Kerupuk Illustration 01

This is a story about inequality in Indonesia. Every year this nation celebrates independence with "lomba makan kerupuk", a cracker-eating competition. It's not easy to eat a cracker hanging on a string without using your hands. Ironically, the cracker-eating competition very accurately describes social life in Indonesia. Even after decades of independence, many people have to struggle to make small gains. Compete for bits of access. They have to struggle to compete for many things that should be their basic rights.

On the other hand, there are a few of the richest and most powerful people in this country who do not need to join in such competitions. If they want to get something, for example, if they want crackers, they can build a cracker factory. Even if they compete to look like ordinary people, we know that the jury and the rules can be manipulated to favor them. They can buy and create fake competitions that look truly competitive. Then they will say, we work hard, we compete, we are elected and trusted by the people.