Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka visited the family home of Andika Lutfi Falah, a student who died after joining a mass demonstration, in Puri Bidara Permai, Tigaraksa, Tangerang Regency, Banten, on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

Basten Gokkon – Researchers have developed the first model to map how supply and demand interact in Indonesia's highly lucrative songbird trade, revealing patterns that could help curb poaching pressure on rare and threatened species.

Fred Pearce – It was an unlikely destination for the first field visit by the new president of Indonesia. Last November, two weeks after taking office, Prabowo Subianto traveled more than 2,000 miles from his presidential palace in Jakarta to the remote coastal village of Wanam on the island of New Guinea.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Economist Roby Rushandie of The Prakarsa assesses that the recent protests, culminating in riots, reflect the fragile foundation of Indonesia's economic development. He mentions that although the government often boasts about poverty reduction data or economic growth, the reality on the ground shows a different situation.

Antara, Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Violent protests across Indonesia over the past week have left a trail of destruction, with damages to state buildings and public infrastructure estimated at nearly Rp 900 billion ($55 million), Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo said on Tuesday.

Responding to the Indonesian government's announcement that at least eight people have been killed since nationwide protests against low wages, tax hikes and lawmakers' pay started on 25 August, Amnesty International's Regional Research Director, Montse Ferrer, said:

Rafiqa Qurrata A'yun, Ary Hermawan and Abdil Mughis Mudhoffir – A wave of protests across Indonesia triggered by the genuine grievances of many Indonesians deprived of their right to a decent livelihood has recently devolved into violent riots that have cost the lives of at least seven innocent civilians.

Rebecca Ratcliffe – At least 20 people are missing following violent protests that have gripped cities across Indonesia over the past week, a human rights group has warned.

Duncan Graham – Cashiered former general Prabowo Subianto was elected president of Indonesia last year on a contradictory campaign image.

One side showed a soft, caring grandpa, friend of the wong kecil (wee folk). The flip side promoted an urbane statesman who'd lift his country's international status as the world's third-largest democracy.

Jakarta – The National Police have fired tear gas into crowds of protesters near two universities in a major regional city, student bodies and authorities said on Tuesday, adding new tensions to deadly protests that have rocked the country since last week.

Agencies, New York, United States – The United Nations on Monday called for investigations into alleged use of disproportionate force after six people were killed in protests across Indonesia sparked by anger over lawmakers' lavish perks.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto lavished civilian honors upon more than 140 figures last week, some of them posthumously, an act that hardly fulfills the intended purpose of the state awards for at least two reasons.

Ni Made Tasyarani, Jakarta – Indonesia's consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.31 percent year-on-year (yoy) in August, easing slightly from 2.37 percent in July, even as food and beverage prices continued to climb.

Gembong Hanung, Jakarta – Health authorities in Jakarta accelerate childhood vaccination following a surge in measles cases in its poor, crowded neighborhoods.

Bangkok – Clashes in Indonesia between protesters and security forces have killed at least seven people and injured dozens more in 42 regions across the country since August 25, 2025. The Indonesian government's announcement of new allowances and other benefits to members of parliament resulted in peaceful protests.

Helen Livingstone – At least seven people have died, hundreds have been injured and public buildings have been burnt and looted after thousands of people took to the streets in anti-government protests across Indonesia over the past week.

Ahmad Baihaqi, Heru Andriyanto, South Tangerang – Police have arrested two young men accused of looting Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati's home during the recent unrest in Greater Jakarta.

Andrian Supendi, Indramayu, West Java – Police in Indramayu have arrested 58 people, including 25 middle and high school students, and confiscated Molotov cocktails and sharp weapons from them amid ongoing nationwide unrest.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – The Indonesian Transport Workers Union (SPAI) confirmed that the online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers who met with Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka last Sunday are not union members. SPAI chairperson Lily Pujiati admitted to knowing two – those wearing yellow Maxim jackets.

Adinda Jasmine, Jakarta – A wave of solidarity from the Indonesian diaspora has emerged in cities around the world, as hundreds of citizens abroad rallied in support of the ongoing demonstrations back home. From New York to Melbourne and Berlin, Indonesians overseas echoed the calls for justice and reform.

Long march in New York

Jakarta – The death of Affan Kurniawan on August 28, 2025, was a tragedy. The 21-year-old online motorbike taxi driver was run over by a Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) tactical vehicle while he was in a crowd using their right of expression in a demonstration demanding the dissolution of the House of Representatives (DPR).

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesian House of Commission I (DPR) held a working meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today. The meeting was scheduled to discuss the Ministry's work plan and budget for the year 2026.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Beijing – China expressed understanding over Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's decision to postpone his planned visit to the country, saying it trusts his government to restore stability after violent unrest erupted across Indonesia.

