On 23 March 2026, Marine Corps (TNI AL) members arbitrarily detained Yuni Suhun, 23, and Mr Eliaton Wetapo, 31, at the marines' post in the Kokamo Village, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Highlands Papua Province. They were reportedly subjected to torture during interrogation.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto claimed that the Forest Area Regulation Task Force (Satgas PKH) has successfully reclaimed forest areas worth Rp370 trillion. He made this statement while attending the handover of Rp11.42 trillion from the Satgas PKH to the state treasury.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The latest survey by Bank Indonesia (BI) indicates a decline in optimism about job availability. In March 2026, the Job Availability Index (IKLK) score was recorded at 107.8, which is a decrease from 110.7 the previous month.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The Indonesian Air Force fleet escorted President Prabowo Subianto on his flight to Sleman, Yogyakarta, which departed from Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, to Adisutjipto Air Base, Sleman Regency, on Thursday, April 9, 2026.

Accelerating the recognition of customary forests cannot simply be achieved by creating a task force and prolonging its mandate. This issue requires the government to muster the courage to confront the underlying problems: the task force's lack of effective authority, fragmented regulations, and clashing economic and political interests that hinder progress.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto urged the Indonesian Air Force to remain steadfast in its duty to safeguard the homeland. Prabowo delivered this message on the occasion of the Air Force's 80th anniversary, which fell on Thursday, April 9, 2026.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) recorded the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) at 122.9 in March 2026, a decline from the 125.2 reported in February. This marks a continued downward trend for the index, which stood at 127 in January 2026.

Maudey Khalisha, Jakarta – Lawmakers and analysts warn that soaring jet fuel prices and a weakening rupiah, driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East, could add as much as Rp 1 trillion to this year's haj pilgrimage bill.

On 24 March 2026, Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob), members reportedly used excessive force against civilians during a community protest in Kaugapu Village, East Mimika District, Mimika Regency, Central Papua Province, resulting in seven residents sustaining gunshot wounds from rubber bullets.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia and the troop-contributing countries of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) "condemn in the strongest terms" the persistent attacks on UNIFIL, which resulted in the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers and the injury of several guards from other countries.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Indonesia is being urged to overhaul its fuel subsidy regime by shifting from blanket price controls to a targeted quota-based system, as analysts warn the current approach is draining state finances while missing its intended beneficiaries.

Antara, Jakarta – Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has pushed back against the World Bank's decision to lower Indonesia's 2026 economic growth forecast from 4.8 percent to 4.7 percent, saying the institution's assessment does not fully capture the government's strategy to support the economy.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto addressed his frequent overseas trips, saying they are aimed at anticipating global oil price fluctuations.

The Gerindra Party chairman raised the issue during a working meeting with ministries, agencies, and state-owned enterprises, where he also outlined the responsibilities of the presidency.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto said Indonesia aims to begin mass production of electric sedans by 2028 as part of the government's broader push to develop the country's domestic electric vehicle industry.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The Indonesian rupiah continues to trade around 17,070 per US dollar as of Thursday, April 9, 2026. According to Trading Economics data, the currency was recorded at 17,073 per US dollar at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday morning.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – The Directorate General of Immigration has handed over three Australian nationals to the Indonesian Prosecutor's Office following an illegal entry case involving a private aircraft. The suspects, identified by their initials ZA, DTL, and the pilot JVD, will undergo the judicial process after their investigation files were declared complete (P21).

Sumalata, Indonesia – Following encounters while diving, Gusnar Ismail has long turned to the morning glory plants growing on sandbanks here on the north of Indonesia's Sulawesi Island.

"When I get stung or stabbed by an animal in the sea, I'll go straight away to look for batata to use as medicine," Gusnar told Mongabay Indonesia on March 14.

JG, Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia has deployed army personnel to support the nationwide distribution of imported pickup trucks from India to rural cooperatives, as the government accelerates a large-scale logistics program aimed at boosting village economies.

On 28 March 2026, officers of the Nabire Police Intelligence and Criminal Investigation Units intercepted a group of activists associated with the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) following a peaceful fundraising activity at Karang Tumaritis Market in Nabire Town.

Tempo, Jakarta – PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) has stated that the mining production rate following the landslide incident in the underground mining area of Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) on September 8, 2025, has reached around 40-50 percent.

M. Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – Danantara Indonesia Investment Management Agency has formed a new company named PT Daya Energi Bersih Nusantara (Denera) on April 1, 2026. Denera is a subsidiary of PT Danantara Investment Management, which aims to manage the Waste-to-Energy (PSEL) Processing project.

Surabaya – Scores of students from the East Java Nusantara Student Executive Board (BEM Nusantara) held a demonstration at the V/Brawijaya Regional Military Command Headquarters (Markas Kodam) in Surabaya on Thursday April 9.

Budiman, Ahmad Hisyam Nugroho, Jakarta – Surging soybean and packaging costs are squeezing Indonesia's small-scale tempe producers, forcing them to shrink product sizes and switch to traditional wrapping just to stay afloat.

Dian Rahma Fika Alnina, Jakarta – Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) Andrie Yunus has filed a vote of no confidence against the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Military Police HQ handling the acid attack case he experienced.

