Free speech: Someting you’d better be careful of in Indonesia

The newspapers in Indonesia are full of the news of the appointment of Air Marshal Djoko Suyanto to head the Indonesian Military (TNI). Just like in the US, where you have the joint chiefs of staff, Indonesia has the head of the army, navy, airforce and rotates who is the head periodically.

In order for a new man to take his position, he has to face questioning at the House of Representatives. Legislator Ade Daud Nasution, a supporter of Suyanto, and someone who has been outspoken in the past, asked a question relating to an individual who supplies the military with food materials. That comment didn’t go down well with everyone and Ade was confronted and attacked by 3 thinly disguised military guys. In Suharto’s day Ade might not be breathing right now. Things are getting better in Indonesia, but to a large extent its still ‘law of the jungle’ where the well connected and powerful can muscle their way around.