Responding a statement by of the Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) and concurrently the presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi, who did not question the proposal to name former president Suharto a national hero, Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid, said:

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The Health Ministry admits the monitoring system in the Indonesian healthcare facilities is easily exploited by medical workers to commit violations, including sexual violence against patients. One such case occurred at Hasan Sadikin Hospital in Bandung, where Priguna Anugerah Pratama, a specialist resident, assaulted a patient's relative.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The police once again dispersed a camp protest across the Pancasila Gate of the Parliament (DPR) building in Central Jakarta on Monday, April 21, 2025. Chief of the Central Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Commissioner General Susatyo Purnomo Condro, confirmed that the police had instructed the protesters to vacate the area.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition condemns the Indonesian military's (TNI) entry into campuses. The presence of army personnel in several universities is considered as surveillance of academic activities.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported Monday that Indonesia's trade surplus with the US had grown amid the ongoing negotiations on Washington's tariffs.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Indonesia's efforts to ensure its commodity exports are free of deforestation are ramping up as the European Union Deforestation Regulation, or EUDR, nears enforcement.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) assesses the action of Indonesian Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman in reporting an agricultural observer from a university as a form of criminalization against academics.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The Indonesian government officially disbanded the infrastructure task force of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN). The task force was formed during former President Joko Widodo's administration.

Prisma Ardianto, Jakarta – The United States has raised concerns over Indonesia's Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS), citing it as a trade barrier due to the perceived exclusion of American payment service providers during its policy formulation.

Beritasatu Team, Jakarta/Jepara – From bustling city stations to traditional markets and prisons, women across Indonesia came together on Monday to commemorate Kartini Day – a national celebration of Raden Ajeng Kartini, the iconic figure of women's emancipation.

Agencies, Beijing – China's foreign minister said on Monday that China and Indonesia should oppose "any form" of unilateralism and trade protectionism at a press conference on Monday.

The two sides should jointly accelerate regional economic integration and maintain the stability of industrial chain and supply chain, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesia's State Secretary Minister and Presidential Spokesperson, Prasetyo Hadi, stated that the government does not object to the proposal of the national hero title for the Indonesia's second former President Soeharto.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, mentioned that Indonesia is set to utilize nuclear power plants by 2030, as laid out in the Power Supply Business Plan for the period of 2025-2030.

Hendri Dunan, Bengkulu – Former Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah pleaded guilty on Monday as he appeared before a court to deliver his preliminary defense in a graft case related to alleged misuse of authority for campaign financing.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Migrant Worker Protection, Abdul Kadir Karding, announced that remittances, or cross-border money transfers, from Indonesian migrant workers reached Rp253.3 trillion in 2024. This total was generated by 297,000 Indonesian migrant workers employed abroad.

Jakarta – One characteristic of policies from the Prabowo Subianto administration is that they have grandeur but are hollow. One of these is the food, energy and water reserve forest program, which will make use of 26.7 million hectares of degraded forest. The impact will be significant, but the final form is still not clear, and it could even cause greater disaster.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – Ragowo Hediprasetyo Djojohadikusumo, better known as Didit Hediprasetyo and the only son of President Prabowo Subianto, sits on the board of a foundation managing a kitchen under Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program in Kebayunan, Tapos District, Depok, West Java.

Linda Lestari, Jakarta – University Gadjah Mada (UGM) historian Agus Suwignyo stated that Soeharto indeed meets the criteria and requirements to be named a national hero. However, the public cannot ignore the historical facts and controversies surrounding President Soeharto in the 1965 era.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Head of Information Services of the Indonesian Army (TNI AD) Brigadier General Wahyu Yudhayana responded to a number of incidents involving the presence of soldiers in campuses. According to him, the arrival of military personnel, especially from the army, was due to invitations or the existence of legitimate cooperation agreements.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Dayat, Putu Ayu Pratama Sugiyo, Jakarta – Indonesia joined the global Catholic community in mourning the death of Pope Francis, who passed away Monday morning in Rome at the age of 88. The Vatican's Apostolic Nunciature in Jakarta flew its flag at half-mast as a mark of respect for the late pontiff, who also served as head of state of Vatican City.

Jakarta – Every great idea begins with a spark in someone's mind. Under duress, it is an expression of resilience to escape one's misfortune.

For Raden Ajeng Kartini, a Javanese noblewoman who lived in the 19th century, being betrothed to enter a polygamous marriage with a wealthy aristocrat, like most women of her rank at that time, was a dreadful fate.

Septia Ryanthie, Solo – Former Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi has refuted claims of a "twin sun" leadership after several ministers and deputy ministers from President Prabowo Subianto's cabinet visited him in Solo, Central Java.

Antara, Chandra Adi Nurwidya, Jakarta – Indonesia is considering naming former president Soeharto a national hero, a move that has sparked public debate due to his controversial legacy during the New Order regime.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesia is intensifying efforts to diversify its export markets following the United States' implementation of reciprocal tariff policies targeting several of its trading partners, including Indonesia. Spearheaded by the Trade Ministry, the initiative aims to sustain export growth by expanding into non-traditional and emerging markets.

Antara, Jakarta – Hundreds of people gathered in front of the United States Embassy in the Gambir area of Central Jakarta today to participate in a pro-Palestine rally, Sunday, April 20.

