A'an Suryana – The government has launched an ambitious plan to improve the experience for Indonesian haj pilgrims. The question is whether worldly rewards might compromise the holiness and rightfulness of the mission.

Sahat Simatupang, Jakarta – Fifty days after the ecological disaster in Sumatra, recovery is not progressing significantly. Law enforcement against corporations suspected of damaging ecological infrastructure has not shown a deterrent effect.

Sesilia Ayu Febriani, Martin Bagya Kertiyasa, Jakarta – Foreign investors posted a net outflow of Rp 7.71 trillion ($455.6 million) from Indonesia's financial markets in the second week of January, driven by sales of government bonds, even as equities saw inflows and the rupiah showed modest stability.

On 31 December 2025, Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) personnel stationed at the Aisa Military Post reportedly ill-treated an elderly man named Mr Markus Sahbuku in the Sahbuku Village, East Aifat District, Maybrat Regency, Southwest Papua Province..

On 2 January 2026, Indonesia enacted its new Criminal Code (KUHP) and Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), prompting a coalition of civil society organizations to declare an "Indonesian legal emergency." The new laws, which replace Dutch colonial-era criminal legislation, have drawn sharp criticism from legal experts, human rights defenders, and historians.

We, the undersigned organisations, collectives, and individuals across the world, express our deep concern regarding the prosecution of Laras Faizati, a young Indonesian woman and dedicated worker supporting her family, who is currently standing trial at the South Jakarta District Court for her social-media expression following the death of ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan during

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – Experts have called for a change in thinking among business leaders and regulators after Indonesia dropped sharply in a global cybersecurity ranking, warning that the country's digital economy is at risk.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Aksi Kamisan has continued for 19 years. The demonstration, held weekly in front of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, reaches its 19th anniversary on January 18, 2026.

Basten Gokkon – When Indonesia designated Flores a "geothermal island" in 2017, identifying up to 21 geothermal sites, the policy was framed as a cornerstone of the country's renewable energy transition. Backed by international lenders and enshrined as a "national strategic project," Flores was positioned as a global showcase for clean energy.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesia's government has confirmed that the Draft Law on Countering Disinformation and Foreign Propaganda is still in the discussion stage and has not yet been formally drafted.

State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi emphasized that the plan remains a discourse rather than concrete legislation.

Putri Maharani Kristiana, Jakarta – Foreign Minister Sugiono highlighted ten of Indonesia's recent successes in international diplomacy, including its election as President of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for 2026.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – Greenpeace Indonesia Climate and Energy Campaign Manager Iqbal Damanik on Wednesday submitted evidence of an alleged intimidation campaign to Indonesia's National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim), including a decapitated chicken carcass and a written threat sent to his home.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has scrapped a plan to retire a major coal-fired power plant, after having promised for years to do so.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) rescued 18 workers at gold and copper miner Freeport Indonesia that had been surrounded by armed rebels for three days at a company outpost in the insurgency-plagued Papua region, officials said on Thursday.

Indonesian military (TNI) personnel arbitrarily detained five indigenous Papuans after returning from Sunday worship at a church in Jampul Village, West Beoga District, Puncak Regency, on 4 January 2026.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Executive Director of Parameter Politik Indonesia, Adi Prayitno, predicts that the issues of extending the president's term and the president being elected by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) will emerge during the era of President Prabowo Subianto's administration.

On 5 May 2025, members of the Damai Cartenz Police Unit arbitrarily arrested 17-year-old Papuan high school student, Ivan Kabak, in Dekai town, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.

Gembong Hanung, Jakarta – Flooding and landslides have struck parts of Java amid persistent rainfall, with coastal areas bearing the brunt due to ongoing erosion, and conditions are forecast to deteriorate further.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Indonesia will need nearly Rp 60 trillion ($3.55 billion) to rehabilitate damaged infrastructure and rebuild almost 239,000 homes following flash floods in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra last November, the government said.

Johnny Blades – Indonesia's vice-president cancelled a visit in West Papua after a shooting attack on an aircraft in the area.

Gibran Rakabuming Raka was scheduled to land in Papua's Yahukimo regency yesterday, but changed plans following reports that Papuan militants shot at a plane the day before.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – An analyst said Thursday that Indonesia should think twice about joining the Gaza security force that US President Donald Trump had pitched, citing concerns over Jakarta being the "face of new colonialism" in the war-torn enclave.

Prasetyo said that the government is currently developing strategies to fulfill the need for doctors.

Fadli, Batam – An Indonesian migrant worker from South Sulawesi, identified only as MRI, has escaped the death penalty after a six-year legal battle over an alleged 2020 murder.

The release was a result of cooperation among the protection task force at the Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Bahru, the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and law firm Gooi and Azura.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – PT Aneka Tambang (Antam), Indonesia's state-owned mining companies, has responded to circulating reports and social media videos claiming an explosion at its Pongkor gold mine in West Java and that hundreds of workers were trapped inside.

The company confirmed that the information is false.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto gathered academics at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, January 15, 2026. Prabowo will deliver a briefing to them at the event, which will take place this morning.

On 9 January 2026, Indonesian military (TNI) personnel arbitrarily detained six Indigenous Papuans in Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Highland Papua province. At least three of them were subjected to torture during interrogation. All victims are Indigenous Papuans and civilians.

