Niniek Karmini and Andi Jatmiko, Jakarta, Indonesia – France and Indonesia 's top diplomats on Wednesday signed an agreement for a maritime security project aiming "to ensure peace and safety" at sea in the Indo-Pacific region.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Brigadier General Frega Ferdinand Wenas Inkiriwang, Head of the Information Bureau at the Defense Ministry, stated that the Indonesian Military (TNI) will conduct information and disinformation operations to counter threats to national sovereignty in cyberspace.

Shela Octavia, Jessi Carina, Jakarta – Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (Safenet) Executive Director Nenden Sekar Arum has revealed that participants in the protest actions against the Draft Law on the Indonesian Military (RUU TNI) have come under attack in the digital world.

Jakarta – Indonesian Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Secretary General Bayu Wardana says that they have recorded that as of today, Wednesday March 26, at least 18 journalists have fallen victim to violence while covering the wave of protests rejecting the ratification of revisions to the TNI Law.

Nur Janti, Jakarta – The Pramoedya Ananta Toer Foundation launched on Monday seabadpram.com, an online encyclopedia dedicated to the renowned Indonesian author. The platform, which includes photographs, archives and a list of Pramoedya's works, marks the centennial commemoration of his life and legacy.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Deputy Minister of Manpower, Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan, has revealed the rationale behind the Rp50,000 Eid al-Fitr bonus (BHR) provided by app-based ride-hailing companies for online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers. He stated that the explanation came directly from Grab and Gojek.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – SAFEnet, a civil society organization advocating for digital rights, reported that between March 18 and 21, 2025, social media saw a surge in negative narratives targeting groups opposing the revision of the TNI Law.

These narratives are suspected to be linked to accounts affiliated with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI).

Associated Press, Palu – One person is dead and two are missing after a nickel waste disposal site collapsed in Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi, officials said Wednesday. It was the latest deadly accident at Chinese-funded nickel smelting plants there.

Peter Adamis – On Greek Independence Day, people around the world honour the valour and courage of those who fought tirelessly for freedom during their war of independence against the Ottoman Empire. This struggle, which spanned nearly 400 years, cost countless lives before the great powers intervened in support of the Greek people.

Jakarta – The actions of Adj. Chf. Comr. Fajar Widyadharma Lukman Sumaatmaja, Chief of Police in Ngada, East Nusa Tenggara, are beyond the bounds of humanity. The police officer, who has since been dismissed, sexually abused three underage children and recorded the assaults. He then uploaded the recordings to a pornographic site in Australia.

Jakarta – Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Advocacy Division Chairperson Zainal Arifin says that as of Wednesday March 26 there were 51 regions in Indonesia where demonstrations were held rejecting the TNI Law (UU TNI). Arifin said that protesters in 10 of the 51 regions suffered brutal repression by the authorities.

Jakarta – The central leadership of the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) has denied accusations of recruiting child soldiers.

"We ensure that there has never been recruitment of children to become combatants," said TPNPB spokesperson Sebby Sambom during a teleconference on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

Probolinggo, East Java – It's common for holidaymakers to rent cars during the Eid al-Fitr season, often as a way to flaunt success when returning to their hometowns. But in some areas, this desire to impress has taken a high-tech turn.

Jakarta – House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani has denied that the official manuscript of the revisions to Law Number 34/2004 on the Indonesian Military (UU TNI), which was approved at a DPR plenary meeting on Thursday March 20, cannot be accessed by the public.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Transmigration Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara assures that the local residents affected by the Rempang Eco City project in the Riau Islands can be absorbed as labor in the industries built in the area. He will accommodate them in a local transmigration program.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Papua – The spokesperson of the central headquarters of the Free Papua Movement-Organisation of Papua Merdeka or TPNPB-OPM, Sebby Sambom, issued an ultimatum to the Indonesian government to immediately evacuate its citizens working in the conflict area of Papua.

Joshua Kurlantzick, Abigail McGowan – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto began his tenure last October with characteristic bluster and bullishness about Indonesia's potential and his own abilities to transform the country.

Fadel Prayoga, Jakarta – Kompas Research and Development (Litbang Kompas) has conducted a poll related to the public's opinion on the recent revisions to the TNI Law (UU TNI) that have been carried out by the House of Representatives (DPR) and the government.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – State-run toll road operator Jasa Marga recorded 763,679 vehicles leaving the Greater Jakarta area (Jabodetabek), which includes Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, and Bekasi. This figure represents the accumulated traffic from four main toll gates out of Jakarta, from Friday, March 21 to Tuesday, March 25.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Hundreds of Indigenous people and civil society groups in Indonesia are demanding an end to government projects that have seized their lands, fueled violence, and stripped them of their rights.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – Six protesters from last weekend's rally of anti-TNI Law revision in Malang have been released. According to Daniel Siagian, the coordinator of Malang's Legal Aid Institute, the six individuals were freed separately on Monday, March 24, 2025.

Ayu Cipta, Jakarta – The Nusantara Artists Community has united in supporting Tempo following the pig's head terror and rat carcass. Poet Mustafa Ismail stated that as of Tuesday, March 25, 2025, there were already 332 artists, writers, journalists, cultural activists, academics, and a Brunei Darussalam writer giving their support in the form of a statement.

Jakarta – Mass organizations running protection rackets are commonplace in Indonesia, as evident in the phenomenon of such groups extracting "holiday bonuses" from companies, and even schools, ahead of Idul Fitri.

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta – Head of the Information Center (Kapuspen) TNI, Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi, emphasized that the current generation of TNI has no desire to return to the New Order era, which implemented the dual function of military.

