In commemoration of the International Human Rights Day on December 10, the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) has once again published its Human Rights Day Report. This report summarizes the situation of human rights respect, protection, and fulfillment over the past year.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – A Tapanuli orangutan, the world's rarest great ape, has been discovered dead in mud and log debris in a village in northern Sumatra – a grim sign of how severely recent floods and landslides may have devastated the species' fragile habitat.

A group of scientists has described the catastrophe as an "extinction-level disturbance" for the apes.

Jakarta – Floods and landslides struck several districts in South Nias regency in North Sumatra on Thursday, after heavy rain and strong winds lashed the region. In Ndraso Village, Maniamolo District, floodwater reaches up to 1.5 meters high and inundated 4 hectares of rice fields.

Moscow – Russian President Vladimir Putin told Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday that Moscow was pleased with the developing military ties between the two countries and ready to help Jakarta in the field of nuclear energy.

Jakarta – Security in Intan Jaya regency, Central Papua, has improved significantly in the past few months following a series of security operations against the Free Papua Organization (OPM) I nsurgent movement, the Indonesian Military (TNI) claimed recently.

Jakarta – Human Rights Day which falls today should remind nations of the promises they make to their citizens: dignity, safety and justice. This year, however, Indonesia faces the commemorative day with the uneasy recognition that its human rights foundations are steadily weakening.

Maretha Uli, Jakarta – The National Police had been accused of using excessive force against protesters during nationwide rallies in late August, according to an investigation by human rights group Amnesty International on multiple cases of violence around the demonstrations.

Hans Makabori, Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) held a peaceful demonstration commemorating International Human Rights Day at the Abepura traffic circle in Jayapura city, Papua, on Wednesday December 10.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Members of the Indonesian diaspora in Singapore have voiced frustration over what they describe as restrictive rules on delivering aid to victims of the devastating Sumatra floods.

Jakarta – At least 20 students and one teacher were wounded after a vehicle suddenly crashed into a school gathering at SDN Kalibaru 01 Pagi state elementary school in Cilincing, North Jakarta, on Thursday morning.

Philip Jacobson, Dili, Timor-Leste – Whale tourism in Timor-Leste is booming. Tour operators report a healthy number of sightings and full bookings in the peak season of September to December, when hundreds of pygmy blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) make the journey through the Ombai-Wetar Strait on their way south to western Australia.

Balipuspanews, Badung, Bali – Authorities in Bali say they have found no evidence of pornography after raiding a Pererenan studio where foreign nationals, including adult film actress and OnlyFans creator Bonnie Blue, were detained last week. The investigation is now shifting toward potential immigration violations, with several individuals facing possible deportation.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) suspects a cyberattack behind the sudden disappearance of Tempo's YouTube account on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at around 07:00 AM.

The organization, however, has yet to determine the exact nature of the incident as it continues gathering information from YouTube.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – Trade negotiations between Indonesia and the United States remain ongoing, the government insists, seeking to dispel reported US concerns over the implementation of a handshake deal agreed in July.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Greenpeace Indonesia is urging the government to revoke the permits of companies suspected of damaging Sumatra's forests and river basins, which worsened the severe flooding that hit three provinces in late November 2025. These permits must be revoked with measurable ecological restoration obligations.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The YouTube channel owned by Tempo has been accessible to the public again on Thursday, December 11, 2025. The YouTube account Tempodotco disappeared on December 9, around 7 in the morning.

Duncan Graham – As Indonesia prepares to release a new official national history, an Australian historian's account of the 1965-66 mass killings threatens to reopen a long-suppressed debate about power, violence, and memory.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – New findings from Trase.Earth show that while deforestation linked to Indonesia's pulp industry declined in 2024, the overall risk of natural forest destruction is still alarmingly high.

Apriadi Gunawan and Theresia Sufa, Medan – The Environment Ministry has temporarily halted the operations of four companies working in the upstream Batang Toru river basin area following the devastating floods and landslides in North Sumatra.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – A study by the Research Center for Environmental Studies (PPLH) at IPB University's International Research Institute for Climate Change has shown that most of Jakarta's rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and groundwater are heavily contaminated.

West Papuan activists in Vanuatu are demanding that the Vanuatu government "take a stronger and more decisive stance" in support of the region's independence from Indonesia, the Vanuatu Daily Post reports.

Mitra Tarigan, Jakarta – The General Chairperson of the Indonesian Clinical Psychologists Association (IPK) for the 2025-2029 period, Retno Kumolohadi, stated that the Indonesian government needs serious, targeted, and measured steps to address mental health issues in Indonesia.

Jakarta – Indonesian state railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) has introduced strict sanctions for anyone found committing sexual harassment in railway areas. Offenders will be blacklisted and banned from using all train services for 20 years.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – SETARA Institute has released the 2025 Human Rights Index for Indonesia to commemorate this year's World Human Rights Day. SETARA noted a decline in scores compared to the previous year.

Gembong Hanung, Jakarta Persistent air pollution in Jakarta has triggered nearly 2 million cases of respiratory illness throughout this year, raising concerns over the long-term well-being of the capital's 11 million residents and the 42 million residents of the greater Jakarta area, the most populous city in the world, according to new United Nations data.

