Vitorio Mantalean, Ihsanuddin, Jakarta – Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) says that the thousands of troops sent to the land of Papua throughout 2024 were illegal.

Imparsial Director Ardi Manto Adiputra stressed that the status of the Papua Military Operations Area (DOM) was officially revoked after reformasi – the political reform process that began in 1998.

Jakarta – Indonesia stands at a crossroads as the online gambling epidemic reveals the devastating consequences of unchecked digital platforms.

With over 13 percent of the nation's 4 million online gamblers under 20 years old, according to the state's online gambling task force, the urgency to regulate social media platforms cannot be overstated.

Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – There have been at least 116 recorded cases of police brutality in the country this year, including 29 extrajudicial killings, a study by Amnesty International Indonesia has found, citing a lack of evaluation, normalized violence and a permissive government attitude toward police misconduct as the primary contributing factors to the "worrying" pattern.

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has pushed the Health Ministry to include ketamine in the list of psychotropic drugs that would effectively make improper use of the hard drug a criminal offense resulting in jail time.

Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – Indonesia will ban import of sugar starting next year, according to Chief Food Affairs Minister Zulkifli Hasan.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya revealed that 28 ad hoc election officials passed away as of December 8, 2024. He disclosed this information during a working meeting with Commission I of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, December 10, 2024.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Head of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) Authority, Bambang Hadimuljono, announced that civil servants will commence relocation to Nusantara, East Kalimantan, in April 2025.

The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) commemorated International Human Rights Day in Jakarta on Thursday December 10 by holding a People's Voice Festival titled the Human Rights Carnaval (Karnaval HAM).

Te Aniwaniwa Paterson – The indigenous West Timorese, who live in an Indonesian province, East Nusa Tenggara, share Maori concerns that government announcements will eventuate in the extraction of natural resources without consultation from indigenous custodians.

Yudha Almerio, Balikpapan, Indonesia – Abdul Kadir looked out to sea as a gathering of storm clouds darkened the outlook for the day's fishing in Balikpapan Bay.

"We're often faced with this situation," Kadir told Mongabay Indonesia. "But we survive as best we can."

Nazarudin Latif and Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jakarta – The Indonesian armed forces may resist a landmark court ruling last month that gave the national anti-graft agency a greenlight to investigate corruption in the military, analysts are warning.

Jakarta – The number of people that did not use their right to vote or golput in the 2024 election of regional heads (Pilkada) was fairly high. In a number of regions, the number of votes for those that won elections was far less than the golput figure.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura – The Papuan People's Front (FRP) and Papuan students hope that with the momentum International Human Rights Day the Indonesian state will open its eyes to and be aware that the state is the biggest sinner in the form of human rights violations against the Papuan people.

Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) reported a net foreign capital outflow in the domestic financial market amounting to Rp 5.13 trillion (US$323.4 million), based on transaction data from Dec. 2-5.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto would need Rp 13,528 trillion or approximately $900 billion from foreign and domestic investors if he wants to make his 8 percent growth dream come true, government estimates show.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto and his administration owe the public an explanation regarding the push and pull of his plan to consolidate the tax office and the customs and excise office into the revenue agency.

Jakarta – Authorities plan to launch a cloud seeding operation to mitigate flooding in the disaster-hit Sukabumi regency in West Java following a series of hydrometeorological hazards striking the area over the last few days.

Jakarta – Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) vice chairman Arif Maulana urged the House of Representatives' Commission III to seriously evaluate the use of firearms by the National Police, saying that the officers are increasingly misusing the firearms.

Jakarta – A presidential spokesperson said on Monday that the status of state mosque held by Central Jakarta's Istiqlal Mosque would soon be transferred to a new place of worship being built in Nusantara, East Kalimantan.

Ami Afriatni, Jakarta – On the streets of Jakarta and other major Indonesian cities, Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming a familiar sight – a sign of their growing appeal in Southeast Asia's largest auto market.

Riandy Laksono – Prabowo has appointed 112 members to his Red and White Cabinet, comprising 48 ministers, 5 ministerial-level officials, and 59 vice ministers. His "bloated" cabinet reflects a strategy of rewarding loyalists, retaining trusted Jokowi aides, and placating political opponents.

As Interim President of the ULMWP, I welcome the release of the judgment of the Permanent People's Tribunal (PPT) on West Papua.

After testimonies from West Papuans on the ground and legal and academic experts, the PPT found Indonesia guilty on all four counts:

Tria Dianti, Jakarta – The appointments to key government positions of figures linked to past human rights abuses in Indonesia have alarmed rights advocates, who warn the country may face a deepening culture of impunity under new President Prabowo Subianto.

Alfida Rizki Febrianna, Jakarta – The government's assurance that a higher value-added tax (VAT) will apply only to luxury goods, and thus spare low-income families, is being met with skepticism by some analysts.

Nur Janti, Jakarta – Indonesian volunteers who were providing medical assistance in a humanitarian mission in a hospital in northern Gaza Strip have been taken to safety following a recent assault by the Israeli military in and around the medical facility, the Foreign Ministry reports.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – Economist Achmad Nur Hidayat recently said that the government should clearly state what sort of "luxury goods" would be subject to the upcoming value-added tax (VAT) hike.

