Dear Pacific Islands Forum Leaders,

I am writing to you concerning the human rights situation in West Papua.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The Indonesian Student Executive Board Alliance (BEM SI) will hold a demonstration near the House of Representatives (DPR) building on Thursday afternoon, September 4, 2025. The Student Executive Board (BEM SI) will begin the demonstration at 1:00 PM WIB. They are inviting all students and the public to take to the streets.

Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has named former cabinet minister Nadiem Makarim a suspect in a high-profile corruption case related to the procurement of Google Chromebooks under a nationwide digitalization program at the formerly named education, culture, research and technology ministry.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Hundreds of workers are staging a protest at Medan Merdeka Selatan street, Gambir, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, September 4, 2025.

The workers, who are part of the "Workers with the People Movement," or Gebrak, embarked on a long march from the International Labor Organization (ILO) office on M.H. Thamrin street, Menteng, Central Jakarta.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – House of Representatives (DPR)Speaker Puan Maharani convened a closed-door meeting with parliamentary faction leaders on Thursday to discuss what she described as a "major transformation" of the legislature, following days of student-led protests demanding accountability and reform.

Achmad Ghiffary Mannan, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto delivered a speech on the 2026 Draft State Budget (RAPBN) and the financial note at the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the Joint Session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, on August 15, 2025

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian government will provide financial assistance of Rp15 million for the families of deceased victims and Rp5 million for seriously injured victims of recent demonstrations, according to Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf

The aid will be distributed through the adaptive social assistance (bansos) program.

Tim Lindsey (The Conversation) – For many Indonesians, the violent riots recently wracking Jakarta and other cities across the archipelago are eerily reminiscent of the riots of 1998 that accompanied the fall of former dictator Soeharto and his New Order regime after three decades in power.

Jakarta – "RESET SYSTEM" reads graffiti above an intersection in the Javanese city of Yogyakarta, painted hastily in vibrant green and pink after deadly protests swept Indonesia last week.

Associated Press, Lima, Peru – Peruvian authorities are investigating the fatal shooting of an Indonesian diplomat as a contract killing, highlighting growing concerns over violent crime in the country.

Susan Price – Indonesian security forces opened fire on a peaceful protest in Sorong, West Papua, on August 27, killing one person and injuring several others, according to eyewitness reports received by Green Left.

Indonesian security forces also made 20 arrests. They released 16 detainees two days later, but have arrested another four pro-democracy activists.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar apologized for a video clip containing his bad remarks about teachers. In the video circulating on social media, the Minister stated that the teaching profession aims to educate people, not simply to make money.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – Indonesia's parliament leaders said they support student calls for an independent probe into alleged coup plots behind recent protests, but stressed only the government has the authority to form such a team.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The Indonesian diaspora community in Bonn, Germany, held a prayer rally as a gesture of solidarity with the dynamics in the homeland. The Indonesian Student Association (PPI) in Bonn, part of the community, announced the event on its social media.

This assessment of the situation and our position is published after carefully and cautiously after observing and understanding the developments in the political situation throughout the last week of August 2025, so that we do not fall into political adventurism, the worship of spontaneous movements and mass anger, underestimating or overestimating mass consciousness, its dynamics,

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian National Police's Directorate of Cyber Crime (Bareskrim) has arrested the owner of a TikTok account accused of spreading provocative content that incited robbery at the homes of several members of the House of Representatives (DPR).

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Basudiwa Supraja, Jakarta – Indonesian police have charged seven social media activists with inciting violence during nationwide protests that have left at least 10 people dead and triggered widespread unrest.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Members of the 17+8 People's Demands coalition are pressing the government to fulfill their demands with just one day left before the deadline. Influencer Fathia Izzati said the deadline would serve as a benchmark for the public to judge the government's commitment.

Agencies, Beijing – President Prabowo Subianto met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing and both agreed to boost economic cooperation, Prabowo's office said on Wednesday.

Prabowo met with Putin on the sidelines of China's military parade.

Maretha Uli, Jakarta – An ethics probe has recommended that the National Police pursue criminal charges against seven Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officers on board a tactical vehicle that hit and killed a motorcycle taxi (ojol) driver in a violent protest last week.

Jefferson Ng – Under the hashtag #BubarkanDPR ("Dissolve the Parliament"), frustration spilled onto the streets, fuelled by discontent over the country's economic direction and the perceived disconnect between lawmakers and ordinary citizens.

Irfandi, Makassar, S – Sulawesi. Police in South Sulawesi have named 11 people as suspects in connection with violent protests in Makassar that left several people dead and government buildings torched.

Aniello Iannone (The Conversation) – The hashtag #PolisiMusuhBersama (Police are the common enemy) has gone viral among social media users as the National Police have once again sparked public anger due to a series of violent acts against civilians.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta -The Indonesian Women's Alliance (API) has called on President Prabowo Subianto to withdraw the National Armed Forces (TNI) from public spaces. The appeal was made during a protest in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – The Jakarta Metropolitan Police have named Delpedro Marhaen, Executive Director of the Lokataru Foundation, and five other individuals as suspects for incitement. Police allege the group incited students, including minors, to commit what the police have labeled "anarchist acts."