"That is the past, a dark past indeed," he stated during a Zoom discussion on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

Ankur Banerjee, Jakarta – Indonesia's currency, rupiah, neared a record low against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday as worries over slowing growth and rising government spending shook investor confidence in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

Hendrik Khoirul Muhid, Jakarta – Listya Endang Artiani, a lecturer and researcher from Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII), highlighted that the decline of the Composite Stock Price Index (IHSG) since mid-March 2025 has consequences beyond financial losses.

According to her, the psychological impact and mass panic triggered by this downturn pose the greatest risk.

Antara, Jakarta – Governor Pramono Anung has signed a new decree that exempts homes valued below Rp 2 billion ($120,375) from land and building taxes. The policy also applies to apartment units priced under Rp 650 million ($39,122).

Gilang Kembara – When it comes to fleet modernisation program, the Indonesian navy seems to be biting off more than it can chew. It is not even clear why the navy is taking the bite. The news that it wants to buy the Italian navy's decommissioned aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi came as a surprise.

Rehan Oktra Halim, Jakarta – A decline in consumer spending is evident in the deflation recorded at the start of 2025. While the government views deflation as a sign of successful price control, economists argue it reflects weak purchasing power.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) coordinator Anis Hidayah said the commission supports the protection given to Francisca Christy Rosana, a Tempo journalist who was terrorized by a package containing a severed pig's head.

Adhyasta Dirgantara, Jessi Carina, Jakarta – The wave of protest actions against revisions to the TNI Law (UU TNI) are continuing to occur in a number of regions in Indonesia. The demonstrations are being held by those who reject this new TNI Law despite the fact that the revisions were ratified by the House of Representatives (DPR) last week.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The rupiah closed weaker at Rp16,612 at the end of trading on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. The depreciation was influenced by global geopolitical tensions and sentiments from Indonesia's new sovereign wealth fund, Daya Anagata Nusantara (Danantara).

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia announced Tuesday that it would join BRICS' New Development Bank or NDB – about three months after the Southeast Asian country became a full-fledged member of the China-led bloc.

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta – Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi, Head of the TNI Information Center, asserted that the recently ratified TNI Law revision involved public input, despite ongoing protests against the policy.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – House Speaker Puan Maharani urges those who are protesting and rejecting the enactment of the revised Indonesian Armed Forces Law (TNI Law) to "restrain" themselves.

Jakarta – The police have started a preliminary investigation into the intimidation of journalists from national news magazine Tempo amid pressure from civil society groups to safeguard press freedom and ensure the safety of the country's reporters.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 24 March 2025, violence escalated in the Moanemani Village, Dogiyai Regency, Papua Tengah Province, as a group of police officers reportedly released warning shots and dispersed the crowd at the local market with teargas.

Antara, Jakarta – Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi urged Indonesians to depart on their trips earlier and take advantage of the "work from anywhere" policy for the Eid holidays.

Indonesia's Tempo magazine, known for its hard-hitting journalism and strong criticism of the country's government, received two separate packages containing dead animals on March 19 and March 22.

Jakarta – The revised Indonesian Military (TNI) Law reinforces the suspicions of many that President Prabowo Subianto wants to realize 'command politics' under his administration. In order to bring about his style of command, Prabowo needs subordinates who obey orders without question, and who can be bossed around without complaining.

Antara, Jakarta – A military tribunal in Jakarta on Tuesday sentenced two sailors to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of a car rental company owner who attempted to repossess a rented vehicle at a rest area in Banten.

Abdi Purmono (Kontributor), Malang – Eight student press activists from various universities in the city of Malang became victims of violence while covering the protest against the Indonesian National Army Law, or TNI Law, in front of the Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) building on Sunday, March 23, 2025. The demonstration was marred by violence.

Jakarta – The ratification of the Draft Law on the Indonesian Military (RUU TNI) on March 20 was followed by a wave of demonstrations around the country. Actions by civil society groups continued on March 23-24 with several rallies continuing into evening which were marred by repressive actions by the police.

Indah Handayani, Jakarta – The Indonesian rupiah weakened to its lowest level since the 1998 financial crisis, pressured by renewed global trade tensions and investor concerns over US tariff policies under President Donald Trump.

Stefanno Sulaiman, Jakarta – Indonesia's central bank stepped into the currency market to defend the rupiah on Tuesday, as growing concerns over politics, government spending and capital flight pushed the rupiah to its lowest levels since the Asian financial crisis.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Legal Affairs Commission at the House of Representatives is drafting a bill that would require law enforcement agencies to install and operate security cameras in interrogation and detention rooms, in an effort to prevent abuse, intimidation, and violence against witnesses and suspects.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Residents of the Indonesian province of South Sumatra are seeking protection from the country's National Human Rights Commission after reportedly facing intimidated for filing a lawsuit against three pulpwood companies over recurring haze pollution.

Erfan Maruf, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Transmigration Minister Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara on Monday issued an apology to the residents of Rempang Island, who were forcibly relocated under the previous administration to make way for a national industrial and residential project.

M. Ikhsan Shiddieqy, Wageningen – As the annual homecoming tradition of mudik (exodus) approaches, millions of people across Indonesia will embark on their journeys to reunite with family for Idul Fitri. This massive human migration will see a surge in mobility across various transportation hubs.

Rehan Oktra Halim, Jakarta – President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto has responded to the movement of the Composite Stock Price Index or IHSG that occurred a few days ago. Prabowo conveyed that the condition of food and security remains intact despite the downturn of stock prices.