The Legal Aid Institute for the Press (LBH Pers) and the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) have urged the criminal legal process in the case of violence against a journalist by the aide of the Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Kapolri) in Semarang on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Gerindra Party Secretary-General Ahmad Muzani voiced uncertainty over the Gerindra Party politician and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad's alleged ties to an online gambling operation in Cambodia.

Rangga Prakoso, Jakarta – Copper mining giant Amman Mineral Internasional has officially commenced operations at its newly built smelter in West Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara, marking a major milestone in the company's downstream expansion. The facility, which began operations several weeks ago, is designed to process up to 900,000 tons of copper concentrate annually.

Indonesia, West Papua – Since early 2023, military operations in West Papua have intensified, with security forces frequently launching joint operations involving army, police, and special forces units in conflict-affected regencies across the central highlands.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – President Prabowo spoke up about the waves of protests that have erupted across Indonesia since the beginning of his presidency. According to him, demonstrations are an everyday occurrence in a democracy, as the Constitution guarantees the right to protest, to unite, and to gather.

Achmad Ali, Surabaya – Authorities in Surabaya have shut down a shop in the East Java capital after it was found selling alcohol-infused ice cream, a city official confirmed on Tuesday.

The closure came after the shop, located in West Surabaya, drew public attention on social media for allegedly offering ice cream flavors containing up to 40 percent alcohol.

An Indonesian Catholic bishop has called on the authorities in one of the nation's most popular tourist destinations to prioritize environmental protection and welfare of people in tourism activities.

Bishop Maksimus Regus of Labuan Bajo in the Catholic-majority Flores Island said that tourism can only thrive properly in a healthy and sustainable ecosystem.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The local transmigration plan for residents affected by the Rempang Eco City national strategic project (PSN) sparks criticisms. Minister of Transmigration Iftitah Sulaiman responded, vowing to take all recommendations into consideration.

Dede Adhitama, Cirebon – Chinese footwear and garment manufacturer Yihong Novatex has terminated 1,126 workers at its factory in Cirebon, West Java, following days of mass strikes that halted production and reportedly caused billions of rupiah in financial losses.

Jakarta – Civil society activists have provided a number of notes in response to a desire expressed by President Prabowo Subianto to meet with figures or initiators of the hashtags Dark Indonesia (#IndonesiaGelap) and Just Run Away (#KaburAjaDulu) which have been very noisy of late.

Reiner Brabar, Sorong – Papuan students in several major cities in Indonesia, such as Bandung, Jember, Malang, Bali, Lombok and several cities in Papua, held peaceful demonstrations on Monday April 7 to urge the gold and copper mining company PT Freeport Indonesia (FI) to immediately stop exploiting natural resources (SDA) in Papua.

Jihan Ristiyanti, Jakarta – Anti-corruption activist and former Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Tibiko Zabar warned that granting sentence reductions to corruption convicts risks weakening the deterrent effect of anti-graft measures.

Indonesia, West Papua – In a controversial move, the Indonesian National Police (Polri) launched a large-scale corn cultivation project targeting 1.7 million hectares of land across the country. The project, which includes agricultural activities in the Aib Village, Jayapura Regency, is supposed to contribute to Indonesia's food security.

Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition for the Reform of the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) believes that the draft revisions to the KUHAP prepared by the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission III actually creates space for the abuse of power by law enforcement officials.

Rahel Narda Chaterine, Novianti Setuningsih, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has given himself a score of six out of 10 for the first five to six months of working and governing Indonesia. This was in response to a question from a senior journalist who interviewed him at his residence in Hambalang, West Java, on Sunday April 6.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – The government has vowed to import more goods from the United States to gain leverage in bilateral negotiations and ease tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump as Jakarta seeks to avoid retaliatory measures.

Airlangga Pribadi Kusman – In 1804, German composer Ludwig van Beethoven tore up the first page of his completed Eroica symphony, which he had initially dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte – the military general who rode the ideals of the French revolution in his ascent to power and whom Beethoven portrayed in his symphony as a Prometheus figure who defied the gods (the aristocrats).

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – Microsoft is reported to postpone or slow down the development project of data centers in several regions, including Indonesia. This delay occurs even though the US-based technology company had previously announced to allocate a fund of US$80 billion (around Rp 1.347 trillion) for data center projects by fiscal year 2025.

Jakarta – As in many other criminal cases, the police do not appear to be serious about eradicating online gambling. Only the small-scale gamblers and bookies are targeted, while the major players in this illicit business are never touched, let alone the politicians and generals who protect them.

Mohammad Muajijin, Priyo Budi Santoso, Didik Fibrianto, Trenggalek, Central Java – Authorities in Indonesia are intensifying efforts to clamp down on the dangerous practice of launching giant, homemade hot air balloons during the festive Eid season, after 19 such balloons were detected interfering with commercial flight paths – some soaring as high as 30,000 feet.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto mentioned the Nazi Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels during his speech at an economic seminar with economists, investors, and businessmen at the Mandiri Tower, Jakarta, on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – It seems that the rules concerning song royalties are not as beautiful as the music that reaches the ears of those enjoying it. Those working in the industry should play by the rules while improving the way they are implemented.

