分类： politics

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia’s Corruption Court commenced proceedings on Monday against Nadiem Anwar Makarim, the co-founder of ride-hailing giant Gojek and former Education Minister, in a high-profile corruption case centered on a massive school technology procurement project.

The 41-year-old Harvard graduate, who served as Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology from 2019 to 2024, stands accused of orchestrating a scheme that allegedly caused significant state losses through the controversial purchase of Google Chromebooks for educational institutions. The investigation, led by Jakarta’s Attorney General’s Office, culminated in Makarim’s arrest on September 7th amid allegations of a $125 billion corruption scandal linked to the initiative.

The procurement formed part of the government’s ambitious ‘digitalization of schools’ policy, designed to enhance digital infrastructure in remote educational facilities. However, prosecutors contend that Makarim deliberately favored Google’s Chromebook technology despite internal ministry research teams rejecting the model due to its incompatibility with regions lacking reliable internet connectivity.

According to the indictment, Makarim manipulated the nationwide procurement process during 2020-2021 to serve personal business interests rather than educational needs. Prosecutors allege he pressured Google to invest approximately $787 million in PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa (PT AKAB), Gojek’s parent company, while personally receiving 809 billion rupiah ($48.2 million) in connection with the program.

Lead prosecutor Muhammad Fadli Paramajeng told the three-judge panel that the procurement disregarded standard pricing benchmarks and technical requirements, particularly for under-resourced regions. The acquisition of over 1.2 million Chromebooks allegedly aimed to strengthen Google’s dominance in Indonesia’s education technology ecosystem while facilitating substantial investments in Makarim’s former company.

The prosecution argues that Makarim’s 2019 resignation from PT AKAB and Gojek constituted ‘strategic concealment’ to mask conflicts of interest, while he maintained indirect control through appointed associates. Makarim faces potential life imprisonment under Indonesia’s 2001 Corruption Law for causing state losses and misusing public funds.

Makarim has vigorously denied all allegations, asserting through his defense team that he never personally received funds from the Chromebook procurement. His attorneys contend that Google’s investment predated his ministerial tenure and represented routine corporate activity unrelated to the laptop agreement. They further note that Makarim divested from PT AKAB upon taking office, experienced a more than 50% wealth reduction during his term, and delegated procurement decisions to technical teams rather than exercising ministerial authority.

Defense lawyer Ari Yusuf Amir characterized the indictment as ‘unclear, inaccurate and incomplete,’ arguing it improperly conflated Makarim’s policy-making role with operational decisions made by other officials. Three additional individuals—two former education ministry officials and a technology consultant—face related charges, while another staff member remains at large.

In a significant military development, Yemen’s internationally recognized government has announced the complete recapture of the oil-rich Hadramout province following a decisive Saudi-backed operation against separatist forces. The offensive, which culminated on Saturday, successfully displaced fighters aligned with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) from key strategic positions across the southeastern region.

According to statements from Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, government security forces have been directed to secure all state institutions and protect public and private property throughout the reclaimed territory. The state-run Saba news agency confirmed that administration troops have assumed control over all military and security installations within the province.

The provincial capital Mukalla, a critical port city, fell under government control after STC fighters withdrew under sustained aerial bombardment from Saudi warplanes. Military officials reported that troops entered the city without major resistance and immediately began securing government facilities. However, local residents described scenes of chaos and looting at several installations, including Al Rayyan airport, involving both civilians and newly arrived pro-government tribal fighters.

Government forces also reclaimed Seiyun, Hadramout’s second-largest city, approximately one month after its capture by STC forces. Military sources indicated that separatist troops withdrew from Seiyun airport and other key institutions, enabling government forces to establish full control.

In a parallel development, STC forces reportedly withdrew from government institutions in the eastern province of Al-Mahrah without engaging in combat. The Saba agency reported that STC-affiliated units evacuated Ghaydah airport and the presidential palace in the provincial capital, with Governor Al-Alimi tasking local authorities with restoring order and taking control of military camps.

The STC responded to these developments by welcoming Saudi Arabia’s invitation to sponsor a southern dialogue conference, characterizing the initiative as a practical step toward addressing longstanding southern aspirations. The group expressed optimism that this could facilitate “serious dialogue” regarding the future of southern Yemen.

