Indonesia Highlights: 212 Alumni Reunion Canceled | Indonesia Backpedaling on Democracy | Tokopedia Gains 2 New Investors

KOMPAS.com – In Indonesia news today, the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) continues to top the national headlines as it announces an event change.

A reunion for the 212 Alumni Brotherhood had originally been scheduled for December 2, 2020, despite the recent national blowout over an FPI-affiliated mass gathering.

Today it was announced that the event has instead been changed to a national dialogue that will be attended by FPI Leader Rizieq Shihab.

The newly-announced event concept does not entirely remove a 212 Alumni Brotherhood reunion in the future. It also does not exclude the possibility of large crowds gathering.

More details on today’s Indonesia news are highlighted below:

1. Indonesia’s Rizieq Shihab to Attend a National Dialogue with Religious Figures

Rizieq Shihab will attend a national dialogue on December 2,  said a press release signed by FPI Chairman Sobri Lubis, Chairman of the National Movement to Safeguard the Ulema Fatwa (GNPF) Yusuf Martak, and Chairman of the 212 Alumni Brotherhood Alumni Slamet Maarif. 

A hundred religious figures and Ulemas are expected to attend. The location of the event and the number of people that are likely to attend are still unknown.

FPI, GNPF, and the 212 Alumni Brotherhood have called for its members to attend an ‘istighosah’ (mass prayer) on December 2 to pray the Covid-19 pandemic away.

The original plan for a 212 Alumni Brotherhood reunion was forcibly canceled after the Jakarta Provincial Government did not permit the use of the National Monument for the event location.

The group has also cited the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as the reason the annual event has been canceled this year.

Source: https://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2020/11/17/18304681/reuni-212-ditunda-diganti-dialog-nasional-yang-dihadiri-rizieq-shihab 

ISTANA PRESIDEN/AGUS SUPARTO Bali is playing the role of host for next year?s Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) led by the United Nations.

2. Indonesian Democracy Slipping, Heading Towards Authoritarianism

The Institute for Research, Education, and Information on Economic and Social Affairs (LP3S) finds that democracy in Indonesia has taken some steps backward.

LP3S had predicted Indonesia’s democracy slipping in its report issued at the end of 2019.

LP3S Director for Media and Democracy, Wijayanto explained that democracy in Indonesia is looking worrisome as the government shows signs of authoritarianism in some regards.

Wijayanto explained that the consolidation of oligarchies is one sign of the country backpedaling on democratic values.

Other indicators including growing intolerance, disavowing democratic principles, ridding oppositions, and advising violence were also cited.

Wijayanto additionally highlighted evidence of repression towards activists and society during nationwide protests over the Job Creation Law.

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/11/17/18064931/lp3es-kemunduran-demokrasi-pemerintah-cenderung-ke-arah-otoritarianisme 

3. Google, Temasek Now Shareholders of Indonesian E-Commerce Unicorn Tokopedia

US Big Tech company Google and Singapore state investor Temasek have officially become shareholders in Tokopedia, Indonesia’s largest e-commerce platform.

It was previously reported that Google and Temasek’s investment in Tokopedia came after Microsoft Corp. injected their funds into Indonesian startup Bukalapak.

With this capital injection, Google now has 1.6 percent of Tokopedia’s shares. Meanwhile, Temasek via its unit Anderson Investments owns a 3.3 percent stake.

This data is obtained from documents submitted to Indonesia’s Ministry of Law and Human Rights dated November 4, 2020.

Source: https://go.kompas.com/read/2020/11/17/175606174/google-temasek-now-shareholders-of-indonesian-e-commerce-unicorn-tokopedia