Police revealed allegations that the former chief of police, who was serving as the president's chief of staff, had been tapping the calls of the most powerful man in the country.
asserted
who → reveal → country
By Wednesday, the president's spokesperson was using the "T" word.
asserted
spokesperson → use → word
"These actions may fall into the category of acts tending towards treason," presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi told reporters.
uncertain
Hadi → fall → reporters
As he was speaking, thousands of military personnel were being mobilised in Jakarta.
asserted
thousands → speak → Jakarta
The wire-tapping allegations and military deployment escalated the political temperature in the capital, a city that was already on edge.
asserted
that → escalate → edge
Calls had been intensifying for the vice-president, who has been under scrutiny over his educational qualifications, to resign or face possible impeachment.
asserted
who → intensify → impeachment
As many in Indonesia wonder what could unfold next, some analysts see a connective tissue between these events: a widening rift between former president Joko Widodo and his successor, Prabowo Subianto.
uncertain
analysts → wonder → Widodo
The political drama comes at a time the president is already facing a dwindling approval rating, amid a near-record low currency, steep stock-market sell-offs and deep anger over forest and land fires.
asserted
president → come → fires
The complex relationship between Prabowo and Jokowi
Indonesian politics has long been dominated by the political machinations of Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo, often known as Jokowi.
asserted
relationship → dominate → Jokowi
The pair were political rivals, going head-to-head in national elections in 2014 and again in 2019.
Following Jokowi's win in 2019, Prabowo was brought in as defence minister.
asserted
Prabowo → go → minister
Jokowi, unable to run again because of Indonesia's two-term presidential limit, supported his former rival in the 2024 elections, with his son Gibran Rakabuming Raka running for vice-president as Prabowo's running mate.
asserted
son → run → mate
The quid pro quo, for leveraging Jokowi's political popularity, was that Prabowo would be a continuity president and carry on Jokowi's legacy.
asserted
Prabowo → leverage → legacy
But some analysts say Prabowo's decisions and leadership over the last two years in power have frustrated the former president.
asserted
decisions → say → president
Prabowo has cut annual funding for Nusantara, the new capital city that was championed by Jokowi.
asserted
that → cut → Jokowi
There's also a view that Gibran has been sidelined in Prabowo's administration, given limited roles to do.
asserted
Gibran → be → roles
Meanwhile, in recent months, Jokowi has become more publicly active in politics.
asserted
Jokowi → become → politics
He embarked on a nationwide political tour in June, and in September he revealed he'd officially joined a political party led by his youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep.
asserted
he → embark → son
Political analyst Djayadi Hanan said many in Indonesia viewed current politics through the lens of the relationship between the former and current president.
asserted
many → say → president
"Any political issues, particularly when there is conflict, in one way or another are usually viewed as related to the relationship between these two men," Dr Djayadi Hanan said.
asserted
Hanan → be → men
"There is demand from some groups that the president should isolate Jokowi as soon as possible, because they say he's one of the sources of problems [in the country].
"
asserted
he → be → country
On the other side, supporters of Jokowi say Jokowi should be given more room.
asserted
Jokowi → say → room
In media and political circles, this is discussed as Hambalang v Solo, referring to Prabowo and Jokowi's bases of operations.
asserted
this → discuss → operations
This perceived rift has escalated in recent months, after Indonesia's Constitutional Court in October found no compelling evidence that the vice-president held a high school diploma, which is required under Indonesian law to run for office.
asserted
which → perceive → office
The Supreme Court then ruled that a high school equivalency certificate he had obtained was invalid.
asserted
he → rule → ?
Gibran is now facing calls to resign and is also potentially facing impeachment.
asserted
Gibran → face → impeachment
Days before the Constitutional Court handed down its findings on Gibran's qualifications, Prabowo reshuffled his cabinet, reassigning two Jokowi loyalists.
asserted
Prabowo → hand → loyalists
This included the chief of police Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who the president reassigned to presidential chief of staff, widely seen as a demotion.
asserted
president → include → demotion
A month later, after the wire-tapping allegations were revealed, Listyo was detained.
asserted
Listyo → reveal → ?
This week, some in Indonesia were describing what's allegedly occurred in the halls of power as a "Watergate" moment.
uncertain
what → describe → moment
Police allege Listyo and two other senior police generals wire-tapped Prabowo — as well as other politicians, media workers, civil society leaders and business owners — from 2025 to this year without authorisation.
asserted
Listyo → allege → authorisation
It's also alleged files gathered from the wire-tapping were deleted last month.
asserted
files → allege → tapping
Listyo was appointed as police chief in 2021 by Jokowi, having previously served as police chief in the Indonesian city of Surakarta (Solo) when Jokowi was the city's mayor between 2005 to 2012.
asserted
Jokowi → appoint → 2012
Political scientist Burhanuddin Muhtadi told Indonesian media outlet Kompas that Listyo is widely considered one of Jokowi's "people".
asserted
Listyo → tell → people
"It is very easy to conclude that what happened [the wiretapping scandal] involves the two big political factions of ours, Mr Jokowi and Mr Prabowo," Dr Burhanuddin said in an interview.
"
asserted
Burhanuddin → conclude → interview
In my view, they are unavoidably drawn into this discussion because of Mr Listyo's position."
asserted
they → draw → position
Listyo and the other two senior police generals have been named as suspects for offences including illegal wire-tapping and data tampering.
asserted
Listyo → name → tapping
Police have not revealed a motive, or recipient, for the alleged wire-tapping.
asserted
Police → reveal → tapping
Inquiries by police and government officials continue, with Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Law Yusril Ihza Mahendra telling reporters on Wednesday that further legal provisions could be invoked.
uncertain
provisions → continue → Wednesday
"As the investigation unfolds, the motive and objective behind the wire-tapping will become clear," he said.
asserted
he → unfold → tapping
"There are clear indications pointing towards treason, not suggesting an intent to assassinate, but pointing towards an attempt to incapacitate the president so that he cannot exercise executive authority."
asserted
he → be → authority
…and 21 more, not listed.
The Aporia
