Indonesia, West Papua – During a visit to Indonesia in March 2025, Amnesty International Secretary General, Mrs Agnes Callamard, issued a stark warning regarding the global rise in authoritarian practices is increasingly evident in Indonesia.

Indonesia, West Papua – Illegal mining operations have been discovered in Ajuda Village at the border of Intan Jaya Regency in Central Papua Province (Papua Tengah) with Waropen Regency, raising significant environmental and social concerns among residents and environmental activists.

Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – In response to the 32 percent import tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, Indonesia has outlined a series of strategic measures to balance trade with the United States and, hopefully, reduce the tariffs.

Abdallah Naem, Malinau, Indonesia – Indonesia is pressing ahead with construction of a new network of dams in Borneo to power a major "green" industrial estate that will relocate Indigenous communities and cut into one of Asia's largest stretches of intact rainforest.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) urges stringent action by the government related to the rape case involving a 31-year-old resident doctor at Padjajaran University, Priguna Anugerah Pratama. The commission condemns the case of sexual violence that occurred at Hasan Sadikin Hospital in Bandung.

Marchio Gorbiano, Jakarta – Indonesian palm oil companies are seeking new markets in Europe, Africa and the Middle East as they try to protect themselves from the impact of Donald Trump's trade war, a top industry executive told AFP.

Stania Puspawardhani, Jakarta – Mr Andri Prihatin has been patiently unloading sacks of rice and bottled water in the past week at a neighbourhood grocery store in Jakarta, leaving behind his wife and two toddlers nearly 300km away, in search of a better life for his family.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) has urged people from outside Papua to refrain from engaging in mining activities in the Yahukimo region. TPNPB-OPM spokesman Sebby Sambom referred to the non-Papuan newcomers as 'immigrants' from Indonesia in the operational areas of Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands Province.

Han Revanda, Jakarta – Economist Khudori of the Indonesian Political Economy Association (AEPI) said the interpretation of President Prabowo Subianto's instruction to remove import quotas as a means to open the floodgates of imports is less precise.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – The management of the National Liberation Army of West Papua (TPNPB) headquarters has confirmed the addition of troops from the Meepago region, Central Highlands, Central Papua, who have now joined the forces of TPNPB Kodap VIII Intan Jaya, Central Papua, to fight against the Indonesian military.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Commission III, Hasbiallah Ilyas, approves the Indonesian government's decision to maintain the provision of the death penalty. This clause is known to be stipulated in the new Indonesian Penal Code (KUHP).

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) claimed that a total of 6,100 joint personnel of the Indonesian military forces have been deployed to the Papua region from January to April 13, 2025.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named two suspects in a corruption case involving the sale and purchase of gas at PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN).

The suspects are Iswan Ibrahim, former Commissioner of PT Inti Alisindo Energi (IAE), and Danny Praditya, Director of PT PGN.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Associated Press, Jakarta – Indonesia's benchmark stock index slumped nearly 4 percent this week, marking its steepest decline in years, as investors digested fresh trade tensions. The selloff erased billions in market value and pushed foreign investors to further retreat from Southeast Asia's largest economy.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – The number of travelers for the annual Eid al-Fitr homecoming, or mudik, in 2025 dropped by 4.69 percent compared to the previous year, according to data released by the Transportation Ministry on Saturday.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has strongly criticized the ongoing discussion regarding the potential conferment of the title of national hero upon Soeharto, the second President of Indonesia.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has addressed concerns regarding the proposed evacuation of one thousand refugees from Gaza to Indonesia, emphasizing that this initiative is a temporary humanitarian endeavor and not a permanent relocation, as some reports have suggested.

Jakarta – The new police regulation restricting the movement of accredited foreign journalists in Indonesia comes after a series of incidents between the police and journalists in general, suggesting that something is not right in their relations.

Sapto Yunus, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB OPM) has provided several justifications for its recent attack that led to the deaths of illegal gold miners in Yahukimo Regency, Papua.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Antalya, Turkiye – President Prabowo Subianto reaffirmed Indonesia's neutral stance on the ongoing trade war between the United States and China, stating that both nations are vital trading partners for Indonesia. The escalating tit-for-tat tariff increases between the world's two largest economies have heightened global trade tensions.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Chairperson of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Hariyadi B.S. Sukamdani stated that layoffs have already begun in several hotel businesses. He warned the wave could grow larger if economic conditions remain unstable.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD) has released findings on the acts of repression that took place during the protests against the Indonesian National Armed Forces Law (TNI Law) between March 21 and March 28, 2025.

Gatra Priyandita and Christian Guntur Lebang – The Indonesian military has a new role in cybersecurity but, worryingly, no clear doctrine on what to do with it nor safeguards against human rights abuses.

Tri Listiyarini, Jakarta – Indonesia is on track to achieve a rice surplus of up to 12 million tons this year, bolstering its ambition to become a major player in the global rice export market, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said on Friday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – An analyst recently warned about the dire consequences of easing local content policy just to get the US to revise its reciprocal tariffs.

