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NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Opinion: How A Japanese Anime Became Indonesia's Surprise Protest Symbol
A Japanese anime has unexpectedly become a symbol of resistance in Indonesia, as young people lean into popular culture to speak out against corruption and ineffective governance. The viral protests come as space for dissent in the world's third-largest democracy shrinks. Young Indonesians are using the nation's 80th independence anniversary on Aug. 17 to mark their dissatisfaction with President Prabowo Subianto's government. Elected in 2024, he still enjoys enviable approval ratings, but disenchantment with his administration is growing in the archipelago once heralded as the poster child of democratic transformation in Southeast Asia. In the last decade though, that progress has stalled. Frustration with the system gave rise to nation-wide demonstrations in February, known as Indonesia Gelap, or Dark Indonesia. Students marched against a variety of issues, such as the role of the military in government, corruption, nepotism and Prabowo's well-intentioned but heavily-criticized free-meal program. But on a recent trip to Jakarta I observed an interesting phenomenon - black flags with a symbol from the popular Japanese anime One Piece. The Jolly Roger , the fictional skull and crossbones with a straw hat, first started popping up on the back of trucks and vehicles, and then on doorways and flagpoles across Indonesia. The trend began, according to some social media observers, after Prabowo called for citizens to fly the national red-and-white flag ahead of this weekend's independence celebrations. The choice of One Piece's Jolly Roger isn't accidental. It's a classic tale of good versus evil, following the travels of Monkey D. Luffy and fellow Straw Hat Pirates who are fighting a draconian regime. The parallels aren't lost on young Indonesians. Compared to their peers in the region, they're among the most concerned about a widening income gap, job prospects and graft, according to a recent survey by the Singapore-based ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute. Freedom House ranks Indonesia only party free, citing systemic corruption and the politicized use of defamation and blasphemy laws. This isn't the future students and activists fought for during the country's painful transition to democracy from military rule in 1998. At the time, they took to the streets, demanding the end of former president and dictator Suharto's three-decade rule. I spent my formative years in autocratic Indonesia, witnessing that transformation. Suharto eventually stepped down, and the nation became a democracy, with an active civil society and media. Losing these hard-won freedoms would mean those struggles were fought in vain. Optimists about Indonesia's post-authoritarian era have many successes to point to. It has enjoyed relatively smooth handovers of power, regular election cycles and a flourishing of public debate. It is Southeast Asia's largest-economy, and occupies a strategic position in the Indo-Pacific. Home to rich natural resources, it's a pivotal player in the rivalry between the US and China. The democratic backsliding now threatens its international reputation. The erosion of rights didn't start with Prabowo, but it has intensified. Former President Joko Widodo's tenure was marked by a declining civil rights landscape and diminishing press freedoms, even though he was initially viewed as a champion of democracy. There have been more setbacks in the last two years. Controversial rulings by the Constitutional Court in favor of the political elite, revisions to the military law expanding the role of the armed forces, and a weak opposition have meant that accountability is almost non-existent. Public criticism is dismissed rather than addressed, as Hangga Fathana, a lecturer at the Universitas Islam Indonesia, notes for the Australian Institute of International Affairs. Rather than acknowledging concerns, the president mocked his critics, alleging the rallies were politically motivated, and unrooted in reality. This represents a new form of crushing protests - not with violent repression, but with narrative control and strategic indifference, Hangga adds, making it difficult for activists to push for change. Dissent now feels futile or dangerous, young people have told me, a reason why the movement behind the One Piece anime resonates. The art of using symbols to get political messages across isn't new. From Winnie the Pooh, who social media users deemed had a likeness to President Xi Jinping, to the Hunger Games' three-finger salute in Thailand and Myanmar, to the use of Pepe the Frog in Hong Kong protests, popular culture has always seeped into Asian political life. Memetic imagery is a language of rebellion for the digital age. It's difficult to suppress and visually sticky. When authorities try to crack down, claiming, as some Indonesian officials have, claiming that holding the One Piece flag carries criminal repercussions, this only makes them more appealing. But symbolism can only go so far. Rights groups and opposition parties must continue to push for legal safeguards on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and student activism. As public demonstrations are increasingly being met with arbitrary arrests, civil society groups will need to be creative to raise awareness about the erosion of rights. When the space for dissent is disappearing, even a cryptic cartoon flag can feel revolutionary. It's a telling state of affairs in a nation that has fought for its democracy so fiercely.
