Toronata Tambun, Singapore – Days from our 80th Independence Day, it is worth asking what "rich" means to a nation that vowed in its Constitution "to promote general welfare and to educate the life of the nation."

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia reported that 758 civilians have been criminalized under the vague provisions of the Information and Electronic Transactions Law (ITE Law) between January 2018 and July 2025.

These individuals were charged with hate speech and defamation in 710 criminal cases.

Aisha Shaidra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto acknowledged that corruption is a major issue in Indonesia during his State Address at the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the House of Representatives (DPR) on Friday, August 15, 2025. He asserted that corrupt practices are present at every level of the bureaucracy.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto claimed the flagship free nutritious meal (MBG) program has created hundreds of thousands of new jobs since it kicked off in January this year.

The West Papuan National Committee (KNPB) has called on West Papuans to commemorate the tragic day in their history, the 15 August in 1962 (The New York Agreement) when the Papuan people were betrayed by the international community.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Friday told parliament that Indonesia's newly established sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, will play a pivotal role in creating millions of "quality jobs" through strategic investments, while managing one of the largest asset portfolios in the world.

Kiki Safitri, Robertus Belarminus, Jakarta – Human rights activist and the wife of renowned human rights defender Munir Said Talib, Suciwati, has emphasised that despite two decades passing, there has yet to be any certainty over Munir's assassination.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has put the blame on colonialism for Indonesia's border disagreements with its neighbor, Malaysia, in the Ambalat sea block.

Michael Neilson – Indonesia has delayed plans to publish a set of controversial history books amid backlash from historians and activists who have accused the project of being an attempt to downplay past atrocities, and represents "historical amnesia".

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Friday claimed that his administration's flagship free nutritious meal program has achieved progress surpassing similar initiatives in other countries, reaching tens of millions in just months.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Indonesian House Speaker, Puan Maharani, considers the raising of the One Piece flag ahead of Indonesia's 80th Independence Day celebration as an expression of public concern.

Today marks 20 years since the Helsinki Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), establishing a peace agreement between the two parties.

The Timor-Leste government has dropped a proposed legal clause that sought to criminalize media freedom to criticize the state, following protests from journalists and civil society.

Gembong Hanung, Jakarta – Environmentalists have urged the Indonesian delegation to reject the latest draft for a global agreement to eliminate plastic pollution, warning the country to take a bolder stance in the last hours of negotiations that have been stalled by split stances among participating countries.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has once again reported alleged corruption in the procurement of tear gas by the police to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). ICW Chair Wana Alamsyah said it was conducted to ensure the anti-graft agency has handled the previous complaint.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – In his state of the nation address at the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), President Prabowo Subianto said he wants to continue receiving criticism from non-governmental groups. He emphasized that criticism is vital for the government, even if it can be uncomfortable.

Basudiwa Supraja, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has decided to keep Hasto Kristiyanto as its secretary-general, just weeks after his graft conviction was annulled by a presidential pardon from President Prabowo Subianto.

Justito Adiprasetio – As the world commemorates International Indigenous Peoples Day on 9 August and Indonesia prepares to celebrate its Independence Day on 17 August, a painful paradox emerges. Although the nation is proud of its liberation from colonial rule, it continues to reproduce colonial modes of domination within its own borders.

Yustinus Paat, Arnoldus Kristianus, Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Friday laid out a 2026 state budget blueprint that aims to shrink the fiscal deficit, ramp up spending on energy security and food resilience, and accelerate the country's transition to renewable power, while committing hundreds of trillions of rupiah to a nationwide free nutritious meals pro

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto decried greedy businessmen in his first-ever state address on Friday as he tried to make his catchphrase "serakahnomics" ('greedynomics') popular.

Fahri Ali, Depok, W – Java. Police in the West Java city of Depok confirmed that officers shot and seriously wounded two teenagers suspected of involvement in a street brawl in Sukmajaya in the early hours of Saturday, Aug. 9.

The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) strongly condemns all acts of violence and excessive force committed by the police against civilians exercising their right to peaceful assembly to oppose a series of controversial policies issued by the Regent of Pati, Sudewo.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto expressed optimism that Indonesia could achieve 100 percent electricity generation from renewable energy (EBT) ten years earlier than the global target of 2060.

He made this statement during his presentation of the 2026 State Budget (RAPBN) in a parliamentary plenary session on Friday, August 15, 2025.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has officially set the 2026 annual economic growth target at 5.4 percent, higher by 0.2 percentage points than what the country had aimed for this year.

Jakarta – Fiscal decentralization and regional autonomy are now under threat because the funds that should be used for development and public services in the regions have been allocated to cover the costs of the central government's wishes.

The four political prisoners from the West Papua Federal Republic Organisation (NRFPB), namely Mr Abraham G.

