Max Lane – On March 31, Prof. Dr. Saiful Mujani of State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta and Director of Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) created a controversy when he asked at a large gathering of political commentators: "The only way is this: can we consolidate ourselves to bring down Prabowo, that's all."

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Indonesia's Aceh Regional Police personnel briefly detained several residents following the 21st Aceh Peace Day commemoration, which resulted in a clash with the security forces in front of the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, Banda Aceh City, on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Indonesia's Legal Aid Institute (LBH) of Banda Aceh revealed that there has been a deployment of Indonesian National Army (TNI) soldiers since a day before the 21st commemoration of Aceh Peace Day on August 15, 2026.

Hendro D Situmorang, Jakarta – Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarta says around 10% of the seven million children screened through the Health Ministry's free health screening program in 2025-2026 showed signs of mental health problems.

Hundreds of members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) and students from Cenderawasih University (Uncen) clashed with police in Jayapura City on Saturday (August 15, 2026). The demonstrators were commemorating the tragic event of the 64th anniversary of the New York Agreement.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian lawmaker Bambang Soesatyo has called on law enforcement authorities to investigate the display of the bendera bulan bintang, or crescent-and-star flag, at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh on Saturday, August 15.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's outstanding government debt rose 12.65% year-on-year to Rp 10,293.69 trillion ($576 billion) as of June 30, the Finance Ministry reported on Wednesday.

The debt was equivalent to 41.26% of gross domestic product (GDP), remaining below the statutory ceiling of 60%.

Ricky Juliansyah, Jakarta – The University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI), together with the Alliance of Student Executive Boards across Indonesia and civil society groups, will hold a protest under the hashtag #ReclaimIndependence at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout in Jakarta on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

Kurniawan Arif Maspul – On the morning of 15 August 2026, the 21st anniversary of the Helsinki peace accord that ended three decades of bloody conflict in Aceh, something broke.

Marchio Gorbiano, Ruteng, East Nusa Tenggara – Thousands of evacuees waited for help Sunday on Flores island in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) after a powerful earthquake killed 48 people, injured dozens and damaged hundreds of houses and buildings.

Laurens Ikinia, Jakarta – As Indonesia marks the 81st anniversary of its independence on Monday - 17 August – the republic has much to celebrate.

Over eight decades, Indonesia has transformed itself from a newly independent archipelago into one of the world's largest democracies and economies, holding together an extraordinarily diverse nation across thousands of islands.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta - The Shadow Cabinet, a civil society movement that scrutinizes President Prabowo Subianto's administration by appointing shadow ministers, issued several critiques regarding the president's state address. According to Bhima Yudhistira, the Shadow Cabinet's Minister of Finance and Budget Governance, the speech was unrealistic.

Sorong, Jubi – Three civilians were reportedly shot in Muara Aifam, East Central Aifat district, Maybrat Regency, Southwest Papua province, on Thursday evening (Aug. 13, 2026). The alleged shooters were Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) personnel stationed at Sory Post.

Teguh Adi Prasetyo, Kupang, NTT – The death toll from a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province early Saturday has risen to 14, with dozens of homes and public facilities damaged, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said.

8Merauke, Jubi – Merauke Archbishop Mgr. Petrus Canisius Mandagi has called on Catholics to embrace love, forgiveness and peace in responding to continuing violence in Papua, including Papua Selatan.

Erfan Maruf, Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan – Vice President Gibran Rakabuming is expected to begin working from the vice presidential palace in Nusantara, Indonesia's planned new capital in East Kalimantan, later this year, according to the head of the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN).

Jakarta – The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has issued a critical assessment of the points made by President Prabowo Subianto in his 2026 State of the Nation address to the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) of the Republic of Indonesia.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) have declared their political stance against the New York Agreement signed by the Indonesian and Dutch governments 64 years ago, on August 15, 1962.

Jayanty Nada Shofa & Ria Fortuna Wijaya, Jakarta – The spotlight will fall on President Prabowo Subianto's second State of the Nation address on Friday, with economists reminding the leader to address problems head-on and avoid setting sky-high targets for 2027.

Jayapura, Jubi – Yayasan Bentala Pusaka and Satya Bumi have launched two Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) reports examining the impacts of National Strategic Projects (PSN) in Papua Selatan province. The reports were launched in Padang Bulan, Heram district, Jayapura City, on Thursday (Aug. 13, 2026).

In his State of the Nation address before the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), House of Representatives (DPR) and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) on August 14, President Prabowo Subianto stated that his administration had implemented 121 transformative policies in 21 months.

Yenni Kwok, Numbing Island, Indonesia – The waters off Numbing Island, part of the Riau archipelago between Sumatra and Singapore, are among Indonesia's richest fishing grounds. Local fisher Edy says the abundant fish stocks have enabled him to support his family and pay for his children's university education.

Yerica La – Former presidents Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Megawati Soekarnoputri were notably absent from the annual People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) plenary meeting on Friday, to hear President Prabowo Subianto deliver his second State of the Nation address as the country's president.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Indonesia risks losing tourists to competing destinations if it doubles the fee for visitors obtaining a Visa on Arrival, the country's tour and travel industry has warned, as immigration authorities propose raising the cost to as much as Rp1 million ($56).