Sita Planasari, Jakarta – Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has strongly condemned the attacks on at least 16 Indonesian journalists covering recent protests. The international organization is calling on President Prabowo Subianto to take immediate action, urging him to end the violence, especially that committed by police, and ensure a transparent investigation.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) is urging President Prabowo Subianto to immediately withdraw Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) military personnel involved alongside the police in maintaining public order.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Women's Alliance (API) held a peaceful demonstration in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Central Jakarta on Wednesday September 3. According to CNN Indonesia's monitoring, they held a demonstration right in front of the main gate to the parliament complex.

Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – An analyst urged Wednesday that the government should be transparent with the economic data that they publish, saying that inaccuracy can diminish public trust.

Shinta Maharani, Jakarta – The Indonesian diaspora in various countries is taking to the streets this week, urging the government to revoke a number of unjust policies. In Melbourne, Australia, hundreds of Indonesians joined Melbourne Bergerak in the 'People Taking Back Power' rally.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – The wave of protests in front of the House of Reprsentatives (DPR) building in Senayan, Jakarta, continued into Wednesday afternoon, September 3, 2025. After the Indonesian Women's Alliance (API) dispersed around 01:30 PM, students from the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian National Student Movement (DPP GMNI) took over the protest stage.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – A mid-ranking Indonesian police officer has been dismissed after an internal ethics tribunal found him guilty in connection with the death of a motorcycle taxi driver who was fatally run over by a police armored vehicle, an incident that triggered mass protests across the country.

Gavin Butler – Protesters have been killed, buildings torched and politicians' houses looted as anti-government unrest spreads across Indonesia – and the authorities respond with force.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Women's Alliance (API) has raised six demands addressed to President Prabowo Subianto during a protest in front of the Main Gate of the parliament complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. The primary demand voiced is the cessation of all forms of state violence against its people.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has inked new order to support the funding of the Red and White Village Cooperatives. The government will inject Rp16 trillion into several state-owned banks to assist the loan distribution for these cooperatives.

The government will use the accumulated budget surplus (SAL) to achieve this.

Anand Mathai – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto made a swift trip to Beijing to attend China's World War II victory commemoration parade on Wednesday, with his spokesman citing the importance of maintaining strategic ties and the easing of unrest at home.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The Labor Movement Together with the People (Gebrak) will hold a demonstration on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at the Arjuna Wijaya Horse Statue in Central Jakarta. The protest will feature a replica of a rat wearing a tie, symbolizing corrupt officials.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – A citizen named Subhan has filed a civil lawsuit against Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka and the General Election Commission (KPU) at the Central Jakarta District Court.

Jakarta – Indonesian authorities have detained more than 3,000 people in a nationwide crackdown during anti-government protests since late August 2025, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should impartially investigate alleged excessive use of force by security forces, including widespread use of tear gas, to silence dissent and deter future demonstrations.

Adinda Jasmine, Jakarta – Solidarity actions from the Indonesian diaspora have resonated in various cities around the world. After New York and Berlin, it's now Melbourne's turn to become a platform for support for the demonstrations that have been rolling around the country since last week.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia has called on the police to immediately release several activists arrested during recent demonstrations in Jakarta and other regions.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesian student representatives have urged the leadership of the House of Representatives (DPR) to summon National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo and demand the release of all students detained during nationwide demonstrations between August 25-31, 2025.

Panji Satrio, Medan – Convicted business tycoon Adelin Lis, long notorious for illegal logging in North Sumatra, has repaid the Indonesian government the equivalent of $9.3 million, the North Sumatra Prosecutors' Office announced on Wednesday.

Antara, Jakarta – The Bali Provincial Tourism Office announced that the current condition of Bali's tourism remains conducive despite demonstrations that turned chaotic at the Regional Police Headquarters and the Regional House of Representatives Office of Bali on Saturday, Aug. 30.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) has released eight economic demands addressed to the government in response to ongoing demonstrations across Indonesia.

Among the most striking is the call for the removal of Sri Mulyani Indrawati from her post as Minister of Finance.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto will visit China for a military parade commemorating 80 years since the end of World War II on Wednesday, after earlier cancelling his trip over deadly domestic protests stoked by the death of a young delivery driver.

Jakarta – The recent death of Raya, a four-year-old toddler from Sukabumi, West Java, has sent shockwaves and sparked outrage across the country, although perhaps not represented in last week's protests. Her story went viral after graphic videos showed roundworms crawling from her nose, and medical workers later claimed nearly 1 kilogram of worms were expelled through her feces.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has seized a Mercedes-Benz 280 SL formerly owned by the late President Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie. The classic coupe was confiscated as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption at Bank Jawa Barat-Banten (BJB).

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – For the past few days, Indonesian social media timelines have been filled with the emergence of the Brave Pink Hero Green campaign. Many netizens have changed their social media profile pictures to include these two tones.

Ricky Juliansyah, Jakarta – A total of 135 students from Baitul Qur'an Islamic Boarding School, or pesantren, in Tugu Sub-district, Cimanggis District, Depok, suffered from food poisoning on Monday, September 1, 2025. They have been taken to the hospital and public health centers (puskesmas) to receive treatment.