Agencies, Jakarta – The government has issued summons letters to Google and Meta over their failure to comply with a social media ban for under-16s that entered into force over the weekend, the communications minister said.

On 28 March 2026, undercover police officers allegedly detained Mr Kenias Payage, 25, Mr Atera Payage, 20, and Mr Nerry Heluka, 21, without showing a warrant. The three papuan men were intercepted at the Sentani Airport, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province, where they wanted to board a Trigana Air flight from Jayapura to Wamena.

Ghafur Fadillah, Jakarta – Indonesia's markets took a hit as fears of a broader Middle East war triggered heavy foreign selling, pushing stocks, the rupiah, and bonds lower.

Agencies, Jakarta – Indonesia urged warring parties in the Middle East "to respect international humanitarian law" after three of its peacekeepers were killed in Lebanon, and called for an urgent UN Security Council meeting.

Agencies, Jakarta – A Russian naval unit including a submarine was docked in Jakarta Tuesday, officials said, for joint training with Indonesia, which is walking a diplomatic tightrope in an increasingly multipolar world.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has officially introduced a work-from-home (WFH) policy for civil servants (ASN) every Friday.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, said the policy will take effect on April 1, 2026, and will be evaluated after two months of implementation.

Dian Rahma Fika Alnina, Jakarta – The Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD) suspects that 16 people were involved in the acid attack on KontraS activist Andrie Yunus on March 12, 2026. The suspicion was based on Taud's internal findings by reviewing 37 surveillance camera recordings around the crime scene, according to TAUD representative Alghiffari Aqsa.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has approved annual production plans (RKAB) for 580 million tonnes of coal, the ministry's coal and mineral director general, Tri Winarno, said on Friday.

He added that the remaining approvals were expected to be finalized shortly, signaling that this year's total production quota would exceed that figure.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Head of the Nusantara Capital City Authority (IKN) Basuki Hadimuljono stated that Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka will soon begin working in IKN. He conveyed the plan during a meeting with the House of Representatives' Commission II at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday, March 30, 2026.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Tokyo – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto oversaw the signing of $22.6 billion (Rp 380 trillion) worth of investment commitments between Indonesian and Japanese companies on Monday, as Jakarta steps up efforts to attract foreign capital and accelerate industrial transformation.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – Malaysia and Indonesia are seeking to align their positions in addressing the ongoing crisis triggered by the United States-Israeli war on Iran, as President Prabowo Subianto meets with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to explore ways to intensify diplomatic efforts to ease the conflict.

It only took 29 years for the military to once again show its claws in damaging Indonesian democracy. In 1997, members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Special Forces Command under the command of Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto kidnapped activists.

On 16 March 2026, sixteen-year-old Rio Keroman, and Mr Ferly Wesapla, 23, were arbitrarily detainted and subsequently tortured by Indonesian security personnel at the District Police station in Dekai (Polres Yahukimo). The arrest occurred at approximately 2:00 pm at Kali Biru, Kurima Road.

On 13 March 2025, a 30 Indonesian Air Force (TNI AURI) personnel collectively tortured Mr Bernadus Eusebius Ndawe, a member of the Kimam indigenous tribe, near the Indonesian Air Force barracks complex (Rajawali/AURI complex) in Merauke Regency, South Papua Province.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD) expresses dismay over the stalled investigation by law enforcement authorities in probing the case of acid attack on human rights activist Andrie Yunus. They suspect that non-judicial factors are obstructing the investigation and preventing the identification of the individuals responsible for this incident.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – The Monitoring and Investigation Commissioner of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), Saurlin P. Siagian, stated that the case of an acid attack on the Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Andrie Yunus, has met the criteria for a human rights violation.

Max Lane – Over the last few months, controversy has erupted in Indonesia over a major foreign policy decision of the Prabowo Subianto government. This was the decision to join President Trump's Board of Peace, whose immediate stated task is to take control and manage the Gaza strip.

Agung Dharma Putra, Heru Andriyanto, Surabaya – The Indonesian Navy on Sunday officially commissioned a new warship, KRI Prabu Siliwangi-321, in a ceremony held in the waters off Surabaya, marking a further upgrade to the country's maritime defense capabilities.

The vessel is a multipurpose combat ship built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri SpA.

Agencies, Jakarta – Indonesia is in talks with Iran to secure safe passage for its tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran responding favourably to Jakarta's diplomatic efforts, a foreign ministry spokesman said Saturday.

Erta Darwati, Jakarta – The Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) lost Rp 31 trillion ($1.8 billion) in market capitalization over the past week, as escalating tensions in the Middle East drove oil prices higher and triggered capital outflows from equities.

Following the decline, the IDX's total market capitalization stood at Rp 12,547 trillion ($740.9 billion).

Martin Bagya Kertiyasa, Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia said only two digital platforms – X and Bigo Live – have fully complied with its new child protection regulation for online services, as the rules take effect on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Jayapura - The Papua Student Association (IMAPA) in the Greater Jakarta area (Jakarta, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi) has called on the Supreme Audit Agency Republik Indonesia (BPK RI) to conduct an audit of budget use within the Papuan People's Assemblies (MRP) across the Land of Papua.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – State prosecutors have detained businessman Samin Tan as a suspect in an alleged corruption case tied to the management of coal mining operations at Asmin Koalindo Tuhup, authorities said early Saturday.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Environmental activists are sounding the alarm over a new trade agreement between the U.S. and Indonesia that they warn could accelerate mining expansion, fossil fuel dependence and forest loss, while offering only weak, nonbinding environmental safeguards.