Daily Express
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Bobby entitled to state security, says minister
Published on: Friday, July 18, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jul 18, 2025 Text Size: As the president's property, Bobby is entitled to state protection, similar to other presidential assets like residences, says an Indonesian minister. JAKARTA: Indonesia's Deputy State Secretary has defended the provision of state facilities for President Prabowo Subianto's pet cat, Bobby Kertanegara, after a video of the feline receiving VIP treatment sparked online debate. Juri Ardiantoro said Bobby, as the president's property, was entitled to state protection, similar to other presidential assets like residences. Advertisement He questioned the public outcry, asking why security for the president's cat should be treated differently from that for his home. The viral video showed Bobby being pushed in a stroller and escorted by police at the Cat Lovers Social Day 2025 in Jakarta, drawing mixed reactions online. Critics argued the use of public resources was excessive, while others praised Bobby's role in spreading joy and advocating for animal welfare. A researcher from the Yusof Ishak Institute said the special treatment was unjustified and warned against creating a cult-like image of the presidency. Some Indonesians raised concerns about state spending on pets amid economic hardship, noting high rates of poverty and unemployment in the country. Despite the backlash, examples of official pets receiving attention are common globally, including Britain's Larry the cat and pets of former South Korean leaders. Bobby, a rescue cat adopted by Prabowo nearly a decade ago, has become a diplomatic figure, even receiving gifts from visiting leaders such as Australia's Prime Minister. With nearly a million Instagram followers, Bobby continues to charm supporters both in Indonesia and abroad. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Business Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Trump unveils new tariff rates, including 50% levy on Brazil
[WASHINGTON] US President Donald Trump unveiled a new round of tariff demand letters on Wednesday (Jul 9), including a 50 per cent rate on Brazil, one of the highest so far announced for the levies which are set to hit in August. Trump cited the treatment of former president Jair Bolsonaro – a right-wing populist leader – in his letter to Brazil, calling on authorities to drop charges against him over an alleged coup attempt. 'This trial should not be taking place. It is a witch hunt that should end immediately!' Trump wrote in the letter. The president on Wednesday also said he would levy a 30 per cent rate on Algeria, Libya, Iraq and Sri Lanka, 25 per cent duties on products from Brunei and Moldova, and a 20 per cent rate on goods from the Philippines. The levies were largely in line with rates Trump had initially announced in April against those countries, though Iraq's duties are down from 39 per cent and Sri Lanka's, reduced from 44 per cent. Trump began notifying trading partners of new rates on Monday, ahead of a deadline this week for countries to wrap up negotiations with his administration – and posted to social media that he planned to release 'a minimum of seven' letters on Wednesday morning, with additional rates to be posted in the afternoon. Brazil is the first country to receive one of Trump's tariff notifications that was not on the initial list of trading partners when he announced higher so-called reciprocal tariffs in April. And the letter to Brazil also presents a warning shot to the Brics group of developing nations, which Trump has cast as a threat to the US dollar's status as the world's key currency. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up The US adding a tariff onto a foreign country to stop a judicial proceeding is unprecedented, according to Stephen Olson, visiting senior fellow at the Iseas – Yusof Ishak Institute and a former US trade negotiator. 'It signals to US trade partners that any and all issues that catch Trump's attention could become a problematic part of the trade agenda,' Olson said. 'It also raises questions as to whether the reciprocal tariff negotiations will ever really settle anything.' Brazil is unusual among Trump's most recent tariff targets because it runs a deficit in trade with the US, while almost all the others post large surpluses. In 2024, Brazil imported some US$44 billion of American products, while US imports from Brazil were around US$42 billion, according to the Census Bureau. In a social media post late on Wednesday, Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the nation will not be 'tutored' by anyone, adding the case against those who planned a coup is a matter solely for the country's justice system and 'not subject to interference or threat'. 'Any unilateral rate hikes will be responded to using Brazil's economic reciprocity law,' Lula wrote. 'The sovereignty, respect and intransigent defence of the Brazilian people's interests are what guide our relations with the world.' Brazil ranks among the top 20 US trading partners. Out of the other seven countries cited in Trump's announcements on Wednesday, only the Philippines – which sent some US$14.1 billion of goods to the US last year – makes it into the top 50. Imports from the remaining six nations put together amounted to less than US$15 billion last year, with Iraq – an exporter of crude oil – accounting for about half of that sum. Asked what formula he was using to determine the appropriate duty rate for trading partners, Trump told reporters at a White House event on Wednesday that it was 'based on common sense, based on deficits, based on how we've been over the years and based on raw numbers'. 