Between A Rock and A Hard Place ECONOMIC growth of close to 5 percent these past two years have seemingly only benefitted the rich. Gains from infrastructure projects, mining and plantation business have enriched a small group of people, failing to trickle down to the lower segments of society. Accordingly, 1 percent of the population comprising the rich, control 50 percent of this nation’s wealth. Tempo looks at the disparity and inequality behind this economic growth. Investigation: Human Trafficking To Malaysia ILLEGAL placement of Indonesian workers to Malaysia continues. The East Nusa Tenggara Police recorded more than 2,000 people who have become victims of human trafficking to Malaysia from 2015 to 2016. Lured by promises of big salaries, quite a number of young people cross over to Malaysia to take up the offer, only to return abused and victimized by unscrupulous employers. Some come back in coffins. Even more tragic, children are now targeted. Outreach: Empowering Women in the East INDONESIA is still far from achieving equality for its women. The 2016 Global Gender Gap Index released by the World Economic Forum ranks Indonesia 88 out of 144 countries. In politics, the 30 percent quota allocated for women in parliament has never been filled, with very few women from Indonesia’s eastern regions, such as East Nusa Tenggara, taking part in the public decision making process. But a movement started by Wilhelmina Mali Dappa is underway to empower women in Sumba to speak up and be counted. Meanwhile, women preachers from the Evangelical Christian Church Synod, the biggest in Timor’s capital of Kupang, are spreading awareness on gender equality. A Tempo English special report in celebration of the recent International Women’s Day.

Keywords :
Economic , Indonesian Economic , Economic Growth , ,