In December 2006, Jusuf Kalla, the vice-president of Indonesia announced that alcohol over 5% was going to be banned from general sale and stocked only in duty free shops, for sale to people from the various embassies who held cards. This law, which coincided with the start of the christian festivities fizzled out shortly after New Year on the christian (gregorian) calendar. Heading towards an election in 2009 the government decided to again put the squeeze on hard alcohol, including limiting the duty free shops to only selling a quota of alcohol per day under the guise of assuring the quality of imported goods. When? Shortly before the christian celebration of Christmas. Now that we are into 2009, the government is again relaxing the alcohol sales squeeze. Call me a cynic, but what is the point in targeting christians and expatriates just before Christmas? To show their power base that they are in control. Democracy fail.
