Jayapura – Student Executive Boards (BEM) from a number of campuses in Jayapura, including the Jayapura University of Science and Technology (USTJ), the Cenderawasih University (Uncen) and the Papua Muhammadiyah University, held a "Dark Indonesia" demonstration on the grounds of the USTJ campus in Abepura, Jayapura city, Papua province on Thursday February 20.

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of Yogyakarta highlighted the song "Pay Pay Pay" (Bayar Bayar Bayar) by the punk band Sukatani which has recently been withdrawn from all streaming services.

Bill Birtles in Jakarta and Hellena Souisa – Indonesia's government has slashed travel, stationary and even turned the lights off early for civil servants in a widespread austerity drive, as President Prabowo Subianto's free meal program worsens a squeeze on funds.

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.

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.

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.

Oyuk Ivani S, Jakarta – Jakarta Vice Governor Rano Karno revealed the message from the Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Megawati Soekarnoputri, for his administration and Pramono Anung in Jakarta.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Iman Rahman Cahyadi, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri on Thursday ordered all elected governors, mayors, and regents from her party to withdraw from President Prabowo Subianto's retreat program, just hours after the arrest of her close aide, Hasto Kristiyanto, on graft charges.

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.

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'.

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.

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.

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.

Yuni Rohmawati, Palembang – South Sumatra Health Office (Dinkes Sumsel) confirmed the report of students experiencing stomach aches due to food poisoning after consuming Free Nutritious Meals in the Empat Lawang Regency, South Sumatra (Sumsel), on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.

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.

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.

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.

Executive Summary

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – The Indonesian government frames the approval of the revised Law No. 4 of 2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining (Minerba Law) as an effort to restore the essence of Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution.

Yovanda Noni, East Kutai – From January to February, the Conservation and Natural Resources Center of East Kalimantan rescued 37 orangutans in East Kutai and Kutai Kartanegara districts.

Savero Aristia Wienanto, Jakarta – Several international media outlets have reported on the mass protest movement 'Indonesia Gelap' (Dark Indonesia) held on Monday, February 17, 2025. The protests, led by Indonesian students, voiced criticism of President Prabowo Subianto's administration for straying from reformist ideals.

1. The Star, Malaysia

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta – The Association of Parents of Advanced Indonesia Scholarship (BIM) or BIM Batch 4 staged a rally in front of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology in Jakarta on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. The rally demanded the government provide clarity regarding the continuity of the scholarship.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Head of the Public Relations of the Papua Regional Police, Sr. Comr. Ignatius Benny Ady, denied claims that officers fired gunshots during a protest against the free nutritious meal program in Wamena, Papua Highlands on Monday, August 17, 2025. Benny also denied allegations of excessive force used by the police.

Jakarta – The revision to House of Representatives (DPR) Regulation No. 1/2020 on Code of Conduct is a brutal way for the body to increase its authority. With these extensive powers, the DPR has the potential to damage the Constitution because it takes away authority from the executive branch by placing state institutions under its control.

Jakarta – Four months into his presidency, Prabowo Subianto replaced Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro on Wednesday, in the former Army general's first cabinet reshuffle.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The social media trend #KaburAjaDulu has sparked discussions among netizens on X in February 2025, coinciding with growing public disappointment towards President Prabowo Subianto's administration.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The discourse of appointing former presidents as supervisors in the Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency (Danantara) has sparked sharp criticism. Researcher from Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) Yassar Aulia considers that the step would be a disaster for the professionalism and meritocracy within the state-owned superholding company.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia kept its benchmark interest rate at 5.75 percent in a bid to control inflation and support the rupiah amid global economic uncertainty. The deposit facility rate remains at 5 percent, while the lending facility rate is unchanged at 6.5 percent.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto revealed on Wednesday that many judges assigned across Indonesia are forced to live in rented accommodations due to a lack of state-provided housing.

Addressing the issue, Prabowo pledged quick action while urging judges to uphold integrity and professionalism despite these challenging conditions.

Antara, Jakarta – Immigration and Corrections Minister Agus Andrianto has dismissed 71 immigration officers at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (SHIA) for extorting Chinese nationals, following a diplomatic complaint from the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The Indonesian government will let Freeport sell copper concentrates overseas again despite its expired export permit, but the mining giant has to pay more in taxes, according to a minister.

Dayat, Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro was dismissed from his position as Higher Education, Science, and Technology Minister on Wednesday, but he claimed that he had submitted his resignation letter to the president earlier in the day.

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Surabaya – The Nusantara Freshwater Fish Lovers Community (Kopipa) has called on the East Java administration to take stronger measures to protect the Brantas River, one of the province's longest rivers, as severe pollution has caused the extinction of at least half of the fish species in the river.

Novan Iman Santosa, Jakarta – State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi has called on the public to give President Prabowo Subianto's administration a fair chance in response to the nationwide protest called Indonesia Gelap (Dark Indonesia).

The protest started on Monday simultaneously in multiple cities.

Jakarta – The government is currently training 32,000 people to spearhead the free nutritious meal program, National Nutritious Agency (BGN) head Dadan Hindayana said on Monday.

"So, we are currently training 32,000 personnel who will become the heads of the SPPG," Dadan said, as quoted by Kompas.com, referring to the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units.

Jakarta – Farmers grouped under the banner of KUB Simbar Segara in Pemogan village, South Denpasar, Bali, cooperated with PT Pertamina Training and Consulting (PTC) and PT Arunika Bumi Lestari (ABL) in planting mangrove trees on Feb. 14 to commemorate World Wetlands Day.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jakarta – Four months into his presidency, Indonesian leader Prabowo Subianto has already secured his party's nomination for re-election, but analysts say the move is premature because of his untested leadership amid pressing economic challenges.

Jakarta – The Indonesian government will host a week-long mountain glamping retreat for hundreds of regional leaders this week, a presidential official said on Feb 19, sparking criticism as President Prabowo Subianto imposes widespread budget cuts.

Solo – Hundreds of students held a "Dark Indonesia" (Indonesia Gelap) action in front of the Solo city Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) offices on Wednesday February 19. During the rally, they blockaded Jalan Adi Sucipto which is one of the main thoroughfares in the Central Java city.

Indonesia's planned expansion of "captive" coal plants used to power industry is threatening its pledge to cut CO2 emissions by 2030 and close all coal-fired plants by a decade later, said a report published Thursday.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said budget cuts will be carried out in three stages. He revealed that the government targets a total of Rp750 trillion that can be obtained from efficiency.

Rizki Dewi Ayu, Jakarta – Thousands of students in Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, PapuaHighlands Province, staged a protest against the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program on Monday, February 17. The demonstration was attended by junior high school (SMP), senior high school (SMA), and university students.

Hendro D Situmorang, Jakarta – Village and Underdeveloped Region Development Minister Yandri Susanto confirmed that the Rp 71 trillion ($4.36 billion) allocated for 75,000 villages this year will not be impacted by government budget cuts.

Jakarta – American social psychologist Jonathan Haidt begins his popular book The Anxious Generation with a graphic showing a sudden and very large upturn in major depressive episodes among adolescents after the 2010s, a period he refers to as "the great rewiring of childhood".

Jakarta – Thick, foul-smelling smoke reportedly rose from a newly built refuse-derived fuel (RDF) plant in Rorotan, West Jakarta, last week during a test run of the facility, which is slated to process thousands of tonnes of waste every day when it begins full operations.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Chairman of Indonesia's National Economic Council (DEN), has addressed growing concerns following a viral call on social media to withdraw savings from state-owned banks, in the wake of the government's announcement regarding the Danantara Investment Management Agency (BPI Danantara).