Hanaa Septiana, Jakarta – Civil society groups across Greater Surabaya are once again staging a protest under the banner of Dark Indonesia (Indonesia Gelap) today, Friday, February 21, demanding the government pass pro-people laws and revoke harmful policies.

Protesters began gathering at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) arts and cultural centre in Cikini on Friday afternoon, February 21, ahead of the climax of the Dark Indonesia actions at the Horse Statue in Central Jakarta.

Intan Setiawanty, Linda Trianita, Jakarta – Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Chairperson Muhammad Isnur believes that the move by police to force the punk band Sukatani to apologise for the song "Pay Pay Pay" (Bayar Bayar Bayar) is a form of silencing freedom of expression.

Advist Khoirunikmah, Jakarta – The 'Dark Indonesia' protest took a volatile turn as participants hurled firecrackers and Molotov cocktails at police officers stationed near the Horse Statue area. This chaotic escalation occurred following the Civil Society Coalition's delivery of their demands on Friday night, February 21, 2025.

Jakarta – As we try to live up to the state motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity), given today's political landscape in Indonesia, we may want to emphasize diversity rather than unity. We may even want to rephrase it to "diversity within unity". The difference is more than semantics.

BeritaSatu, Yogyakarta – Several newly elected mayors and regents from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) gathered in Yogyakarta on Friday, opting to skip a presidential retreat in nearby Magelang.

Jakarta – Hundreds of students from a Dark Indonesia protest action were still standing in front of the West Java Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building in the provincial capital of Bandung on Friday February 21 even though it was raining in the area.

Jakarta – Punk band Sukatani has removed their viral song "Bayar Bayar Bayar" (Pay Pay Pay) from streaming platforms after issuing a public apology to the National Police. The song's lyrics criticize rogue police officers who abuse their authority.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – The Minister of Immigration and Corrections, Agus Andrianto, said thousands of foreigners committed administrative violations on immigration throughout 2024.

"Monitoring on foreign nationals shows 5,434 violations," said Agus during a working meeting with House Commission XIII on Wednesday, February 19.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The establishment of the Investment Management Agency Daya Anagata Nusantara (BPI Danantara) will alter the way State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) profits and losses are managed, effectively removing the burden from the state.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The decision of PT Sanken Indonesia to close its factory in Cikarang, West Java, by mid-2025 has come as a blow to the 459 employees who have worked there for decades. The factory's closure is due to the parent company Sanken's intention to shift to a semiconductor producer in Japan. As a result, hundreds of workers are at risk of layoffs.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) has suspected a pattern reminiscent of the New Order regime in the withdrawal of the song "Bayar Bayar Bayar" which criticizes the police by the band Sukatani.

Jakarta – Dozens of students in South Sumatra and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) fell ill on Tuesday after consuming meals provided by the government's free meals program, marking the third and fourth food poisoning incidents in less than two months since the program's launch.

Ilham Oktafian, Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – The Indonesian punk scene is buzzing after Sukatani, a raw and defiant duo from Purbalingga, issued a public apology over their song Bayar Bayar Bayar, a critique of alleged police extortion. The track – now pulled from circulation – had struck a nerve, turning into a rallying song ahead of a mass protest on Friday.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has granted Freeport Indonesia a limited export permit to ship copper concentrate overseas for the next four months, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia announced on Friday.

Wijayanti Putri, Solo – Former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said on Friday all newly installed governors, mayors, and regents should honor an invitation for a brainstorming session with his successor, Prabowo Subianto, despite a call from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to boycott the retreat program.

Zhai Kun – The year 2025 holds significant promise for ASEAN as Malaysia takes on the role of the organisation's Chair. Among the anticipated milestones is the potential ascension of Timor-Leste from an observer state to a member state.

Jakarta – Scores of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politicians who were recently inaugurated as regional heads said they would not join a retreat organized by President Prabowo Subianto this weekend in a show of solidarity to the party's secretary general Hasto Kristiyanto who has been named as a graft suspect on Thursday.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – The Jakarta Provincial Government is affected by the budget cut mandated by President Prabowo Subianto through Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2025 regarding Budget Efficiency in the Implementation of the 2025 State Budget and Regional Budget. Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno revealed that the city's managed funds have been reduced by Rp38 billion.

Advist Khoirunikmah, Jakarta – The 'Dark Indonesia' (Indonesia Gelap) rally returned to the Horse Statue (Patung Kuda) area near the National Monument, Central Jakarta, on Friday, February 21, 2025.

Today's demonstration drew participants from diverse backgrounds, including private sector employees and students.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Constitutional law expert from Andalas University, Feri Amsari, stated that President Prabowo Subianto has compromised the independence of the judiciary by recently meeting with Supreme Court judges and providing them with directives.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Chairperson of the National Economic Council (DEN), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, signaled a plan to eliminate subsidized fuel by 2027. He proposed a unified fuel pricing system to President Prabowo Subianto.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – The Central Jakarta Metro Police deployed 2,460 joint personnel to guard the ongoing demonstration of 'Indonesia Gelap' on Friday, February 21, 2025.

The areas surrounding the National Monument Horse Statue to the front of the State Palace became the primary focus of the joint personnel.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Free Health Check program, an initiative of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is not yet running optimally in several regions due to a lack of health facilities and medical personnel, according to Felly Estelita Runtuwene, Chair of Commission IX of the House of Representatives.

