Unmasking A Corrosive Democracy: A View from the Pit

• Author: Pranoto Iskandar
• Position: The Institute for Migrant Rights
• Pages: 329-333

e Indonesian Journal of International & Comparative Law

ISSN: 2338-7602; E-ISSN: 2338-770X

http://www.ijil.org

© 2019 e Institute for Migrant Rights Press

unmasking CorrosivE dEmoCraCy

a vIeW from the PIt

Pranoto Iskandar

e Institute for Migrant Rights

E-mail: pranotoi@imr.or.id

Recently, a communal feast (slametan) boasted as “the Banquet of 1000

Cauldrons” (or Ngaliwet 1000 Kastrol) was held in Cianjur’s grandi-

ose main square to celebrate the dramatic arrest of its beguiling mayor

with his youthful image.1 On a supercial level, it appears to be a reg-

ular celebration; another expression of the peoples’ liberation from the

bondage of two consecutive corrupt administrations.2 As one can easily

discern from multiple news outlets, this arrest disrupted one of many

sprawling political dynasties-in-the-making that are currently on the

1. See e.g., Shora Hanan, Bupati Cianjur Ditangkap KPK, Rakyat Cian-

jur Gelar Berbag ai Syukuran, P R (Dec. 13, 2018), https://

www.pikiran-rakyat.com/jawa-barat/2018/12/13/bupati-cianjur-ditang-

kap-kpk-rakyat-cianjur-gelar-berbagai-syukuran; Syahdan Alamsyah, KPK

Tangkap Bupati Irvan, Warga Cianjur Pesta Liwet, D N (Dec. 14,

2018), https://news.detik.com/berita-jawa-barat/d-4343786/kpk-tangkap-bu-

pati-irvan-warga-cianjur-pesta-liwet; Bupati Ditangkap KPK, Warga Cianjur

Syukuran di Alun-alun, CNN I. (Dec. 14, 2018), https://www.cnnindo-

nesia.com/nasional/20181214173534-20-353738/bupati-ditangkap-kpk-war-

ga-cianjur-syukuran-di-alun-alun.

2. Asyari Usman, Euforia Rakyat Cianjur Boleh Jadi Miniatur Euforia Pilpres

2019, KANIGORO: News Online (Dec. 15, 2018), https://www.kanigoro.com/

artikel/euforia-rakyat-cianjur-boleh-jadi-miniatur-eforia-pilpres-2019/.