Maudey Khalisha, Jakarta – The Indonesian National Air Carriers Association (INACA) has urged the government to approve a 15 percent increase in the fuel surcharge and raise the domestic airfare cap (TBA) for both jet and propeller aircraft by the same margin, as airlines grapple with mounting cost pressures.

Indonesia, West Papua – Between January and March 2026, human rights defenders and local media covered new internal displacements in West Papua due to new security force raids and the increasing presence of military personnel in the central highlands.

Max Lane – Anti-government sentiment – especially online – among Indonesia's youth has not been cowed by intimidation or arrest, but this resistance does not seem to have generated any moves toward more formal political organisation in real life.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Indonesia's decision to hold fuel prices steady has helped lift public support for President Prabowo Subianto's administration, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa claimed on Friday.

Jakarta – The plan to introduce work from home (WFH) once a week in the public and private sectors should not be that hard to implement since the nation has already had plenty of experience from the COVID 19 pandemic years. But with the emerging energy crisis, Indonesia needs more drastic measures to reduce national fuel consumption.

Antara Jakarta – Executive Director of the Center of Economics and Law Studies (Celios), Bhima Yudhistira, believes that the government could divert the surplus budget balance (SAL) as reserve funds to avoid widening the State Budget deficit in 2026. "Especially for energy subsidies," said Bhima, as quoted by Antara on Friday, March 27, 2026.

Indonesia, West Papua – Christian Solidarity International (CSI) has called on the Indonesian government to grant international observers access to West Papua, warning that ongoing military operations in the region are driving a mounting humanitarian crisis.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa on Thursday pushed back against criticism from economists over Indonesia's economic outlook, urging them to base their assessments on data rather than what he described as alarmist narratives.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – The domestic ceramic industry has urged the government to implement a domestic market obligation for natural gas to safeguard the continuity of local producers output and improve competitiveness.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto has instructed ministers in his Red and White Cabinet to accelerate waste management programs across Indonesia as part of a broader waste-to-energy initiative overseen by state sovereign wealth fund Danantara.

Maretha Uli, Jakarta – The government has scrapped a plan to implement hybrid learning as part of austerity measures to reduce energy consumption, after lawmakers and observers raised concerns over potential learning loss as a result of the policy.

Antara, Endang Mulyani, Jakarta – Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian estimates the government will need Rp130 trillion ($7.69 billion) over the next three years for post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Sumatra.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – Several political parties in the governing coalition and cabinet members have voiced support for a proposal to cut executive and legislative officials' salaries as part of broader austerity measures to mitigate the economic impact of the ongoing United States-Israeli war on Iran.

Philip Jacobson, Jakarta – A palm oil company is ramping up its destruction of forests that are home to critically endangered orangutans in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on the island of Borneo, according to satellite imagery and government sources.

Heru Andriyanto, Vatican City – Vatican News, the Holy See's official media platform, on Wednesday launched an Indonesian-language edition following a lengthy preparation process.

Jakarta – The Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD) is calling for the immediate disclosure of the military chain of command behind the acid attack on Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus.

Prisma Ardianto, Ardina Rizka, Karanganyar – Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia on Thursday urged the public to use fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) more responsibly as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of the global energy crisis.

Agencies, Jakarta – A senior officer in the Indonesian Military (TNI) has stepped down following an acid attack on an activist known for his opposition to the expanded role of the military, a spokesperson said on Thursday.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has given companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) until March 2027 to comply with a new minimum public shareholding requirement of 15%, up from the previous threshold of 7.5%.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has temporarily suspended the operation of 764 nutrition fulfillment service units (SPPGs) for the free nutritious meal (MBG) program across Indonesia, as of March 25, 2026. This is part of the 1,528 SPPGs nationwide that have had their operations suspended since January 2025.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The Federation Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) emphasizes the importance of establishing an independent fact-finding team to investigate the case of the attack on Indonesian human rights activist, Andrie Yunus.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The government has injected an additional Rp 100 trillion ($6 billion) into the banking system, raising fresh questions over whether the move is propping up financial markets more than the real economy.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Indonesia's tax reporting system remains so complex that even Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa admits he could not complete his own filing without assistance.

Purbaya said he encountered difficulties using the government's Coretax system while filing his annual tax return, citing ongoing technical and design issues in the platform.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid has urged President Prabowo Subianto and the House of Representatives (DPR) to establish a Fact-Finding Team (TPF) following the resignation of the Chief of the Indonesian Military's (TNI) Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS), Major General Yudi Abrimantyo, over the acid attack on Andrie Yunu

Jakarta – The civil society organisation Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) says the resignation of Lieutenant General Yudi Abrimantyo as the head of the Indonesian Military's (TNI) Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) is a manoeuvre to protect the intellectual actor behind the pre-mediated murder attempt on Andrie Yunus.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Friderica Widyasari Dewi, the new boss of Indonesia's financial regulator, wants to restore investor trust after market turmoil triggered leadership changes.