'They're based on very, very substantial facts, and also past history,' he said. So far, the latest warnings have done little to rattle markets, with traders focusing on Trump's overall extension of the deadline for the so-called reciprocal tariffs to Aug 1. That has effectively given trading partners an extension for talks, and initially fuelled scepticism on Wall Street that he would follow through on his import taxes. But the move on Brazil shook the real, which slumped as much as 2.9 per cent against the US dollar, while the US$5.4 billion iShares MSCI Brazil ETF – the largest US-listed exchange-traded fund tracking the nation's equities – was down 1.8 per cent in post-market trading. Trump added to uncertainty earlier this week by claiming he was 'not 100 per cent firm' on that new cut-off date for talks. He has since sought to signal to investors and trading partners that he is committed to carrying out his tariff threats, vowing on Tuesday that 'all money will be due and payable starting Aug 1, 2025 – no extensions will be granted' on country-specific levies. Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender on Wednesday indicated that even if tariffs kicked into effect, negotiations could continue beyond the August deadline. 'There's enormous progress that has been made with many of these countries, and for some of them it is just finalising some of the terms of the framework,' he said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. 'Now obviously, the details of the trade agreement will be worked out well beyond Aug 1, but a general framework is the objective to have by Aug 1.' The president has also raised the stakes for two key trading partners, saying the European Union could receive a unilateral tariff rate soon despite progress in negotiations, and vowing to hit India with an additional 10 per cent levy for its participation in the Brics. And he has raised the spectre of more industry-specific tariffs, floating a 50 per cent rate on copper products that sent that metal climbing as high as 17 per cent in New York on Tuesday, a record one-day spike. He also pitched tariffs as high as 200 per cent on pharmaceutical imports if drug companies do not shift production to the US in the next year. The barrage of letters and fresh tariff threats marked the latest turn in a dizzying trade agenda that has spurred volatility in markets, and left consumers, businesses and trading partners anxious about the impact on trade flows and the global economy. Trump initially announced the so-called reciprocal tariffs on Apr 2, but after markets reacted with alarm, paused the higher duties to 10 per cent for a 90-day negotiating period that was set to end on Jul 9, before the latest three-week extension. The president's letters on Monday targeted countries including Japan, South Korea, South Africa, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia. Most of the tariff rates, however, were largely in line with what Trump had already announced the nations were likely to face. While Trump has touted his tariff notification letters as deals, even the actual agreements he has managed to strike during the negotiating period with the UK and Vietnam have been far short of comprehensive, leaving many details unclear. He also secured a truce with China to lower rates and ease the flow of critical earth minerals. BLOOMBERG
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Trump's 50% levy on Brazil shows world nothing is off limits
Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on Brazil over its domestic political affairs, the most extreme case yet of the US president weaponizing trade policy to make unrelated demands. Trump cited the treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro — a right-wing populist leader — in his letter to Brazil on Wednesday, calling on authorities to drop charges against him over an alleged coup attempt. 'This Trial should not be taking place. It is a Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!' Trump wrote in the letter. Brazil's leftist leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva fired back in a social media post, saying his nation will not be 'tutored' by anyone. He added that the case against those who planned a coup is a matter solely for the country's justice system and 'not subject to interference or threat.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like A failing liver is taking anshuman away! Please help him! Donate For Health Donate Now 'Any unilateral rate hikes will be responded to using Brazil's economic reciprocity law,' Lula wrote. 'The sovereignty, respect and intransigent defense of the Brazilian people's interests are what guide our relations with the world.' Trump's latest threat, against a nation that sells fewer goods to the US than it buys, risks reinforcing concerns that formal trade agreements may offer limited protection against future tariff hikes. It also again shows that the rates Trump unveiled in April on 'Liberation Day' carry little meaning. Live Events Read More | Trump imposes 50% tariff on Brazil, Lula warns of 'reciprocal measures' Trump has previously used tariff threats to accomplish other geopolitical goals. In January, he announced sweeping tariffs on Colombia before abruptly pulling the threat after reaching a deal on the return of deported migrants. He's also put 20% tariffs on China for its alleged failure to stop the flow of fentanyl to the US, and threatened BRICS nations with higher duties for undermining the dollar. Unprecedented Still, it's unprecedented for the US to add a tariff onto a foreign country to stop a judicial proceeding, according to Stephen Olson, visiting senior fellow at ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute and a former US trade negotiator. 