Yuni Rohmawati, Jakarta – The Chief of the Palembang Metropolitan Police, Grand Commissioner Harryo Sugiharrtono, said 2 groups of protesters would carry out the Indonesia Gelap (Dark Indonesia) rally centered in front of the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) Office of South Sumatra on Thursday, February 20, 2025.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Hasto Kristiyanto, secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and a trusted aide to party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, was detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday, nearly two months after being named a suspect for allegedly bribing an election official.

Jakarta – A boy is missing West Kalimantan island after he was attacked by a crocodile, police said on Thursday, the second such attack in the area in two weeks.

The island is home to several species of crocodiles that regularly attack and kill humans.

M Ambari, Yogi Eka Sahputra, Jakarta/Batam, Indonesia – Mounting reports of illegal seabed dredging in Indonesian waters have raised ecological alarm bells following the resumption of a controversial policy of sand exports.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jeff Hutton – As a summit of Southeast Asian leaders in Jakarta fast approached in September 2023, Indonesia's state-run electricity provider, PLN, partially shut down one of its oldest and biggest coal-fired power plants in the hopes of cleaning up the capital's filthy air.

Pribadi Wicaksono (Kontributor), Yogyakarta – Thousands of students joining the Jogja Memanggil activist coalition marched and delivered speeches denouncing the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto and the Red and White Cabinet on Thursday, February 20, 2025.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Deputy Chairman of Commission IX of the House of Representatives, Charles Honoris, has called on the government to respond wisely to the viral #KaburAjaDulu, or just run away first, hashtag, which reflects growing dissatisfaction among young Indonesians over domestic job opportunities and career prospects.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – More than 75% of the nickel refining capacity in Indonesia, home to the biggest reserves of this critical mineral, is controlled by Chinese companies, many with affiliations to the Chinese government, according to a U.S.-government funded think tank.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto swore in 961 regional heads at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, marking a major transition in local leadership across Indonesia.

Executive Summary

Yogyakarta – Protesters from the Jogja Calling Alliance taking part in a protest action titled #WithThePeople (#Bersamarakyat) in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta highlighted the song "Pay Pay Pay" (Bayar Bayar Bayar) by the punk band Sukatani which has recently been withdrawn from all streaming services.

Pribadi Wicaksono (Kontributor), Jakarta – Thousands of students in Yogyakarta take to the streets on Thursday, February 20, 2025, protesting against various policies adopted by President Prabowo Subianto.

The protest, which began around 11:30 a.m. local time, completely shut down Malioboro, causing police to redirect traffic away from the area.

Jakarta – The government of President Prabowo Subianto will host a week-long mountain glamping retreat for hundreds of regional leaders this week, a presidential official said Wednesday, sparking criticism as the President imposes widespread budget cuts.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – The student demonstration entitled 'Indonesia Gelap' or 'Dark Indonesia' will reach its peak today, Thursday, February 20, 2025. The rally is a continuation of the action that took place in the Patung Kuda area, Central Jakarta, on Monday, February 17, 2025.

Girard Mariano Lopez – Thousands of Indonesian students across the country are taking to the streets protesting the current Prabowo administration. This comes as the controversial former military general reaches five months in office, with great dissatisfaction with the current political situation across the country.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The rollout of the government's free nutritious meal program in Papua has triggered student protests, with demonstrators demanding better access to education in the region.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Papua Police Chief Inspector General Patrige Renwarin stated that Aske Mabel was involved in several attacks since fleeing the police force with four organic firearms from the Yalimo Police Resort, Papua Highlands, in mid-2024. Patrige stated that Aske was at least involved in 10 attacks and killed six people.

Jakarta – Thousands of students staged 'Dark Indonesia' protests in cities across the country on Thursday against budget cuts and other policies of President Prabowo Subianto, fearing they will undermine social support systems and their futures.

Jakarta – We are witnessing a welcome resurgence of youth activism. The so-called "golden generation" is finding its voice again – at the ballot box, in the digital sphere and, most recently, on the streets. Their message is clear: they reject the status quo.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Newly sworn-in West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has vowed to crack down on budget misuse in the province, citing alleged misappropriations in the education sector and wasteful spending on non-essential programs.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stated that the launch of the National Strategic Investment Fund (NSIF) will be carried out on Monday, February 24 next. He referred to Danantara as a force that will support Indonesia's economy in the future.

Rama Sukarta, Jakarta – The government's Free Health Checkup (CKG) program, which officially launched on Feb. 10, has seen increasing public participation. However, the Health Ministry continues to push for greater public awareness, as many Indonesians still perceive medical checkups as intimidating.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Chairperson of Projo (a group of supporters of former President Jokowi), Budi Arie Setiadi, has confirmed that he recently met with Jokowi. He revealed that the meeting discussed the establishment of a new political party, 'Super Tbk'.

Norman Harsono – Students rallied in Jakarta and other Indonesian cities on Thursday to protest President Prabowo Subianto's state budget revamp that has threatened contractual workers' jobs, rolled back scholarships and dimmed lighting at government offices.

Jakarta – Indonesia's current account deficit widened in 2024 as its merchandise trade surplus shrank amid weaker global demand, the central bank said on Thursday, and analysts pointed to a worsening outlook for global trade this year.

Raden Putri Alpadillah Ginanjar, Jakarta – The 'Indonesia Gelap' rally has come to its peak today, Thursday, February 20, 2025, after the protest that took place a few days ago in the Patung Kuda area. Students also took to the streets in several regions across Indonesia, including Bandung, Lampung, Surabaya, Malang, Samarinda, Banjarmasin, Aceh, and Bali.