President Prabowo Subianto recently floated a plan to make Indonesia's local content policy "more realistic and flexible". This rule mandates manufacturers to include locally-made parts in their products.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) recorded that hundreds of people fell victim to violence and were arrested by the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Indonesian Police (Polri) during the Dark Indonesia (#IndonesiaGelap) rallies against the TNI Law on March 20-27.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto should not risk playing with fire when managing state-owned banks. The 1998 crisis taught us that political and economic turmoil became unbearable when the banking system collapsed.

Jakarta – Indonesia has often displayed hypocrisy. While condemning foreign governments that have sentenced its citizens to death, Indonesia is steadfast in maintaining capital punishment at home, defying decades of calls for an end to the practice.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – The Indonesian Iron and Steel Industry Association (IISIA) on Friday warned of a possible influx of Chinese steel products into the domestic market, as China seeks alternative export destinations following the United States' recent decision to impose a steep 145 percent tariff.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesian furniture and handicraft exporters are bracing for potential disruptions as the United States considers imposing a steep 32 percent tariff on imports from Indonesia, threatening the country's largest export market for the sector.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Imam Hamdi, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid says that the government needs to immediately open a dialogue with pro-independence groups and traditional figures in Papua. According to Hamid, this step is the most appropriate way to resolve the violent conflict in Papua.

Fadhilah Fitri Primandari – Waves of mass protests have swept across Indonesia over the past two months. In February, protesters from Papua to Sumatra rallied to protest President Prabowo Subianto's free meal program and "efficiency" measures, demanded affordable education and protection of academic freedom, and called on the government to listen to "the people" (rakyat).

Jakarta – The Defense Ministry described on Thursday a Papuan rebel claim that the West Papua National Liberation Army – Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) had killed Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers in Yahukimo regency, Papua Highlands, recently as systematic disinformation designed to mislead the public.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has stated that President Prabowo Subianto's sympathy towards the families of corruptors is misplaced. Prabowo had previously suggested that the impoverishment of these families should be addressed with caution and fairness.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The Jakarta chapter of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI Jakarta) and the Legal Aid Institute for the Press (LBH Pers) condemned the distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack on Tempo's news website. The attack lasted from Sunday, April 6, to Thursday, April 10.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto recently said that it was about time for Indonesia and Turkiye to get rid of trade barriers as the two countries are trying to secure a deal that can open up each other's market access.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Sebby Sambom, spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM), accused the Indonesian government of deliberately deploying military personnel to conflict zones in Papua.

Salman Mardira, Cirebon – A total of 1,126 employees who were laid off by footwear company Yihong Novatex Indonesia in Cirebon, West Java, may potentially be rehired, a Manpower Ministry official said on Friday.

The company, which operates in the textile and footwear industry, is reported to have resumed operations after suspension due to labor strikes last month.

The Indonesian Committee for the Safety of Journalists (KKJ) strongly condemns the digital attack in the form of distributed denial of service (DDoS) against the Tempo news portal. Not stopping at Tempo, a number of other mass media that published articles on the DDoS attack against Tempo also experienced the same thing.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Sebby Sambom, spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM), stated the group's reasons for targeting civilians working as gold miners in Yahukimo, Papua.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – The Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) has urged President Prabowo Subianto to abolish the death penalty in the revision of Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics. According to the criminal law reform institution, this step is in line with Prabowo's anti-death penalty stance.

Jakarta – National strategic projects (PSN) that it is claimed will accelerate development have in fact repeatedly harmed local people. And in a number of locations, these projects have triggered conflict, deprived people's living space and damaged the environment.

Wealthy Indonesians are shifting hundreds of millions of dollars offshore amid mounting concerns over President Prabowo Subianto's fiscal discipline and the country's economic stability.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The spokesperson of the Authority of the Capital City of Nusantara (IKN) Troy Pantouw mentioned that the development of the new capital city is still ongoing. The construction of the legislative and judicial buildings will also be conducted soon.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Convicted graft felon Djoko Soegiarto Tjandra has been dragged back into the spotlight after anti-corruption investigators questioned him over an alleged meeting with long-time fugitive Harun Masiku.

Jakarta – The Indonesian National Border Management Agency (BNPP) has officially opened a new cross-border route connecting the Napan Border Crossing Post (PLBN) in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province to the Oesilo Border Post in Timor-Leste.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – Aufaa Luqmana Re A, a 20-year-old citizen, filed a lawsuit alleging breach of contract against former President Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, and former Vice President Ma'ruf Amin concerning the Esemka car in the Surakarta District Court earlier this week. In addition, the claim also targets PT Solo Manufaktur Kreasi, the manufacturer.

Salsabilla Azzahra Octavia, Jakarta – The rupiah exchange rate surpassed Rp17,000 per US dollar after Eid Al-Fitr 2025. The depreciation of the exchange rate was followed by a series of decreases in the society's purchasing power that have been occurring periodically since 2024.

Depreciation of the rupiah

Jihan Ristiyanti, Jakarta – The Indonesian Police have identified the courier for the delivery of a pig's head without its ears to Tempo.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The Indonesian government denies trying to move Palestinians out of their homeland in the evacuation plan that President Prabowo Subianto had just floated, reiterating that the evacuated Gazans would eventually return to their homes.