On 9 July 2024, Indonesian military personnel reportedly opened fire at indigenous Papuan, Mr Eran Gwijangge, in Yuguru Village, Mebarok District, Nduga Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.

Jakarta – Over the last few weeks, the nation has witnessed how the weaponization of law operates in a country that claims to champion rule of law as a foundational element of democracy. Such an irony seems to be easily normalized in a political system where interests justify means.

Sonya Andomo, Jakarta – The Nexus 3 Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on environmental issues, stated that Indonesia is the country with the highest microplastic waste production from food waste.

Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) should be more cautious in its handling of the case relating to alleged corruption over the purchase of Chromebook laptops at the Ministry of Education and Culture from 2019 to 2022. It must not ignore the integrity of the investigation process and the protection of citizens from arbitrary action by law enforcement officers.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – CIVICUS Monitor, an international research collaboration dedicated to tracking civil liberties across 197 countries, has added Indonesia to its watchlist.

Nabila Cahyarani Kusworo, Jakarta – Public discourse has recently picked up on two popular acronyms that reflect a growing mismatch between high mall foot traffic and sluggish sales. Rohana (rombongan hanya nanya), or "groups that only ask," and Rojali (rombongan jarang beli), or "groups that rarely buy."

A global rights group has once again branded civic space in Indonesia as "obstructed" due to widespread state intimidation, legal manipulation, and violent crackdowns on dissent in the country.

Dozens of activists have been attacked, intimidated, or arrested during President Prabowo Subianto's nine-month administration, Civicus Monitor said in a July 30 statement,

Dandi Bajuddin, Jakarta – The Chairperson of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI), Hariyanto Suwarno, stated that as many as 251 Indonesian migrant workers are suspected to have become victims of human trafficking.

Johannesburg – Indonesia is added to CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist amid widespread state intimidation, legal manipulation, and violent crackdowns on dissent, pushing civic space to a precarious point. Nine months into President Prabowo Subianto's administration, dozens of activists have been attacked, intimidated or arrested.

Neil Tobing, Jakarta – What if public opinion was one day shaped by algorithms no one can audit? What if the truth itself became obscured by machine-generated content that merely looks convincing?

Artificial intelligence has transcended its technical origins to become a force reshaping behavior, perception and the very foundations of public discourse.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Indonesia is sitting on a vast reserve of untapped oil and gas resources, with only a fraction of its 128 sedimentary basins currently being explored and developed, according to the Geological Agency.

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Surabaya – The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) has urged the Surabaya administration in East Java to shut down the Benowo Waste-to-Energy Power Plant, accusing the facility of contributing significantly to the "alarming" levels of air pollution across the city.

Yosea Iskandar, Jakarta – In a world increasingly shaped by data, trust has become both our greatest asset and our most fragile resource.

Arga Nur Wahid – A Papuan arts and cultural performance organised by the East Java Papua Alumni Association in the Kya-Kya area of Surabaya, East Java, on Sunday evening July 27 has ended in chaos.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating alleged graft in the then-education, culture, research and technology ministry's procurement of the Google Cloud service during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sumatra is currently in the throes of a severe land fire crisis, with an alarming surge in incidents across several provinces on the island as the dry season intensifies.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – Indonesia will reduce oil and gas imports from several countries in the Middle East and Asia as part of a new $15 billion energy import agreement with the United States, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said on Monday.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – The United States will not impose its new reciprocal tariff of 19 percent on Indonesian goods starting Aug. 1, as the two countries have yet to finalize a bilateral trade agreement, according to Chief Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto.

Jayapura – Dozens of protester from the Justice Front for Tobias Silak, consisting of the Cipayung Youth and Social Organisation (OKP Cipayung), movement activists, community members and the victim's family, held a long-march starting at 8.40 am from the Cross Tower to the Wamena District Court building while giving speeches and shouting for justice for the late Tobias Silak.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesia recorded Rp 942.9 trillion (approx. $57.38 billion) in total investment realization during the first half of 2025, with domestic investment surpassing foreign direct investment (FDI), according to the Investment Ministry.

Delfi Neski, Jakarta – The West Sumatra Regional Police have arrested nine individuals suspected of vandalizing a Christian prayer house in Padang Sarai Subdistrict, Koto Tangah District, Padang City, West Sumatra, on Sunday.

In addition to damaging the prayer house, the suspects also reportedly committed acts of violence against children who were present at the scene.

Muhammad Firman, Widi Agustian, Jakarta – Indonesia is mourning the passing of Kwik Kian Gie, a respected economist and former senior minister, who died Monday evening at Medistra Hospital in South Jakarta. He was 90.

Jakarta – Indonesia's commercial vehicle market remained weak in the first half of 2025, with all major brands reporting a drop in sales, according to the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo).

Danu Damarjati, Jakarta – The Trade Union Coalition-Labour Party (KSP-PB) has rejected the government's claim that the poverty rate in Indonesia has fallen.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – A Chinese company has invested $100 million to build a coconut processing plant in Indonesia, Investment Minister Rosan Perkasa Roeslani announced on Tuesday. The investment supports the government's efforts to boost local industrialization and reduce the country's dependence on raw coconut exports.

