President Joko Widodo (left) announced Saturday that all vehicles will be free to use the 5.4 kilometre Suramadu (Surabaya-Madura) toll bridge connecting the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya and Madura Island without charge claiming the move would help spur economic development on the island.

Political observer Faisal Basri has criticised the use of state foreign debt which according to the government narrative is being used to spur infrastructure development.

Yet according to the data he has gathered, most of the government’s foreign debt is being spent on the civil service.

Edzan Raharjo, Yogyakarta – Protesters opposing the New Yogyakarta International Airport (NYIA) at Kulon Progo held a demonstration this afternoon at the Yogyakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD DIY).

Ristu Hanafi, Sleman – Protesters and students from the Alliance against the Kulon Progo Airport have again demonstrated in front of the PT Angkasa Pura (AP I) offices in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta this afternoon.

1st Man: Building this is important...

2nd Man: More important again is looking after it.

With the government seemingly preoccupied dealing with the fallout from the legal fiasco surrounding the national police’s ongoing witch hunt against the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which is now targeting not just KPK commissioners, but KPK investigators, the progressive media and pretty much anyone making public statements critical

Jakarta – Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Rieke Diah Pitaloka has criticised President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s (SBY) state of the nation speech as being no different from a work of science fiction.

Men: The Kartanegara bridge tragedy isn’t my responsibility...

Rat: Who’s responsible? Me! That’s the way it is with projects!

Man: Don’t forget about the other side Mr...

Signs read: Politics, Economy

Elvan Dany Sutrisno, Jakarta – Twenty ‘black pearls’ formed an orderly line in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) Gelding Nusantara Building on October 20 demanding that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono fulfill his promise to improve the welfare of their country.