'It signals to US trade partners that any and all issues that catch Trump's attention could become a problematic part of the trade agenda,' Olson said. 'It also raises questions as to whether the reciprocal tariff negotiations will ever really settle anything.' So far, Trump's flurry of new warnings have done little to rattle global markets as they did when the so-called reciprocal tariffs were announced in April, with traders focusing on Trump's overall extension of the deadline to Aug. 1. That's effectively given trading partners an extension for talks as skepticism persists on Wall Street that he will follow through on his import taxes. Currency hit But the move on Brazil shook the real, which slumped as much as 2.9% against the US dollar. US equity futures retreated amid uncertainty over the Trump administration's trade policies, with S&P 500 contracts slipping 0.2%, even as stocks gained in Europe and Asia. The Brazil letter was one of several sent by Trump on Wednesday. He levied a 30% rate on Algeria, Libya, Iraq and Sri Lanka, with 25% duties on products from Brunei and Moldova and a 20% rate on goods from the Philippines. They were largely in line with rates Trump previously announced, though he lowered them for Iraq and Sri Lanka while raising them on the Philippines, a US ally. Brazil is the first country to receive one of Trump's tariff notifications that was not on the initial list of trading partners when he announced higher so-called reciprocal tariffs in April. And the letter to Brazil also presents a warning shot to the BRICS group of developing nations, which Trump has cast as a threat to the US dollar's status as the world's key currency. Bloomberg Read More | No Trump letter for India, yet: What's happening Brazil is unusual among Trump's most recent tariff targets because it runs a deficit in trade with the US, while almost all the others post large surpluses. In 2024, Brazil imported some $44 billion of American products, while US imports from Brazil were around $42 billion, according to the Census Bureau — putting it among the top 20 American trading partners. Asked what formula he was using to determine the appropriate duty rate for trading partners, Trump told reporters at a White House event on Wednesday that it was 'based on common sense, based on deficits, based on how we've been over the years, and based on raw numbers.' 'They're based on very, very substantial facts, and also past history,' he said. Trump added to uncertainty earlier this week by claiming he was 'not 100% firm' on that new cut-off date for talks. He has since sought to signal to investors and trading partners that he is committed to carrying out his tariff threats, vowing Tuesday that 'all money will be due and payable starting AUGUST 1, 2025 — No extensions will be granted' on country-specific levies. Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender on Wednesday indicated that even if tariffs kicked into effect, negotiations could continue beyond the August deadline. 'There's enormous progress that has been made with many of these countries, and for some of them it is just finalizing some of the terms of the framework,' he said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. 'Now obviously, the details of the trade agreement will be worked out well beyond August 1st, but a general framework is the objective to have by August 1st.' Still, the Brazil threat signaled that even if nations strike trade deals with the US by the Aug. 1 deadline, they may still face tariff escalation afterward, according to economists at Barclays Plc. led by Brian Tan. BRICS, Copper 'We suspect President Trump's announcement of a 50% tariff on Brazil is likely to erode Emerging Asian policymakers' confidence that a deal would put an end to uncertainty over US trade policy,' they wrote. The president has also raised the stakes for two key trading partners, saying the European Union could receive a unilateral tariff rate soon despite progress in negotiations, and vowing to hit India with an additional 10% levy for its participation in the BRICS. He has raised the specter of more industry-specific tariffs, as well, floating a 50% rate on copper products that sent that metal climbing as high as 17% in New York on Tuesday, a record one-day spike. He also pitched tariffs as high as 200% on pharmaceutical imports if drug companies don't shift production to the US in the next year. Read More | Trump tariffs aim to settle scores with countries, no matter their size While Trump has touted his tariff notification letters as deals, even the actual agreements he has managed to strike during the negotiating period with the UK and Vietnam have been far short of comprehensive, leaving many details unclear. Trump also secured a truce with China to lower rates and ease the flow of critical earth minerals. The result of Trump's criticism of BRICS economies and his high tariff threats may end up being that it only brings those economies closer together, according to Steven Okun, founder and CEO of APAC Advisors. 'It signals that countries should continue to expect Trump to use tariffs to get what he wants — and there's limited scope for a reprieve,' he said by phone. 'He can add tariffs for whatever reason at any time."