Wahroni, Tangerang, Banten – The Tangerang City administration, on the outskirts of Jakarta, is planning to revise two long-standing local bylaws that strictly ban prostitution and the sale of alcoholic beverages, reopening a sensitive debate over morality, zoning and local revenue in one of Indonesia's most populous urban areas.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Research funding during Prabowo's administration has increased up to 218 percent, said Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Stella Christie.

"This is a significant raise," said Stella on Thursday, January 15, as it occurred in the first year of Prabowo's presidency.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) has warned that child grooming and sexual violence against children remain serious threats.

Minister Arifatul Choiri Fauzi said perpetrators often manipulate children in subtle and hidden ways.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) reported a total of 2,301 cases of violence against children in 2025. Most of the victims were girls, making up 51.5 percent, with boys 47.6 percent, and gender-unspecified children making up 0.9 percent.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Professor of Political Science at the Indonesia University of Education, Cecep Darmawan, said the meeting between professors and university leaders with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta did not involve a dialogue session.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) has criticized the government's proposed Bill on the Prevention of Disinformation and Foreign Propaganda, saying it contradicts the 1945 Constitution.

YLBHI warned that the bill could curtail the freedom of expression guaranteed under Articles 28E and 28F.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Paul Finsen Mayor, a member of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) from Southwest Papua, expressed his disapproval of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's plan to encourage oil palm plantations in Papua. Finsen stated that his opposition represents the aspirations of the indigenous Papuan people.

Antara, Jakarta – Bhima Yudhistira, Executive Director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios), identified factors that will increase pressure on consumer purchasing power this year in Indonesia. He believes the lack of formal employment or job opportunities is one factor putting pressure on people's purchasing power.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has requested PT Nestle Indonesia to temporarily halt distributing and importing S-26 Promil Gold pHPro 1 baby formula with batch numbers 51530017C2 and 51540017A1.

Septia Ryanthie, Jakarta – Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi has urged regency and city governments to promptly apply for crop failure insurance to mitigate the risk of losses for farmers due to hydrometeorological disasters. The threat of extreme weather in several areas of Central Java has raised concerns about the region's food security.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Nine law students from several Indonesian universities have filed a judicial review at the Constitutional Court challenging a provision in the country's newly enacted Criminal Code (KUHP), arguing that it threatens freedom of expression and legal certainty.

Adhfar Aulia Syuhada, Jakarta – Online motorcycle taxi drivers (ojol) held a demonstration in front of the United States Embassy in Central Jakarta today where they demanded that the US release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Yogi Eka Sahputra, Jakarta – The destruction of the Tanjung Kasam protected forest in Batam, Riau Islands, is significantly more extensive than previously estimated, with 20 hectares of land cover now reported as altered.

Ria Fortuna Wijaya, Jakarta – International Economic Association Secretary General Lili Yan Ing has urged the government to take a more measured and consistent approach in setting its economic growth targets, cautioning that overly ambitious figures could weaken policy credibility in the eyes of the market.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – Indonesia's economic growth is projected to be stuck within the 5 percent range while facing pressure on quality growth in 2026. The assessment was outlined by the Indonesian Business Council in its IBC Business Outlook 2026 report titled Inflection: Breaking the Growth Plateau.

Stefanno Sulaiman, Jakarta – Millions of Indonesian ride-hailing drivers would receive major increases to financial and social benefits under a draft decree being considered by President Prabowo Subianto, two sources said, threatening the profitability of ride-sharing platforms in their largest market in Southeast Asia.

Between 30 November and 9 December 2025, a series of intimidation and surveillance incidents were reportedly directed against Mr Apolos Sroyer, Chair of the Biak Customary Council and Chief of the Biak Tribe, in the Biak-Supiori Regency, Papua province.

Riri Rahayuningsih, Jakarta – The latest survey results from Bank Indonesia reveal a trend where the public is allocating a larger portion of their income to savings while simultaneously decreasing consumption.Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Susiwijono Moegiarso, acknowledged this shift, noting that citizens are becoming increasingly cautious with their

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The Climate and Energy Campaign Manager of Greenpeace Indonesia, Iqbal Damanik, and a content creator, Yansen, visited the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri). They were consulted to create a report on the threats they received after criticizing the disaster response in Sumatra.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Indonesia has reclaimed more than 4 million hectares (9.9 million acres, about the size of Switzerland) of land nationwide that had been used for plantations, mining or other activities inside areas officially designated as forest, according to the government.

Singgih Wiryono, Dani Prabowo, Jakarta – Three different survey institutions, LSI Denny JA, Litbang Kompas and Populi Centre, have released similar results on the issue of the election of regional heads (Pilkada) being through Regional Representative Councils (DPRD).

Shinta Maharani, Jakarta – Several professors from the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII) in Yogyakarta have declined President Prabowo Subianto's invitation to a dialogue at the State Palace, citing concerns that the event would be largely ceremonial.

On 12 December 2025, Indonesian military forces (TNI) conducted a large-scale air and ground military operation against indigenous settlements in Woneworasosa village, Gearek District, Nduga Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.

Nawir Arsyad Akbar, Jakarta – Kompas Research and Development (Litbang Kompas) has released the results of a poll showing that the majority of Generation Y or Millennials reject the election of regional heads (Pilkada) via Regional Representative Councils (DPRD).

Generation Y or Millennials are a demographic group born between 1981 and 1996.