Fia Hamid-Walker – Heavy rainfall in Sumatra on 23 November caused landslides and flash floods three days later, with widespread loss of life. Fatalities to date exceed a thousand, and many others have been injured or displaced.

Vonia Vieira, Doug Dingwall – As Indonesian warplanes flew overhead, they dropped something many in Timor-Leste had never seen.

But Jose Bareto de Jesus recognised the rounded objects floating to the ground and sounded the alarm to his friends that day on December 7, 1975.

"I was shouting that the plane dropped a parachute," he told the ABC.

Islamabad – Speaking during a ceremony held for the signing of several memoranda of understanding between Indonesia and Pakistan, PM Shehbaz detailed the pair's discussions and said, "What we have decided is [ ] to promote our bilateral trade, culture, interact in the field of medical health, education, and vocational training."

Alfitria Nefi Pratiwi, Jakarta – Rising staple food prices have overtaken fears of job termination as the biggest source of public anxiety in Indonesia, according to a new study released by research firms Inventure and Alvara Research Center.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition has formally delivered a legal notice urging President Prabowo Subianto to declare the catastrophic floods and landslides that have ravaged Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra a national disaster.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Tempo's YouTube account went dark on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at around 7 a.m. local time. Upon tracing and checking, Tempo's team suspected the editorial e-mail had been hacked, where other individuals or parties have now gained control of the account.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Indonesia has temporarily suspended all timber extraction and log transportation in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra after flash floods and landslides killed nearly 1,000 people and caused widespread destruction to public infrastructure.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has identified companies in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra that have caused damage to forests and river basins covering a total of 889,125 hectares, triggering recent flooding.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Finance has allocated Rp210.4 trillion in the 2026 State Budget for food security programs, marking a significant increase from this year's Rp144.6 trillion.

The funding will support a wide range of initiatives, including the development of food barns, expanded paddy cultivation, and land optimization covering 550 hectares.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Human Rights Natalius Pigai is scheduled to present awards to six prominent individuals during the 2025 World Human Rights Day commemoration at Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday, December 10, 2025.

Radhiyya Indra and Apriadi Gunawan, Jakarta/Medan – Suffering through days without clean water or proper medical care, evacuees packed into emergency shelters across three provinces in the northern part of Sumatra are falling severely ill, with some reportedly dying before help can reach them, as the region's floods and landslides continue to isolate entire communities.

Jayapura, Papua – The Indonesian government aims to clear 100,000 hectares of land to support rice cultivation in Papua, Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman said.

During a visit to the provincial capital Jayapura on Wednesday, he said his ministry is ready to help the Papua administration achieve its food self-sufficiency goals.

Jakarta – The Labour Movement with the People (GEBRAK) held a demonstration in the National Monument (Monas) area of Central Jakarta on Wednesday December 10.

One of the demands taken up during the action to commemorate International Human Rights Day was the release of activists who were arrested during demonstrations at the end of last August.

Jakarta – Along with the momentum of International Human Rights Day on Wednesday December 10, the Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy released the 2025 Human Rights Index which shows the worrying state of human rights in Indonesia throughout this year.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Central Lampung Regent Ardito Wijaya was detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and arrived in Jakarta on Wednesday night for questioning in a bribery investigation.

Ardito entered the KPK building at around 9:15 p.m., wearing a cap and pulling a small suitcase, escorted by officers. He appeared calm and briefly spoke to reporters.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta The government plans to tighten rules on how natural resource exporters must keep their entire export receipts (DHE) starting at the turn of the year, aiming to close lingering loopholes that have allowed funds to leak offshore. However, experts warn that the stricter requirements could strain liquidity and unsettle investors.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – Environmental group Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia (WALHI) is calling on the government to take tougher action against companies accused of contributing to recent deadly floods and landslides in Sumatra.

Jakarta – The Labour Movement with the People (GEBRAK) is urging the government and House of Representatives (DPR) to pass the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers (RUU PPRT).

This was conveyed in an action commemorating International Human Rights Day which was held on Jalan Merdeka Selatan in Jakarta on Wednesday December 10.

The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) launched a report titled "Human Rights Catastrophe" ahead of the 77th International Human Rights Day commemoration, highlighting the deteriorating human rights situation during the first year of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Malvyandie Haryadi, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform has highlighted agrarian conflicts occurring in several areas, including in Pasuruan regency, East Java, and North Luwu regency in South Sulawesi.

The conflicts arose in connection with plans to build new military facilities on land previously cultivated by residents.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The chair of the Regional Representative Council (DPD), Sultan Bachtiar Najamuddin, backs President Prabowo Subianto's decision to hold back from accepting foreign aid to address the floods and landslides in Sumatra.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Indonesia's electricity company PLN continues to accelerate the restoration of the electrical system in Aceh following flash floods and landslides that damaged the main transmission network in several areas.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) has raised concerns over Indonesia's persistently high youth unemployment, with the jobless rate among Gen Z still hovering around 17 percent, a pressure point for both the government and employers heading into 2026.

Jakarta – Dompet Dhuafa, a Muslim alms organization, recently held a charity concert "Together for Sumatar" at M Bloc Live House and M Bloc Space to gather support for the disaster-hit island.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Dimas Bagus Arya, the coordinator for the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), said Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto has been maintaining the atrocious human rights conditions that were happening under former Joko Widodo's leadership.