On choosing a caleg

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One of the great things about democracy is that citizens get the opportunity to vote for the legislators who will represent them in parliament.  But with so many political parties in Indonesia, there are a huge number of candidates (caleg) to choose from.  So how can a political party select a caleg who stands out from the crowd and who resonates with voters?  By selecting a celebrity as a caleg of course!  To some this may be seen as a rather desperate move but some voters (particularly men) may be more likely to vote for an attractive actress rather than some boring old man they have never heard of. Celebrity caleg in the coming election include Krisdayanti , Diana Sastra, Tamara Geraldine, Kalina Oktarani, Desy Ratnasari, Rachel Maryam, Annisa Bahar, Nafa Urbach, Mulan Jameela and Lula Kamal.  Quite simply, take your pick!  

Reenactment of crimes in Bali

Every country has its own idiosyncrasies; little quirks that are accepted as the norm by the locals but which at the same time only serve to baffle foreigners. And Indonesia is no exception in this regard as nine Australian members of a heroin smuggling racket are finding out: 

Police are planning to hold a series of reconstructions of the day the nine were arrested at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International airport and at a Kuta hotel. 

Reconstructions -- with accused playing themselves while wearing cardboard name tags around their necks -- are common in Indonesian criminal investigations. 

 Lt-Col Sugiarto said the re-enactments would be at the airport and at all the hotels used by the Bali Nine in the lead-up to being arrested on April 17. He said police needed to ensure hotel rooms required were empty but the re-enactment is expected within a week. Some of the nine, including those arrested without heroin, are refusing to participate. Their places would be filled by police officers, although, the courts do not look kindly on such refusal. 

Now I can understand the police wanting to reconstruct a crime scene if the criminals are still at large, but if they are already in custody then what’s the point? Perhaps it’s just a way for the police to boost their own egos and demonstrate to the general public what a great job they are doing. 

But whatever the reason it’s just as well the US doesn’t adopt similar procedures. Can you imagine what Michael Jackson might be asked to do?

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