Malaysian Reserve
10-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Trump unveils new tariff rates, including 50% levy on Brazil
US President Donald Trump unveiled a new round of tariff demand letters on Wednesday, including a 50% rate on Brazil, one of the highest so far announced for the levies which are set to hit in August. Trump cited the treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro — a right-wing populist leader — in his letter to Brazil, calling on authorities to drop charges against him over an alleged coup attempt. 'This Trial should not be taking place. It is a Witch Hunt that should end IMMEDIATELY!' Trump wrote in the letter. Trump on Wednesday also said he would levy a 30% rate on Algeria, Libya, Iraq and Sri Lanka, with 25% duties on products from Brunei and Moldova and a 20% rate on goods from the Philippines. The levies were largely in line with rates Trump had initially announced in April against those countries, though Iraq's duties are down from 39% and Sri Lanka's reduced from 44%. Trump began notifying trading partners of new rates on Monday ahead of a deadline this week for countries to wrap up negotiations with his administration — and posted to social media that he planned to release 'a minimum of 7' letters on Wednesday morning, with additional rates to be posted in the afternoon. Brazil is the first country to receive one of Trump's tariff notifications that was not on the initial list of trading partners when he announced higher so-called reciprocal tariffs in April. And the letter to Brazil also presents a warning shot to the BRICS group of developing nations, which Trump has cast as a threat to the US dollar's status as the world's key currency. The US adding a tariff onto a foreign country to stop a judicial proceeding is unprecedented, according to Stephen Olson, visiting senior fellow, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute and a former US trade negotiator. 'It signals to US trade partners that any and all issues that catch Trump's attention could become a problematic part of the trade agenda,' Olson said. 'It also raises questions as to whether the reciprocal tariff negotiations will ever really settle anything.' Brazil is unusual among Trump's most recent tariff targets because it runs a deficit in trade with the US, while almost all the others post large surpluses. In 2024, Brazil imported some $44 billion of American products, while US imports from Brazil were around $42 billion, according to the Census Bureau. In a social media post late on Wednesday, Brazil's leftist leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the nation will not be 'tutored' by anyone, adding the case against those who planned a coup is a matter solely for the country's justice system and 'not subject to interference or threat.' 'Any unilateral rate hikes will be responded to using Brazil's economic reciprocity law,' Lula wrote. 'The sovereignty, respect and intransigent defense of the Brazilian people's interests are what guide our relations with the world.' Brazil ranks among the top 20 US trading partners. Out of the other seven countries cited in Trump's announcements Wednesday, only the Philippines — which sent some $14.1 billion of goods to the US last year — makes it into the top 50. Imports from the remaining six nations put together amounted to less than $15 billion last year, with Iraq — an exporter of crude oil — accounting for about half of that sum. Asked what formula he was using to determine the appropriate duty rate for trading partners, Trump told reporters at a White House event on Wednesday that it was 'based on common sense, based on deficits, based on how we've been over the years, and based on raw numbers.' 'They're based on very, very substantial facts, and also past history,' he said. So far, the latest warnings have done little to rattle markets, with traders focusing on Trump's overall extension of the deadline for the so-called reciprocal tariffs to Aug. 1. That's effectively given trading partners an extension for talks and initially fueled skepticism on Wall Street that he would follow through on his import taxes. But the move on Brazil shook the real, which slumped as much as 2.9% against the US dollar, while the $5.35 billion iShares MSCI Brazil ETF — the largest US-listed exchange-traded fund tracking the nation's equities — was down 1.8% in postmarket trading. Trump added to uncertainty earlier this week by claiming he was 'not 100% firm' on that new cut-off date for talks. He has since sought to signal to investors and trading partners that he is committed to carrying out his tariff threats, vowing Tuesday that 'all money will be due and payable starting AUGUST 1, 2025 — No extensions will be granted' on country-specific levies. Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender on Wednesday indicated that even if tariffs kicked into effect, negotiations could continue beyond the August deadline. 'There's enormous progress that has been made with many of these countries, and for some of them it is just finalizing some of the terms of the framework,' he said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. 'Now obviously, the details of the trade agreement will be worked out well beyond August 1st, but a general framework is the objective to have by August 1st.' The president has also raised the stakes for two key trading partners, saying the European Union could receive a unilateral tariff rate soon despite progress in negotiations, and vowing to hit India with an additional 10% levy for its participation in the BRICS. And he's raised the specter of more industry-specific tariffs, floating a 50% rate on copper products that sent that metal climbing as high as 17% in New York on Tuesday, a record one-day spike. He also pitched tariffs as high as 200% on pharmaceutical imports if drug companies don't shift production to the US in the next year. The barrage of letters and fresh tariff threats marked the latest turn in a dizzying trade agenda that has spurred volatility in markets and left consumers, businesses and trading partners anxious about the impact on trade flows and the global economy. Trump initially announced the so-called reciprocal tariffs on April 2, but after markets reacted with alarm, paused the higher duties to 10% for a 90-day negotiating period that was set to end on Wednesday, July 9 before the latest three-week extension. Trump's letters on Monday targeted countries including Japan, South Korea, South Africa, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia. Most of the tariff rates, however, were largely in line with what Trump had already announced the nations were likely to face. While Trump has touted his tariff notification letters as deals, even the actual agreements he has managed to strike during the negotiating period with the UK and Vietnam have been far short of comprehensive, leaving many details unclear. Trump also secured a truce with China to lower rates and ease the flow of critical earth minerals. –BLOOMBERG