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto has proposed creating a special ad hoc court to investigate alleged legal violations by executives of Indonesia's state-owned enterprises (SOEs), including those who served in the past three decades.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto claimed that Indonesia has achieved food self-sufficiency within just one year of his presidency. This milestone, he noted, was reached ahead of the government's initial target of four years.

Philip Jacobson, Lubuk Kembang Bunga, Indonesia – Tesso Nilo National Park, located on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, often makes headlines due to human-wildlife conflict – a byproduct of illegal encroachment and deforestation by oil palm plantations. However, there is a ray of hope, thanks to female farmers who live in a buffer zone of the national park.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta - Constitutional law expert Bivitri Susanti from the Indonesia Jentera School of Law criticized President Prabowo Subianto's proposal to grant amnesty to high-ranking officials of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Prabowo proposed this in his speech at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Annual Session on Friday, August 14, 2026.

Gembong Hanung, Jakarta – Indonesia has seen an alarming surge in land and forest fires over the past month, with thick haze from burning in Kalimantan reaching neighboring Malaysia and prompting authorities there to close more than 100 schools.

Wamena, Jubi – Two districts in Nduga Regency, Papua Pegunungan province, have been hit by drought following a dry season that has persisted since April 2026, with conditions expected to peak between June and August. The affected areas are Wutpaga and Nenggeagin districts.

Responding to the President's State of the Nation address today at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) annual session, Amnesty International Indonesia's (AII) Executive Director Usman Hamid said:

Gembong Hanung, Jakarta – Inequality in Indonesia has multiplied over the past three decades, a situation mirrored across many resource-dependent Global South countries, with the solution being an inclusive economic growth rather than excessive state intervention, according to academics.

Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – Indonesia's Constitutional Court has ruled that criminal complaints over alleged insults against the president or vice president can only be filed by the official who is the target of the alleged offense, barring family members, supporters and political volunteers from initiating cases.

Nawir Arsyad Akbar, Jakarta – The Interdisciplinary Intellectual Forum (FIAD), comprising professors, intellectuals, experts and activists, has delivered a manifesto expressing concerns over various problems in Indonesia.

Heru Andriyanto, Cikarang – President Prabowo Subianto said on Thursday that Indonesia's government-backed national electric car is expected to enter mass production by 2028 at a planned manufacturing facility in West Java.

Rahmat Hidayat – Eleven government offices in Puncak Regency, Central Papua, were burned or damaged after a crowd protested the distribution of village funds, according to local police.

Dian Rahma Fika Alnina, Jakarta – The Parliamentary Complex is gearing up to host the annual joint session of the House of Representatives (DPR), the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), and the Regional Representative Council on Friday, August 14, 2026.

A group of soldiers stationed in Indonesia's predominantly Christian Papua region intimidated and forced Catholics to record a video thanking the president and armed forces inside a village church, alleged a Catholic youth group.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – The government's proposed rupiah assumption of Rp 16,800-Rp 17,500 per US dollar for the 2027 state budget is too optimistic, an economist said, as the currency is currently trading around Rp 17,900 and has breached Rp 18,000.

Philip Jacobson – On April 20, Jafet Potenzo Lopes was surveying the south coast of Manatuto municipality, in Timor-Leste, when he recorded something he had not seen in years: three Timor green pigeons, alive, in a location where the species had never been documented before.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – The existential threat facing the Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) is closely tied to the relentless shrinkage of its natural habitat. Data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) shows that more than 69 percent of the Sumatran elephant's potential habitat has been lost over the past two decades.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – The Transportation Ministry has ordered a comprehensive verification of passenger data after a ferry carrying significantly more people than listed on its manifest caught fire off Bali on Wednesday, raising questions over whether all passengers had been properly registered.

Wamena, Jubi – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) says it was denied an opportunity to meet with members of the Highland Papua Legislative Council (DPR Papua Pegunungan) after representatives of the organization visited the council building on Wednesday (August 12, 2026).

Giovanni Torre – Saturday will mark 64 years since the New York Agreement, which saw the West Papuan people "betrayed by the international community", the Australia West Papua Association noted this week.

This year will mark 64 years since the New York Agreement when the West Papuan people were betrayed by the international community.

The New York Agreement

Rahmat Hidayat – Hundreds of people gathered at a house in Rawalumbu, Bekasi City, West Java, after social media posts linked the property to an event host accused of promoting alcoholic drinks through a Quran memorization challenge at a music festival in North Jakarta.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – A collective of professors and scholars under the Interdisciplinary Intellectual Forum (FIAD) has raised alarms over various problems gripping the nation. The academics convened to present a manifesto charting a path forward for a just, democratic, sovereign, and sustainable Indonesia.

Yenni Kwok, Jakarta, Indonesia – Indigenous groups in Indonesia have made a legal challenge to parts of a new conservation law. The groups say it could allow the government to designate their ancestral lands as conservation areas without their consent and threaten their land rights.

Ananda Teresia, Gorontalo – Loan sharks are circling a kitchen that stands on stilts above the waters of Tomini Bay, off the coast of Sulawesi in the remote fishing village of Torosiaje.

Jayapura, Jubi – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) chapters in Numbay and Sentani have submitted official notices of a planned peaceful protest to several government and security institutions ahead of a nationwide demonstration on August 15, 2026.