The commemoration of 27 years of reformasi – the political reform process that began in 1998 – was marked by the erosion of human rights through the ignoring of past human rights violations and their repetition in the present due to authoritarian policies and practices that undermine civil liberties, political and social justice, Amnesty International Indonesia said today.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – Rights activists and historians gathered at the House of Representatives complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday to demand lawmakers reject the government's controversial bid to rewrite Indonesian history, warning it could whitewash the nation's darkest chapters and serve the political interests of President Prabowo Subianto and past regimes.

Creative Desk, Jakarta – Labor and worker unions under the Forum for Social Security (Jamsos) have strongly opposed the government's plan to implement a single-tier inpatient care system under the Standard Inpatient Class (KRIS) scheme, scheduled to take effect on July 1.

Jakarta – Manpower Minister Yassierli said on Tuesday that he had dismissed several officials who were implicated in a bribery case involving the foreign workers utilization plan (RPTKA).

Yassierly said the dismissals took place in February and March, without providing details on the number of affected officials.

Jakarta – Migrant Workers Protection Minister Abdul Kadir Karding warned prospective interns to be cautious of Japan's so-called "cheap labor" schemes.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – An armed clash between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) reportedly occurred in the Kurima District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands. A TPNPB-OPM member was reported dead in a shootout around the Yetni River on Sunday, May 18, 2025.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – The Jakarta Metro Police have arrested 12 members of mass organizations (ormas) for engaging in thuggery. Jakarta Metro Police Public Relations Chief, Ade Ary Syam Indradi, stated that the dozen ormas members have been detained for legal proceedings.

Jakarta – The president director of bankrupt textile giant Sritex has been arrested as part of a corruption investigation, the Attorney General's Office said on Wednesday.

Jakarta – Speaker of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani has warned Culture Minister Fadli Zon, who currently leads the job of rewriting Indonesia's national history, against what she called promoting a distorted version of the country's past.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – PT Telkom Indonesia Tbk (IDX: TLKM) has addressed the alleged fictitious financing case from the 2016 to 2018 period, which is currently under investigation by the Jakarta High Prosecutor's Office. The state's financial loss from the case is estimated at Rp431 billion.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – The research group, Institute for Demographic and Affluence Studies (IDEAS), has estimated that the nationwide strike by online motorcycle taxi drivers or online ojek on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, led to a loss of up to Rp188 billion in daily transactions.

Evi Mariani – Every World Press Freedom Day, journalists in Indonesia hold celebrations and reflect n their profession. But recent political and economic developments in the country have made this year's commemoration the most anxiety-inducing one for a long time.

Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto's recent visits to Southeast Asian neighbors have yet to dispel concerns over his lack of engagement with ASEAN as an institution, analysts say, warning that Indonesia risks drifting from its historic leadership role in the region in favor of bilateral diplomacy.

Simone Galimberti, Kathmandu – Indonesia's democracy is in crisis after 27 years of reform. The threat is not an overt challenge to its liberal, election-based rule of law. Rather, it is the government's prevailing mindset and approach that are subtly weakening the nation's democratic social structure.

Yovanda Noni, Jakarta – A severe shortage of non-subsidized fuels, specifically Pertamax and Pertamax Turbo, has hit several public gas stations (SPBUs) in Balikpapan since Sunday, May 18, forcing residents to queue overnight for fuel.

Jakarta – The loss of 13 lives in an explosion related to the disposal of expired ammunition in Garut, West Java, last week constitutes a tragedy. While the Indonesian Military (TNI) has promised a thorough investigation into the accident, any conclusion will be meaningless without accountability from the top brass and an overhaul of the ammunition disposal mechanism.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's state revenue dropped by 12.4 percent year-on-year in the first four months of 2025, reflecting weaker collections from both tax and non-tax sources, the government announced Tuesday.

Jakarta – West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi is an example of a regional head who uses simplistic logic when implementing public policy. In order to reduce juvenile delinquency, he sent misbehaving students to military barracks. In order to redistribute wealth, he proposed giving every family a share of the regional budget.

Maulani Mulianingsih, Jakarta – The online motorcycle (ojol) and taxi driver community held a demonstration at the Horse Statue in front of the southwest entrance to the National Monument (Monas) on Tuesday May 20.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The police have begun cracking down on a Facebook group that allegedly posts adult content revolving around incest, amid mounting calls for the operators behind these illicit accounts to be brought to justice.

Stefani Wijaya, Jakarta – Jakarta's ride-hailing services remained largely unaffected on Tuesday morning despite a nationwide protest by online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers, many of whom chose to stay online until a mass demonstration scheduled for later in the afternoon.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Speaking at a parliamentary session in Jakarta, Sri Mulyani stressed the need for national unity and collaboration to navigate ongoing global economic challenges, including heightened geopolitical risks and declining global demand.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – As Indonesia, one of the world's biggest polluters, plans to retire its fleet of coal-fired power plants to tackle climate change, one critical question is being overlooked: What happens to the communities and environments they leave behind?

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The Chairperson of Real Estate Indonesia (REI), Joko Suranto, has expressed interest in investing in the Nusantara Capital City or IKN in East Kalimantan. However, he is awaiting legal certainty regarding the national capital's relocation before proceeding.

Hendrik Khoirul Muhid, S. Dian Andryanto – The monetary crisis in 1997 and the people's weariness with the New Order government made activists speak out for reform. These vocal efforts however were silenced repressively for the sake of maintaining president Suharto's position. Of the 23 activists abducted in 1998, on nine were returned. The rest remain missing to this day.

