In his recent speech at the Foreign Ministry before 128 foreign diplomats, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asserted his claim to have waged a successful antigraft campaign, which he said was “the most aggressive in this country’s history”.

The President was trying to assure international audiences that his leadership had a zero tolerance of corruption.

It is true that under Yudhoyono’s leadership, many corrupt officials have been sent to jail. During his first term, law enforcement agencies such as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), the National Police, the Financial and Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) have been active in combating crime. But the situation has changed gradually.

In Yudhoyono’s second term, when his Democratic Party leads the ruling bloc, people are witnessing a fight again...