Ian Cheng, Singapore – About 450 personnel from the Singapore Armed Forces and the Indonesian Army (TNI-AD) took part in the 35th edition of the annual Exercise Safkar Indopura.

Yustinus Paat, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – East Java is poised to have a female governor for another term as Khofifah Indar Parawansa seeks reelection, facing competition from Luluk Nur Hamidah of the National Awakening Party (PKB), with Tri Rismaharini from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) potentially joining the race.

Yogyakarta – A demonstration by Jogja Calling (Jogja Memanggil) in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta Tuesday August 27 held a theatrical action in which they tried President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in front of the Yogyakarta State Palace or the Agung Building.

Tim Lindsey and Simon Butt – Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, whose final term in office ends on October 20, has presided over ten years of democratic regression in Indonesia.

Thomas Rizal, Jakarta – Golkar chairman Bahlil Lahadalia denied Tuesday that his party endorsed Airin Rachmi's Banten gubernatorial bid out of fear that the female politician would jump ships to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Elizabeth Sinclair, Ubud, Indonesia – Inside the small, open-air stone temple in the center of the Lotudunduh rice fields, a farmer wraps a sarong and sash around his mud-spattered work clothes.

Ika Ningtyas and Nuurrianti Jalli – Virtual and physical resistance to the ruling elite's attempts to trample on democracy last week in Indonesia became a powerful reminder of how social media can be a force multiplier in democracy.

Jakarta – Indonesia plans to reinstate the full tax break on property purchases worth up to 5 billion rupiah ($323,000) for the second half of 2024 to help support demand, its chief economic minister said on Tuesday.

Under the policy, the government covers the cost of value-added tax on up to 2 billion rupiah of the price of an eligible landed house or apartment purchase.

Rahman Yaacob – Indonesia is indeed a friend to all. Shortly after the Indonesian President-elect and Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto finalised a defence agreement with Australia, Indonesian Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak announced a plan over the weekend to conduct a bilateral military exercise with China in 2025.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – For the first time since it declared independence in 1945, Indonesia held its official national day celebrations outside Jakarta this year. Flag-raising ceremonies were observed simultaneously on Aug. 17 in Jakarta, on the island of Java, and in Nusantara, the country's new capital city, currently being carved out the jungles of Borneo.

The 2024 Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders' Meeting is a critical moment for Pacific leaders to show courage and leadership on one of the biggest issues facing our region: West Papua.

Intan Setiawanty, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has called on the Central Java and South Sulawesi police to immediately evaluate how they handled protests and demonstrations in Semarang and Makassar, following reports of repressive force by officers during Monday night's protests.

Thousands of military personnel from Indonesia, the US, and eight other countries began two weeks of exercises Monday, focused on joint capabilities in the Asia-Pacific.

The region, particularly in the South China Sea, has seen tensions rise this year with flashpoints between littoral states claiming sovereignty over disputed islands and waterways.

Antara, Jakarta – Head of the Central Java Police's Public Relations Sr. Comr. Artanto stated that 32 vocational high school and college students remained under investigation at the Semarang Police Headquarters following the demonstration in front of the Semarang City Legislative Council (DPRD) Building on Monday, August 26, which ended in chaos.

Pribadi Wicaksono (Contributor), Yogyakarta – Students and activists in Yogyakarta joining the Aksi Jogja Memanggil or Jogja is Calling movement have taken to the streets again on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, demanding an end to the political dynasty of Joko Widodo or Jokowi.

Jakarta – The sudden resignation of Airlangga Hartarto as Golkar Party chairman on Aug. 12 and the uncontested election of Bahlil Lahadalia as his successor nine days later show how dependent Indonesia's oldest political party is on the country's ruler. Golkar changes guard when the government wills it.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – A total of 28 Expert Council Members of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) have resigned from the party, citing disagreements with the leadership's decision to join the broader Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM Plus) in the 2024 regional elections.

Aditya Hadi, Jakarta – Prabowo Subianto says a European Union embargo on Indonesian palm oil products is "a blessing in disguise", as it could strengthen the country's energy self-sufficiency.

The president-elect said he had conveyed that message during his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron last month.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Businesses want to see the state allocate more funds to Nusantara's development before they themselves feel confident about investing in the future capital city.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Ahmad Luthfi, the gubernatorial candidate for Central Java from the Coalition for Advanced Indonesia (KIM) Plus, has welcomed the candidacy of his rival, former Army Commander Andika Perkasa, in the upcoming 2024 Regional Election.

Aditya Pratama, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Celebrities continue to captivate voters, making them prime candidates for political parties to endorse in legislative elections.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The government announced Tuesday it would continue to entirely exempt value-added tax (VAT) for house purchases until the end of 2024.