On 11 July 2025, at 3:00 am, police officers arbitrarily detained eight indigenous Papuans in the Yahukimo Regency at two different locations along Seredalah Road. All suspects were detained at the Yahukimo Police headquarters (see photo on top, source: Jubi).

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – A proposal by Indonesia's anti-money laundering watchdog to block dormant bank accounts has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers, who warn that the policy could cause confusion and unrest among the public despite its good intentions.

Indonesia – Indonesia's parliament is fast-tracking controversial revisions to the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) that civil society groups warn will strengthen state repression, legitimize arbitrary detention, and fundamentally undermine citizens' rights in the criminal justice system.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia recently inked the contract to acquire 48 of Turkish-made KAAN fighter jets as the Southeast Asian nation sought to modernize its air fleet.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Indonesia's cocoa industry is in dire need of rejuvenation and replanting to take advantage of a global supply dearth keeping prices at a new, elevated equilibrium.

Most plantations in the country are close to exceeding the cacao plant's productive age of 25 years, according to Soetanto Abdoellah, chairman of the Indonesian Cocoa Board.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 26 July 2025, police officers arbitrarily detained Mr Stevanus Silak, Mr Eben Sobolim, and Mr Ami Sobolim at Nop Goliat Airport in Dekai, Yahukimo, Papua highland Province.

Antara, Jakarta – The Provincial Government of Bali has issued an instruction banning the issuance of permits for tourism facilities on productive land. The prohibition will take effect from 2025.

Bali Governor Wayan Koster stated that he has signed this ban. Furthermore, he will convene with regents/mayors across Bali to implement this instruction.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – The Indonesian currency, rupiah, weakened by 43 points to 16,363 per U.S. dollar in today's trading, closing on Monday, July 28, 2025. At the close of the previous week, the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the Indonesian rupiah was recorded at 16,320.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Jakarta – The founder of the Anti-Money Laundering Institution (LAPI), Ardhian Dwiyoenanto, said that Ridwan Kamil is free to sell a number of his assets if they are under someone else's name, such as owning a vehicle but disguised by the former West Java Governor by using his employees' names.

Maretha Uli, Jakarta – The alarming rise in child abuse in Indonesia, often at the hands of familiar persons such as family members or neighbors, has underscored the state's failure to guarantee the right of children to safe and protective care.

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Jakarta – Indonesia is rushing to complete several trade deals to diversify its export market as a hedge against the impending tariff from the US, in a move welcomed by industry players.

Stefanus Teguh Edi Pramono – Five years ago, we reported on the political dynasty of Indonesian President Joko Widodo. At that time, the children and son-in-law of Jokowi, Gibran Rakabuming Raka and Muhammad Bobby Alif Nasution a.k.a. Bobby Nasution, intended to take the Mayor seats in Solo and Medan.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Indonesian civil society groups are challenging a controversial law they say enables forced evictions, weakens environmental protections, and encourages elite-driven megaprojects at the expense of ordinary citizens.

While the details of a trade agreement with the United States have yet to be settled, it is clear by now that the bilateral deal is no cause for celebration on our side.

And it was never expected to be, because the odds were stacked against Indonesia, and other countries, from the outset.

Rachel Kathryn, Jakarta – The All Indonesia Student Executive Council (BEM SI) held a demonstration titled "Aksi Indonesia (C)emas 2025" (Indonesia Anxious Action 2025) at the Horse Statue on Jalan Medan Merdeka in Central Jakarta on Monday afternoon July 28.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Culture Fadli Zon dismissed claims that the government's project to rewrite Indonesian history is being rushed. He asserted that the goal of completing the 10-volume book series by August 2025 is realistic and reflects the standards of professional historians.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesia's top economic minister on Monday defended a recently signed trade agreement with the United States, rejecting claims that the deal is overly favorable to Washington and poses a threat to domestic industry.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – A major shift has taken place in the rankings of Indonesia's wealthiest individuals, according to the latest data released by Forbes on July 28, 2025.

In the updated version of The World's Real Time Billionaires list, Prajogo Pangestu has overtaken Low Tuck Kwong to become the richest person in Indonesia.

Indonesia, West Papua – Healthcare in West Papua remains in a state of structural emergency, marked by institutional decay, corruption, and impunity.

Wahroni, Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Immigration officers at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport are now equipped with body cameras in a bid to enhance accountability, transparency, and professionalism in Indonesia's busiest international gateway.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) labels the energy transition and renewable energy power projects as corruption-prone. The more extensive the implementations are, the greater the potential for corruption in new and renewable energy plants.

Jakarta – The People's Democratic Party (PRD) and Democratic Movement Alumni Forum are demanding that the state immediately and fully investigate the 1997-98 abduction of pro-democracy activists and other past gross human rights violations.

Apriadi Gunawan, Jakarta – UNESCO assessors have begun the revalidation process of Lake Toba in North Sumatra, as local authorities strive to maintain the site's Global Geopark status following a "yellow card" warning issued in 2023.

Twenty-eight years after Indonesia's 1997 political and economic crisis and the 1998 tragedy, the state and the ruling regime have never resolved the problem of the rights abuses that occurred at that time.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Head of the Information Center of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Major General Kristomei Sianturi said the military will anticipate potential attacks by the Free Papua Movement (OPM) targeting doctors in conflict-prone areas. He stated that the military will collaborate with the police and local government.