James Pearson – Estrella Resources has shifted its Timor-Leste campaign into top gear after trenching unearthed primary manganese with uber-rich visual estimates at its Ira Miri project. The company has sent samples to Jakarta for testing and expects to receive assay results in about six weeks.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Finance Ministry recently destroyed shipments of smuggled used clothes in several regions of Indonesia. Director General of Customs and Excise, Djaka Budhi Utama, stated that the majority of these illegal imports originated from Malaysia.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced the distribution of 288,000 smart TVs to schools in remote areas across the country this year. This move is expected to allow children to attend virtual classes with their teachers.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has called for sweeping reforms in Indonesia's state-owned enterprises (SOEs), slamming bloated boards of commissioners and lavish annual bonuses paid even to loss-making companies.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has set a target for the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) to complete the government apparatus in IKN, Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, within the next three years.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – The Indonesia Composite Index (IHSG) recorded a position at 8,010.0 on Friday, August 15, 2025, after opening at 7,965.1. The IHSG position occurred from 10:30 to 10:31 a.m., while President Prabowo Subianto was delivering a state address at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Multi Bintang Indonesia (IDX: MLBI), the Heineken-owned brewer, posted solid first-half 2025 results, driven by lager market leadership, premium brand expansion, and ongoing digital transformation.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Commission V from the PDIP faction, Adian Napitupulu, raised concern about claims made by President Prabowo Subianto during his state address at the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) at the Parliament Complex of the Indonesian Parliament, Jakarta, on August 15, 2025.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – The Central Jakarta District Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by 55 residents of Kohod Village, Pakuhaji District, Tangerang Regency, Banten, against the sea fence installation in the waters of Tangerang.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, in his inaugural State Address at the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), emphasized the government's success in increasing food production, enabling Indonesia to resume rice and corn exports to friendly countries after decades.

Nurni Sulaiman, Medan – Nine Indonesian crew members of a ship are in critical condition, stranded aboard a tanker ship off the coast of Beira, Mozambique.

They are among a total of 12 seafarers on the vessel, which also includes three Pakistani crew members. The crew are suffering from a dire lack of supplies, with no remaining food or clean drinking water.

On 12 August 2025, a peaceful protest near Sentani Airport, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province, turned violent when police officers led by the Chief of the Airport Security Unit (KP3), Officer Wajedi, allegedly used excessive force against demonstrators.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Indonesia's middle class – long regarded as the backbone of domestic consumption and a key driver of national economic growth – has been shrinking sharply over the past five years, prompting calls for urgent government intervention, including tax relief.

On 5 August 2025, members of the Yahukimo Military District Command (Koramil) arbitrarily detained Mr Son Balingga (see photo on top, source: independent HRDs) at the rear complex of the Koramil Yahukimo. At the time of his arrest, Mr Balingga was accompanied by his friend and had stopped to refuel his motorcycle.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto's push to develop a stronger national defense force is certainly fitting, given the vast territory and huge population the country has to protect.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 10 August 2025, police officers from the Teluk Bintuni Police Department arbitrarily arrested two young women, Mrs Aksimina Muuk,20, and Mrs Derina Mosoum, 20, at Bintuni Bay Port, Papua Barat Province, along with a five-month-old infant and a five-year-old boy, Wene Husage.

Dewi Rina Cahyani, Jakarta – Indonesia is seeing about a 75.12 percent surge in instant noodle exports to Canada in 2024, with US$4.94 million in 2024, compared to US$2.82 million the previous year.

Dandi Bajuddin, Jakarta – The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) projects that Indonesia's economic growth may still struggle to reach the 5 percent mark.

On 31 July 2025, the Nabire City Police arrested Mr. Deki Widigipa, 24, a member of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), at A. Gobay Road, Karang Tumaritis Market, Nabire, at 11:00 am. The officers accused him of robbery and motor vehicle theft.

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Jakarta – Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) on Wednesday alleged that a member of the National Police's elite counterterrorism unit, Detachment 88, was abducted and tortured by military personnel acting on the request of a businessman.

Indonesia, West Papua – In the early hours of 7 August 2025, Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) reportedly raided the Oholumu Village, Mewoluk District, Puncak Jaya Regency, resulting in the burning of civilian homes, the destruction of church facilities, and the shooting of a 13-year-old girl named Y. W.

Ni Made Tasyarani, Jakarta – Indonesia has seen foreign investors' appetite weaken despite surging domestic investment that took up the slack.

Putu Ayu Pratama Sugiyo, Malang – The government recently said that Indonesia had no plans to import rice as the country still had enough supply of the staple food to feed its sizable population.

According to Deputy Agriculture Minister Sudaryono, the government's rice reserves currently reach 4.3 million tons.

Welcoming 80 years of Indonesian independence, the Indonesian History Transparency Alliance (AKSI) has warned of the dangers of a "national decline".