lieutenant General Agus Widjojo, who became the Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines. A much-mentioned candidate for the vacant post was retired Navy Admiral Marsetio, former Indonesia Navy Chief of Staff (TNI AL).

Our country has come to terms with staple food issues within society until recently. Starting from a cooking oil shortage that led to its price to soar, the surging price of soybeans forcing tofu and tempeh industry out of business, chilies, cooking gas, beef and now sugar is unavailable anywhere.

It was several weeks ago in my op ed in this news weekly, discussing the Russian military incursion into Ukraine, I quoted an observation of Professor Mearsheimer, one that sounded like a warning to President Biden and US allies, that a superpower should not be cornered.

The current news blitz covering the military incursion into Ukraine, a new “ad hoc” republic calved off from the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), and the decision to take military action by Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin, now raises the possibility of Russia menacing its neighbor, and anyone else who cares to confront Russia, with nuclear weaponry.

If there is to be some sort of deal that ends the war in Ukraine, then it must be one that Russia’s Putin, Ukraine’s Zelenski and the West can all agree upon.

Indonesia was ranked 101st out of 156 in March 2021’s Global Gender Gap Report of the World Economic Forum. Its score only reached 0.688 for the gender gap and scored only 0.164 in 94th rank for political empowerment.

As the public knows, I start by stating that I am neither a political scientist nor an expert in Communism or International Relations.

The new state capital law (IKN Law) No. 3/2022 was officially signed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on February 15, 2022, with many public objections being ignored.

The history of motor racing is replete with slaughter. The earliest competitive events, held in France, saw so many spectator and competitor fatalities that there was a strong movement to ban the fledgling sport.

The scheme to delay the 2024 Election has resurfaced, and has now been approved by three political parties: PKB, PAN and Golkar. The parties are aware that postponement of an election suggests a constitutional violation or, more precisely a “constitutional coup d’état or coup”, altering the Constitution in order to perpetuate power.