This list looks like a debt collector’s dream team: Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD, Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Attorney General ST Burhanuddin and National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo.

They are part of a task force set up by President “Jokowi” Widodo this month to collect outstanding payments from borrowers of the Bank Indonesia liquidity support (BLBI) loan facility, which was offered to ailing banks during the 1998 Asian financial crisis.

While some have paid back their loan, 48 borrowers still owe the government Rp 110 trillion ($7.8 billion). Now, 23 years later, the government has decided to collect the money, by force if necessary, by repossessing the assets ...