Indonesia's Minister of Transportation (Menhub) Dudy Purwagandhi spoke out about the demands of the online motorcycle taxi (ojol) driver association regarding the reduction of the applicator's cut to 10 percent. As a regulator, Dudy admitted that he could revise the regulation to accommodate these interests.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – Online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers who are joining the protest around the Horse Statue area refuse to meet with the secretary of the Directorate General of Land Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation, Ahmad Yani.

Maria Gabrielle Putrinda, Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named eight suspects in a bribery case involving the issuance of work permits for foreign nationals at the Manpower Ministry, the agency confirmed on Tuesday.

Fadhil Haidar Sulaeman, Dili – For the people of Timor-Leste, May 20 is Independence Restoration Day: the day the United Nations officially handed over sovereignty after the Portuguese and Indonesian colonial periods, a time characterized by an enduring struggle for independence.

Nur Janti, Jakarta – A 13th-century statue of Prajnaparamita, the Buddhist goddess of wisdom, welcomes visitors to a new exhibition at the National Museum in Central Jakarta titled Sunting: Jejak Perempuan Indonesia Penggerak Perubahan (Sunting: Footprints of Indonesian women as drivers of change).

Hendrik Khoirul Muhid, S. Dian Andryanto, Jakarta – The realisation of the 1998 reforms did not happen suddenly. Efforts to overthrow the authoritarian New Order regime of President Suharto had to be paid for with gross human rights violations. One of them was the abduction of pro-reform activists between 1997 and 1998.

Jakarta – Grab Holdings and GoTo Group, which owns Gojek, were among ride-hailing and delivery services targeted by protesting drivers on May 20 in Indonesia, with thousands gathering to demand better compensation and other terms.

Kukuh S. Wibowo, Surabaya – Thousands of online motorcycle taxi drivers, or ojol, under the banner of Front Tolak Aplikator Nakal (Frontal) in East Java, held a large-scale protest in Surabaya on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – Indonesia may face another wave of mass layoffs within the next three to six months as global economic challenges, including escalating US-China trade tensions and new US import tariffs, weigh on domestic industries, a leading economist warned.

Rescuers battle weather and conditions to find missing after storm kills six people at remote mine.

Torrential rains have forced Indonesian rescuers to suspend their efforts to find 14 missing gold miners after a landslide in the remote east of the country killed six of their colleagues.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Grab Indonesia considers the status of online motorcycle taxi drivers or Ojol cannot be changed to permanent employees because it could have a broad impact. Chief of Public Affairs Grab Indonesia, Tirza R Munusamy, stated that if the partner's status is changed to employee, the number of Ojol drivers would drastically decrease.

Maretha Uli, Jakarta – An ongoing clinical trial for a tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidate in Indonesia has been met with rising public criticism, especially on social media, which experts attribute to unclear communication from health authorities surrounding the program.

Thomas Rizal, Jakarta – Indonesia is trying to be a haven for investors from home and abroad, but the resource-rich country has a ticking time bomb: preman or "thugs".

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has appointed two new top officials to lead Indonesia's tax and customs agencies amid a sharp decline in state revenue during the first four months of 2025.

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta – The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) strongly condemns a Facebook group allegedly containing incestuous or 'incest' content. The group named 'Fantasi Sedarah' (Incest Fantasy) has been removed by Meta for violating the rules.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The Indonesian Transport Workers Union (SPAI) is set to hold a mass demonstration on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, bringing together online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers, online taxi drivers, and couriers from across the country.

Jakarta – Responding to calls for him to contest a second term nearly eight months into his presidency, Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto has said he will defend his position only if he achieves meaningful results in his first term.

Jakarta – The Indonesian government's plan to release new history books has sparked concern that some of the country's darkest chapters could be recast to show President Prabowo Subianto and late authoritarian ruler Suharto in a favourable light.

Jakarta – Torrential rains forced a halt on May 19 to Indonesia's search for 14 missing in its easternmost region of Papua after a landslide killed six workers at a gold mine and injured four, officials said.

Achmad Ghiffary Mannan, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto paid an official visit to Thailand on Monday, May 19, 2025. During the visit, he met with His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn at the Amphorn Royal Palace in Bangkok, as well as with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Associated Press, Bangkok – Indonesia and Thailand agreed Monday to elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership, during the first state visit by an Indonesian president in 20 years, and agreed to push for greater trade and investment.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – The Secretary General of the Indonesia's Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration, Taufik Madjid, mentioned that there are 3,264 villages in Indonesia that have not yet received electricity access.

Giffar Rivana, Jakarta – Hundreds of thousands of ride-hailing drivers across Indonesia are set to stage a nationwide protest on Tuesday, May 20, demanding better pay, fairer working conditions, and legal protections. The coordinated action will include a mass demonstration in Jakarta and a 24-hour "off-bid" strike, during which drivers will turn off their apps.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – The Indonesian National Police (Polri) is currently conducting a massive operation to eradicate thuggery. The operation includes arresting perpetrators, rehabilitation, and investigation of cases. According to a sociologist, the eradication of thuggery requires a larger solution: political will from the national leadership.

Jakarta – Indonesia raised the alert level of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki to the highest after it erupted eight times over the weekend, its volcanology agency has said.

Lewotobi Laki-laki, located on Flores island in eastern Indonesia, spewed volcanic ash between 3 kilometers to 5.5 km high on Sunday, Muhammad Wafid, the agency's head said in a statement late on Sunday.