Jakarta – Former Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung has secured over 50 percent of the vote in the November 27 Jakarta gubernatorial election, the General Election Commission (KPU) announced on Sunday.

Septia Ryanthie, Jakarta – Former President Joko Widodo has responded to claims made by the Golkar Party's central board that he has become an honorary member of the party.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – State-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina (Persero) is lowering the price of aviation fuel at 19 priority airports across Indonesia. Pertamina President Director Simon Aloysius Mantiri said the policy was a step to reduce the price of air tickets ahead of the Christmas and New Year holiday season.

Yudono Yanuar, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has set a target date of August 17, 2028, for the commencement of government operations in the new capital city of Nusantara or IKN. This timeline was revealed by Public Works and Public Housing Minister Dody Indra Wirawan.

Chontida Auikool – 20 years have passed since the Aceh tsunami, which left deep scars on Indonesia, especially for those directly affected. Aceh was also recovering from a three-decade armed conflict between the Free Aceh Movement and the national government

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – The campaign team for Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Pramono Anung has dismissed rival Ridwan Kamil's planned election lawsuit, citing a substantial margin in the vote tally.

Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – There have been at least 116 recorded cases of police brutality in the country this year, including 29 extrajudicial killings, a study by Amnesty International Indonesia has found, citing a lack of evaluation, normalized violence and a permissive government attitude toward police misconduct as the primary contributing factors to the "worrying" pattern.

Antara, Jakarta – Armed Forces Commander General Agus Subiyanto has announced a major reshuffle involving around 300 high-ranking military officers across various government agencies, Antara reported on Monday.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced on Monday that it has recovered approximately Rp 2.4 trillion ($151.3 million) in stolen state assets since the current leadership took office in 2020.

BeritaBali.com, Badung – As the rainy season intensifies, Bali's iconic beaches – Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak – have once again been inundated with waste carried by ocean currents. The seasonal phenomenon, which worsens during the wet season, has created an unsightly mess along the coastline.

Riza, Sukabumi – A series of natural disasters in Sukabumi, West Java, has displaced 3,064 people and caused 12 deaths, with two still missing, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

Maria Gabrielle Putrinda, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto said that achieving food self-sufficiency is a central strategy for controlling inflation in Indonesia. Speaking at a coordination meeting on inflation control at the Home Affairs Ministry in Jakarta on Monday, Prabowo emphasized that food security should extend to the sub-district level.

Antara, Ibnu Malikh, Jakarta – Indonesia's provinces are processing the provincial minimum wage (UMP) hike of 6.5 percent for 2025, following a directive from President Prabowo Subianto. While the government ensures the increase will apply across the nation, provinces are working to finalize their specific wage adjustments amid some regional tensions and worker protests.

Widy Wicaksono, Semarang – Semarang police officer Robig Zaenudin has been fired and his status upgraded to that of a criminal suspect for shooting a student from SMK Negeri 4 Semarang.

Ni Made Tasyarani, Jakarta – The wedding industry is feeling the pinch of demographic change as the number of marriages in Indonesia has plummeted in recent years.

Last year, the archipelago only saw 1.57 million couples tying the knot, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), a fall from over 2 million in 2018.

Governor Powes Parkop of Papua New Guinea's capital Port Moresby has appealed to West Papuans living in his country to carry on the self-determination struggle for future generations and to not lose hope.

Parkop, a staunch supporter of the West Papua cause, reminded Papuans at their Independence Day last Sunday of the struggles of their ancestors, reports Inside PNG.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN), Nusron Wahid said that his ministry is currently drafting Government Regulations on Sustainable Food Agricultural Land (LP2B). This is done to address the issue of paddy field conversion totaling up to 100 to 150 thousand hectares each year.

Thomas Rizal, Jakarta – Former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is expected to remain a significant political figure in Indonesia, with many productive years ahead at the age of 63. A political analyst suggests that Jokowi's influence could be further solidified by establishing his own political party.

Reiner Brabar, Sorong – The All Nusantara leadership board of the Nduga High School and University Student Association (IPMNI) and the families of victims are urging the central government to resolve the human rights violations that occurred on December 7, 2000 in Abepura, Jayapura city, Papua.

Reiner Brabar, Sorong – International Human Rights Day will be commemorated on December 10. This year is the 76th anniversary of Human Rights Day since the Universal Human Rights Declaration was issued by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.

Medikantyo Adhikresna, Jakarta – The government's plan to implement a 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) in 2025 is feared to reduce automotive sales due to price increases.

Several automotive manufacturers are considering measures to address this challenge, as the policy is expected to reduce consumer purchasing power and affect vehicle sales in the coming year.

Marchio Gorbiano, Jakarta – Fruit seller Budi was seeking better prospects when he signed up for an IT job in Cambodia. But he found himself detained in a heavily guarded compound where he was forced to carry out online scams.

Antara, Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – As former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo distances himself from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), two of Indonesia's major political parties, Golkar and Gerindra, are vying for his allegiance.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Amid growing public resistance to the planned increase in value-added tax (VAT), a close ally of President Prabowo Subianto clarified on Friday that specific goods and services will remain exempt from the tax.