Jakarta – Newly-appointed Golkar Party Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia announced on Tuesday the party's endorsement of Airin Rachmi Diany and her running mate Ade Sumardi for the upcoming Banten gubernatorial election. The announcement comes just three days after Bahlil had stated that the party would support a rival candidate.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The populous Indonesia is aiming to be free of extreme poverty in 2025 as the government allocates hundreds of trillions of rupiahs for social protection programs in Prabowo Subianto's first year in office.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has confirmed plans to limit the purchase of subsidized fuel starting October 1, 2024.

"There is indeed a plan [to limit it]," Bahlil told reporters after a working meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VII at the Parliament Building, on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.

Adinda Jasmine Prasetyo, Jakarta – Tempo Media Group has established the Tempo Creator Network to safeguard artists, activists, and content creators from the potential threats posed by the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE).

Daniel A. Fajri, Ade Ridwan, Jamal Abdun Nashr, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi has instructed the police to release arrested protesters, emphasizing that Indonesia is a democratic country where the expression of aspirations and opinions is a fundamental right.

Annisa Febiola, Jamal Abdun Nashr, Jakarta – The Chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) Atnike Nova Sigiro highlighted the violence perpetuated by authorities at protests in various Indonesian regions.

Nava Nuraniyah, Indonesia – On 22 August, following a massive social media backlash and star-studded protest movement organised by civil society groups, Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) capitulated to protesters' demands to abort a controversial Local Elections Bill that was scheduled for passage that day.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jakarta – Indonesian democracy is facing the gravest threat to its survival since authoritarian President Suharto fell in 1998, with recent student-led protests reflecting that citizens are pushing back, analysts said.

Heru Andriyanto, Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan's hopes for reelection were dashed on Tuesday when the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) decided against nominating him for the upcoming gubernatorial election.

Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos Horta has termed the preparations for the upcoming visit of Pope Francis a "logistical nightmare" due to various challenges, but expressed hope everything will go as planned, says a report.

Marcus Wong and Ruth Carson – The massive foreign inflow into Indonesian bonds this month may extend, if investor positioning is anything to go by.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his supporting political parties might have thought that they could do just about anything and get away with it. But clearly, they couldn't.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – A landmark decision by the Constitutional Court on Tuesday has removed the legislative threshold for political parties or electoral alliances to nominate candidates in the regional head elections in November.

Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) has finally approved the General Election Commission Regulation (PKPU) on the requirements for the nomination of regional heads in accordance with the Constitutional Court's (MK) ruling on Sunday August 25.

Jakarta – The General Election Commission (KPU) secured the House of Representative's nod on Sunday to issue new rules in line with demands from protesters, who have been furious over an attempt by allies of outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to change eligibility requirements in their favour.

Jakarta – Local leaders of the National Awakening Party (PKB) reelected incumbent party chairman Muhaimin Iskandar over the weekend in a national congress in Bali that was marred by a raucous street protest.

Ian Seow Cheng Wei – Following Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto's victory in the 2024 presidential elections, he made his first overseas visit as president-elect to China, where he was warmly welcomed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People.

Alifia Sekar, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) formally announced on Sunday that it was backing Golkar Party politician Airin Rachmi Diany in the Banten gubernatorial race later this year, after the former South Tangerang mayor failed to secure her party's support.

Jakarta – Runway testing at the airport in the new capital city Nusantara in East Kalimantan has been conducted successfully using a calibration aircraft, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said on Sunday.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto said there's no need to worry for Indonesia once it achieves food and energy security. He even mentioned that Indonesia would not have to fear anyone in the world.

Novali Panji Nugraha, Jakarta – The Chair of the Legislative Body of the House of Representatives (DPR) of Indonesia, Wihadi Wiyanto, said the DPR Legislative Body will suspend the discussion of the Indonesian Military or TNI Bill and the National Police or Polri Bill.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – The Directorate General of Customs has responded to public inquiries regarding the controversy surrounding luxury goods belonging to President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, and his wife Erina Gudono.

Peter Milne – Santos could lose control of its Bayu Undan gas project north of Darwin on Friday unless it agrees with the Timor-Leste government to give it a share of the project, according to a letter from the country's minister of petroleum seen by this masthead.

Max Lane – Throughout Indonesia on 22 August, thousands of students, workers, the urban poor and middle class people took to the streets to protest the passing of a law annulling a ruling of the Constitutional Court (MK) delivered two days prior.

Lydia Lewis, Nuku'alofa, Tonga – West Papua is within the sovereignty of Indonesia, so responsibility lies with them in addressing independence demands, Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister, James Marape, says.

But the leader of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Benny Wenda, told RNZ Pacific the issue was not about sovereignty.

Andrea Arshirena Hosana, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo attended a National Democratic Party (Nasdem) gathering on Sunday evening, signaling a renewed friendship with his old ally and the party's chairman, Surya Paloh, after a period of political distance.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is keeping an eye on the US election as ex-American president Donald Trump will go up against the Democrats' presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

Dear Pacific Islands Forum Leaders,

I am writing to you concerning the issue of West Papua.