Tempo, Jakarta – Indonesia's Deputy Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Sonny Harry Budi Utomo Harmadi stated that national sugar production has increased while consumption has decreased. He mentioned that this reflects improvements in food security as well as a shift in the consumption patterns of the population towards a healthier direction.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto once again addressed the "Indonesia Gelap" (Dark Indonesia) movement. This time, he accused the mindset and hearts of the group propagating the narrative of dissatisfaction with the state of Indonesia as "not good enough."

Dian Rahma Fika Alnina, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto delivered a briefing to the Red and White Cabinet at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 8th, 2026. The Chair of the Gerindra Party opened his speech at the working meeting event by discussing the government's achievements.

Antara, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto expressed optimism about Indonesia's emergence as a major global power, describing the country as a "rising giant" during the inauguration of PT VKTR Sakti Industries' electric commercial vehicle assembly facility in Magelang, Central Java, on Thursday.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia's Hajj waiting list has stretched to as long as 26 years for the regular pilgrimage program, with demand far outpacing the annual quota allocated by Saudi Arabia, a senior official said on Thursday.

Jakarta – The Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD) has revealed the alleged identities and roles of the 16 perpetrators of the acid attack on the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus.

Papuan Journalist Mr Mis Murib, affiliated with the Nadi Papua Media, was reportedly subjected to intimidation following the publication of an investigative report on illegal gold mining activities in the Siriwo upstream area, Nabire Regency.

DW (Deutsche Welle), Jakarta – Jakarta, October 1965. After a failed coup attempt, the Indonesian army and its allies killed, tortured and imprisoned hundreds of thousands of Indonesians they suspected to be communists, many of them of Chinese descent.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The World Bank has lowered its 2026 economic growth forecast for Indonesia to 4.7 percent, down from its previous projection of 4.8 percent issued in October 2025, citing rising oil prices and heightened investor caution in global financial markets.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesian activist Andrie Yunus, deputy coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), has called on civil society groups to submit amicus curiae, or friend-of-the-court briefs, in the judicial review of Indonesia's revised Military Law at the Constitutional Court.

On 10 March 2026, Members of the Indonesian Marine Corps arbitrarily detained indigenous gold panner, Mr Anton Payage, at the Marine Corps post on Seradala Road near the Nami River gold panning site in Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands Province. Mr Payage was apprehended while travelling to a traditional gold panning location.

On 12 March 2026, Indonesian security forces arbitrarily apprehended Mr Oksal Kobak, 28, Mr Yos Payage, 36, Mr Simion Payage, 29, Mr Menase Heluka, and Mr Oser Kobak at the Old Sentani Market in Jayapura Regency, Papua Province. The arrests were reportedly carried out without the presentation of warrants, and some individuals were subsequently designated as suspects.

Christine Cabasset, Eric Frecon – Australia and its partners need to monitor the developments in China's engagement with Timor-Leste carefully. Canberra should also, ideally, implement proactive initiatives to strengthen its own relationship with Dili.

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – The landslide at the Bantar Gebang landfill in Bekasi, West Java, last month did more than claim seven lives; it triggered a cascading waste crisis across Jakarta.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura – The West Papua Independent Student Forum (FIM-WP) City Leadership Committee (KPK) in Sentani has expressed its rejection of the presence of PT Freeport Indonesia, while calling for the Papuan people to be granted the right to self-determination.

Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid has criticised the seven-month prison sentence handed down against Wawan Hermawan, the administrator of the @bekasi_menggugat account, for inciting the August 2025 protests.

Hamid said that Hermawan's actions in simply reposting content on social media should not be the basis for a legal problem.

The Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Xanana Gusmao, has acknowledged that the government may be compelled to curtail the country's electricity provision during overnight periods should hostilities in the Middle East persist.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura – The West Papua Independent Student Forum, along with several students in Jayapura City, Papua, staged a protest against the management of natural resources in Papua, which they say has failed to deliver justice for Indigenous communities and their future.

Bandung, West Java – Indonesian prosecutors on April 7 charged 19 people accused of sending infants to cities across the country and overseas, including to Singapore, in what the authorities described as one of Indonesia's largest trafficking cases in recent years.

On 22 March 2026 at approximately 5:00 pm, military members and Marine Corps personnel reportedly detained seven Papuan civilians, primarily pupils, in the Sinak District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua province.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Indonesia's foreign exchange reserves declined by $3.7 billion to $148.2 billion at the end of March 2026, as the central bank stepped up efforts to stabilize the rupiah and met external debt obligations.

Jakarta – East Jakarta officials are in the hot seat after a public maintenance worker falsely claimed that a resident's complaint had been resolved by responding with an AI-generated image.

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Jakarta – Until recently, Ms Dini Khairani topped up her fuel only once every two weeks, waiting until her tank neared empty.

Now, the Jakarta resident refuels every two to three days – and rarely lets the gauge fall far below from full.

Jakarta – At least 72 children from four different schools in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta have shown symptoms of food poisoning after consuming school lunches prepared under the government's free nutritious meal program last week, prompting the shutdown of the participating kitchen due to failure to meet food safety standards.

Jayapura – The Papuan people's demand for PT Freeport to be closed down is considered reasonable, given the lack of involvement of customary landowners in the initial licensing process and the hidden interests of global capitalism that sacrifice the rights of the Papuan people.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The textile and textile product (TPT) industry is under heavy pressure following a sharp increase in raw material prices. This is due to the conflict in the Middle East, which has pushed the price of global oil to around US$110 per barrel.