Baginda Muda Bangsa and Reyhan Noor – The Danantara Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency, commonly known as Danantara – Indonesia's new sovereign wealth fund – has always faced public scrutiny and scepticism.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – Tempo news website has once again been targeted by a cyber attack in the form of a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS). This latest assault has persisted throughout today, April 8, 2025, following initial detection on the preceding day.

Julie Wark – What's the relationship between an emaciated, dying Wondiwoi tree kangaroo (whose small joey in her pouch is also condemned to death) and tooth decay or obesity in a kid in any European city?

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto described the act of sending a pig's head and rat carcasses to Tempo's editorial office as an attempt to sow discord and provoke division.

Samarinda, E Kalimantan – Development of Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara City (IKN), is progressing as planned, contrary to rumors of being stalled, Governor Rudy Mas'ud of the neighboring East Kalimantan stated after recently visiting the new capital site.

Jakarta – Indonesia's stock market dropped 9 per cent in early trade on Tuesday (Apr 8), triggering a 30-minute trading halt, and the rupiah fell 1.8 per cent to a record low as markets reopened after an extended holiday break and reacted to the global market turmoil caused by US tariffs.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The wave of protests from Udayana University students over the campus' military deal with the Military Regional Command (Kodam) IX/Udayana has resulted in an agreement with the rectorate.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – While the recent US tariff hikes will impact Indonesia's economy and businesses, the effects are expected to remain manageable due to the country's diversified trade portfolio, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said on Tuesday.

Erin Hale – Indonesia's rupiah is trading at record lows against the US dollar, stirring memories of the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis.

While the rupiah has been battered by the market uncertainty stemming from US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, the currency's slide began weeks before Wednesday's "Liberation Day" announcement.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto confirmed Tempo's report mentioning that he is the initiator of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Law revision in an interview in Sentul, Bogor Regency, West Java, on April 6, 2025.

Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat – As Gaza endures another round of Israeli bombardment and the latest ceasefire lies in ruins, the urgency for global action intensifies. Civilians are once again caught in the crossfire, infrastructure lies in rubble, and the death toll mounts. For all the world's expressions of concern, the suffering persists.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) has declared its readiness to war against the Indonesian military. The spokesperson for TPNPB-OPM, Sebby Sambom, stated that they are ready to engage in war if the government does not promptly recognize the sovereignty of Papua.

Vinnilya, Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto issued a strong rebuke against what he described as a rising tide of systematic disinformation targeting Indonesia, comparing its spread to propaganda tactics used by Nazi Germany. He also dismissed claims that the country is in a "dark" state, calling the narrative misleading and disconnected from reality.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The Ministry of Housing and Settlement Area is preparing 1,000 subsidized housing units for journalists, a move the ministry denies is part of the efforts to silence dissent against government programs, including the 3 million housing program.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia recorded a 1.65 percent month-to-month inflation in March amid price hikes in electricity bills and food commodities.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia has called on the government to suspend all executions and commute sentences of all death row inmates. The human rights organization said Indonesia's stance on the death penalty remains unchanged, despite no executions occurring in recent years.

Dedy Priatmojo, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has again highlighted the "Dark Indonesia" campaign that has gone viral on social media recently as a response to the economic-political unrest under the administration of Prabowo and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Myesha Fatina Rachman, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has dispatched a high-level lobbying delegation to Washington, D.C., United States, to address the recently imposed import tariffs policy initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Indonesia, West Papua – In several districts across West Papua, educational services are facing severe disruptions, with thousands of students unable to access basic education. Recent reports from multiple locations highlight a troubling pattern of abandoned schools, absent teachers, and students left without educational opportunities.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto warned that the risk of a global recession is rising following the imposition of U.S. import tariffs, which have created mounting uncertainty in the global economy.

Stefanno Sulaiman and Ananda Teresia, Jakarta – Indonesia announced a raft of concessions on U.S. imports Tuesday, including reducing taxes on electronic goods and steel, ahead of trade negotiations with Washington over President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – The Indonesia Stock Exchange temporarily halted trading on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 09.00 AM WIB (Western Indonesia Time). Trading was halted as the Composite Stock Price Index (IHSG) plunged by up to 8 percent.

Ayman Falak Medina – On April 2, 2025, the United States introduced sweeping new tariffs on several key trading partners, including a 32 percent tariff on goods imported from Indonesia. This development is part of a broader move by the U.S. administration to address longstanding trade imbalances and perceived unfair tariff structures.

Jakarta – Hundreds of doctors and health workers (Nakes) from various professional organisations and humanitarian institutions held a peaceful action in Jakarta on Monday April 7. The action was a form of solidarity with health workers and humanitarian volunteers who have fallen victim to the violence in Gaza, Palestine.

Indonesia, West Papua – Christian Solidarity International (CSI) delivered a statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 28 March 2025, warning of Indonesian Government plans to expand its military presence and exploit natural resources in West Papua. CSI highlighted growing threats undermining the land rights of indigenous Papuans.

Agencies, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia said on Monday it would "intervene aggressively" in domestic foreign exchange markets when they re-open on Tuesday for the first time since new US tariffs were announced.

Azifah Astrina – In early 2025, Indonesia enacted amendments to its National Armed Forces Law that expanded the domestic and bureaucratic roles of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), raising alarm among civil society actors, scholars, and democracy advocates. At first glance, the move appears technical – a response to evolving security challenges such as cyber threats and terrorism.

April 4, 2003 was a dark day for the Papuan people, especially in Wamena.