The recent clashes erupted following a government offensive launched on Friday, with hundreds of Saudi-backed troops advancing toward Hadramout to expel STC forces and reassert central government authority. Local sources reported that intensified Saudi airstrikes in support of the operation resulted in more than 20 fatalities and dozens of injuries.

This military confrontation occurred amid the STC’s announcement of a two-year transitional period to administer southern Yemen, to be followed by a referendum on independence. Tensions between the government and the separatist group escalated significantly last month when STC forces seized substantial territory in Hadramout and Al-Mahrah—regions Saudi Arabia considers strategically vital due to their proximity to its border and concentration of Yemen’s remaining energy resources.

Yemen’s complex civil war, ongoing since 2014 when Houthi forces captured the capital Sanaa, has involved multiple factions with competing interests. The UAE-backed STC, formed in 2017 to advocate for southern independence, had nominally joined the Saudi-led coalition and the Presidential Leadership Council in 2022 but maintained persistent disagreements with the central government regarding power-sharing arrangements and control over territory and resources.

The year 2025 has witnessed mounting strain on global governance systems due to escalating geopolitical tensions, institutional inertia, and widening development disparities. Against this backdrop, the Global South is increasingly positioned to strengthen solidarity among developing nations, with China poised to play a pivotal role in advancing inclusive development, people-centered governance, and a more equitable international framework, according to expert analyses.

The foundation for this transformation was significantly reinforced during the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit in 2024, which convened 134 member states of the Group of 77 plus China, representing approximately 80% of the world’s population. Under the guiding principle of ‘leaving no one behind,’ participants acknowledged the distinctive requirements and capabilities of developing nations while emphasizing enhanced South-South cooperation across critical domains including industrialization, trade, investment, climate action, poverty reduction, and digital transformation.

A May 2025 report from the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation documented the Global South’s pursuit of viable solutions within an increasingly complex landscape characterized by shifting geopolitical dynamics, economic volatility, and environmental challenges. Despite economic growth in certain developing regions, persistent debt vulnerabilities, trade disruptions, and inflationary pressures continue to impede progress toward Sustainable Development Goals.

Professor Evandro Menezes de Carvalho of Brazil’s Fluminense Federal University noted that the Global South’s growing influence is helping rebalance the historical dominance of Western powers within institutions like the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank. ‘Many Global South countries are experiencing rapid economic growth, broadening global economic leadership beyond traditional Western economies,’ Carvalho stated, highlighting how initiatives such as BRICS and the New Development Bank are reducing reliance on Western-dominated financial systems.

Professor Mammo Muchie of South Africa’s Tshwane University of Technology emphasized that global governance stands at a historic turning point where multilateral cooperation and shared development have become more urgent than ever. ‘Since the Cold War’s conclusion, deepening globalization and the collective rise of emerging market economies have gradually reshaped the international balance of power,’ Muchie observed, noting that developing countries have gained substantial influence in global affairs while new mechanisms including BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and ASEAN continue gaining prominence.

In a significant diplomatic development, Pakistan and China have jointly called for concrete, demonstrable measures to eradicate terrorist networks operating from Afghan territory. This demand was formalized in a joint statement released following high-level talks between Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on December 4.

The bilateral statement emphasized that terrorist organizations based in Afghanistan continue to represent a severe threat to regional and global security. Both nations stressed the critical importance of preventing Afghan soil from being utilized as a launchpad for militant activities against other countries.

China specifically commended Pakistan’s comprehensive counterterrorism efforts, particularly highlighting the protection of Chinese citizens and infrastructure associated with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This massive infrastructure project, part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, employs thousands of Chinese workers and engineers developing transportation links between China’s Xinjiang region and Pakistan’s Gwadar port.

The diplomatic pressure follows increased regional tensions, including a suicide car bombing in 2024 that killed five Chinese nationals in northwest Pakistan. Pakistan has consistently accused Afghanistan’s Taliban government of providing sanctuary to the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has been responsible for escalating attacks within Pakistan since 2021.

Despite the Taliban’s assurances that Afghan territory isn’t used for cross-border attacks, tensions peaked in early October when Pakistan conducted airstrikes against alleged TTP hideouts in Afghanistan, resulting in dozens of casualties. Afghanistan retaliated with attacks on Pakistani military positions, leading to significant casualties on both sides. While Qatar brokered a temporary ceasefire in Doha, subsequent talks in Istanbul failed to produce substantial diplomatic breakthroughs.