Indonesia’s second most senior judge was assassinated yesterday. Sayafiuddin Kartasamita led the prosecution ofSuharto’s youngest son Tommy on charges of corruption. He was sentenced to 18 months last fall, but went into hidingand has since been blamed for a string of bombings in Jakarta.

The assassination came as Indonesia’s new President Megawati Sukarnoputri was sworn in, and as the IndonesianParliament spent two days trying to elect a new Vice-President. It chose a leader of a Muslim Party who opposedMegawati’s bid for President.

Outside of the Indonesian capital, business continued as usual yesterday, with two people killed by police in Aceh,where more than 1,000 people have died at the hands of the military this year. The Pentagon continued its businessas usual as well, with intense speculation that the Bush Administration will try and resume military aid to theIndonesian armed forces.

Guest:

• Jeff Winters, professor of Political Economy at Northwestern University and author of “Power in Motion:Capital Mobility and the Indonesian State.” He’s been in Indonesia for the last four months.

Related link:

• Indonesia Human Rights Network