Demonstrators carried various items such as flags, scarves, and accessories bearing Palestinian flag motifs.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The Head of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) Authority Basuki Hadimuljono confirmed that the development of the new capital city in East Kalimantan is still ongoing.

He stated that the Budget Implementation List (DIPA) of the IKN for the new construction has been finalized.

Jakarta – Recent threats and attacks on journalists and news outlets in Indonesia are having a chilling effect on the country's media, Human Rights Watch said today.

Jakarta – The Jakarta administration is waiving public transportation fares for female passengers who take city-owned bus and train services on April 21 to celebrate Kartini Day, an annual holiday that commemorates the birth of national heroine Raden Ajeng Kartini.

Jakarta – Hundreds of people held a Defend Palestine action in front of the United States Embassy in Central Jakarta on Sunday April 20. The protesters arrived using private vehicles and public transportation such as trains, Transjakarta buses and others.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto claims that the plan to increase import of food from the United States will not disrupt the food self-sufficiency program. Importing food is one of the things offered by the Indonesian government in tariff negotiations with the US.

Rachel Caroline L. Toruan, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Dewi Anggraeni recommends that the government halt the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (Makan Bergizi Gratis/MBG) program due to its frequent issues.

Singgih Wiryono, Faieq Hidayat, Jakarta – Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) senior researcher and chairperson of Centra Initiative, Al Araf, says that the phenomenon of the military (TNI) entering campuses occurred during the New Order era when the second president of the Republic of Indonesia Suharto was in power.

Agencies, Jakarta – Indonesia is considering purchasing billions of dollars worth of US-manufactured defence equipment, including fighter jets and munitions, Bloomberg news reported on Friday.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) and the Journalist Safety Committee (KKJ) strongly condemn the cyber attack in the form of distributed denial of service (DDoS) that struck media outlets, including Suara.com, last Tuesday, April 15, 2025. This attack rendered the Suara.com site inaccessible for some time.

Jakarta – The cyclical phenomenon of "new government, new policy" is especially apparent in the national education system, which only shows the short-sightedness of policymakers, who prioritize appearance over substance. In the absence of a solid foundation, as manifested by policy inconsistency, the national education system has only devoured its schoolchildren.

Jihan Ristiyanti, Jakarta – The Directorate of Drug Crime of the Indonesian National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Barerskrim Polri) showed an increase in cocaine use in Indonesia from 2024 to 2025.

Greater military influence in government, reporters under threat and a stuttering economy – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's first six months in power have triggered alarm bells for activists worried about a return to the country's authoritarian roots.

Antara, Jakarta – The Minister of Social Affairs, Saifullah Yusuf, said the government aims to lower extreme poverty to 0 percent by 2026, and the national poverty rate to drop below five percent by 2029.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – The Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) has assessed that implementing President Prabowo Subianto's food self-sufficiency program has harmed the environment.

Demak, Indonesia – Mdm Pasijah, a 55-year-old housewife in Indonesia's Central Java province, wakes up every morning to the sound of the sea. If that sounds idyllic, it is anything but.

Her home is the only one remaining in this part of Rejosari Senik, a small village on Java's northern coast that was once on dry land but is now submerged by water.

A Korean consortium led by LG has decided to withdraw from a project worth around 11 trillion won ($7.7 billion) to establish an EV battery supply chain in Indonesia, industry sources said Friday.

The Civil Society Movement to Bring Suharto to Justice (Gemas) held a Kamisan (Thursday) action in front of the State Palace building in Central Jakarta on Thursday April 17.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Theo Hesegem, director of the Papua Justice and Human Integrity Foundation, has called on the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) to provide evidence supporting its claim of a connection between Indonesian military agents and gold miners in Yahukimo, Papua.

Stephen Dziedzic, Andrew Greene – One of Australia's closest neighbours has declared it is willing to join Chinese-led military exercises but insists it would only do so if the activity is "not directed at any perceived hostile entity".

Bambang Ismoyo, Washington – Indonesia is among the first countries officially accepted by the United States to enter formal negotiations over tariffs imposed during former President Donald Trump's administration. The two countries have agreed to a 60-day timeline to finalize a cooperation framework.

Jayapura – Papua Justice and Human Integrity Foundation (YKKMP) Director Theo Hesegem has acknowledged the increasing number of victims of human rights violations in Papua over the past few years.

Jakarta – Indonesia will increase imports of US food and commodities, and reduce orders from countries the South-east Asian nation currently buys the products from, chief economic minister Airlangga Hartarto told reporters in Washington.

Danu Damarjati, Jakarta – The phenomenon of the military entering campuses has become of public concern lately. Now it is the turn of the University of Indonesia (UI) campus to be visited by "soldiers". Previously however, there were other campuses that had already felt the development of the Indonesian Military's (TNI) presence on campus.

Sinan Serhadli – Siamangs are the largest of the 20 gibbon species, and belong to their own genus, Symphalangus. Distributed across Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, and the southernmost part of Thailand, their unforgettable and emblematic call defines the soundscape of the hill forests in the region.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi dismissed rumors of an imminent cabinet reshuffle within the Red and White coalition. He clarified that the restructuring underway pertains to the Golkar Party's internal leadership, led by Chair Bahlil Lahadalia.