Aep Sopandi, Bandung – A total of 48 tear gas canisters were found around the campuses of Pasundan University (Unpas) and Bandung Islamic University (Unisba) on Jalan Tamansari, Bandung, following clashes on Monday night. The canisters were discovered by cleaning and security staff while clearing the campus area on Tuesday morning.

Sukarjito, Jakarta – Certain groups have been exploiting recent public demonstrations and hijacking their agenda once situations turned anarchistic, an analyst said.

Sukarjito, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesia has suspended five lawmakers whose controversial remarks about parliamentary perks and displays of privilege inflamed public anger, triggering violent protests that swept across the country.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Indonesia recorded deflation of 0.08 percent in August 2025 on a month-to-month basis, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). The figure is deeper than the 0.03 percent deflation seen in August last year.

Yovanda Noni, Antara, Samarinda – Twenty-two students from Mulawarman University, East Kalimantan, were caught making dozens of Molotov cocktails that were allegedly intended for use in a protest scheduled for Monday.

Rama Sukarta, Muhammad Ghafur Fadillah, Jakarta – Indonesia's economy remains fundamentally strong despite a week of nationwide protests and violent unrest, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said on Monday.

Jakarta – Unlike other types of corruption, corruption in the hajj pilgrimage management involves two wrongdoings in one. Firstly, it harms the state and millions of prospective pilgrims. Secondly, it manipulates the earnest desire of the faithful planning to undertake their obligations according to the fifth pillar of Islam.

Antara, Jakarta – Two leaders of prominent Indonesian universities have urged the public to remain calm and exercise restraint in responding to the current political situation marked by demonstrations.

The Rector of the University of Indonesia (UI), Heri Hermansyah, said that the public should express their aspirations while preventing anarchic acts.

Mohammad Muajijin, Kediri, East Java – The Regent of Kediri, Hanindhito Himawan Pramana, has called on looters to return cultural artifacts stolen during violent demonstrations on Saturday that left government offices burned and the Bagawanta Bhari Museum ransacked.

Jakarta – Indonesia has made digital declarations mandatory for all international travelers beginning September 1, 2025, through the government's new All Indonesia app.

Antara, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) will continue to remain in the market to maintain the stability of the exchange rate and the adequacy of rupiah liquidity post the recent protests.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – Indonesia's armed forces have dismissed rumors that the government is preparing to impose martial law following violent demonstrations in Jakarta and several other regions.

Deputy Armed Forces Commander Gen. Tandyo Budi Revita on Monday stressed that the speculation was "completely false" and ran counter to the military's constitutional role.

Andrew Tito, Jakarta – Indonesian police said Monday that the security situation in Jakarta and other regions has returned to "conducive" levels after a week of violent demonstrations, as joint patrols by police, soldiers, and community groups were rolled out to prevent further unrest.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia's palm oil exports saw another double-digit increase as of July as shipments of this agricultural commodity – both in crude and processed – hit the $14 billion mark in value.

Jakarta – Lawmakers at the House of Representatives returned to work on Monday with members of key commissions kicking off fresh rounds of deliberations on crucial legislation.

Members of Commission I overseeing defense and foreign affairs on Monday resumed their session to discuss details of the 2026 state budget with the leadership of the Indonesian Military (TNI).

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia announced Monday that it had extended its surplus streak for the 63rd month following a $4.17 billion positive trade balance in July.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Police in the Indonesian capital have arrested more than 1,200 people following a week of violent protests marked by looting and vandalism, Jakarta Police Chief Inspector General Asep Edi Suheri said on Monday.

Michael H. Hadylaya, Jakarta – In The Hunger Games, the Capitol glitters while the districts starve. The elites feast, dress extravagantly and stage parades as if hunger were a distant rumor. That was fiction, but in Indonesia today, the parallels feel striking.

Indonesia is in chaos, as massive protests have erupted over corruption, economic hardship, and police brutality. I call on all my people to get ready for another escalation back home. West Papua is ready to depart from this dying empire.

Basten Gokkon – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has set up a new authority to build a massive seawall along the north coast of Java, a project aimed at shielding millions of residents from flooding and sinking land, but observers reject it as a true solution while highlighting risks, elite bias and lack of consultation.

Indonesia is weighing the acquisition of Italy's decommissioned aircraft carrier as part of Jakarta's push toward a blue-water navy.

Newsweek contacted the Indonesian Ministry of Defense and the Italian Embassy for comment via email.

Why it matters

West Papuan civil society and solidarity networks are calling for urgent action over a brutal Indonesian security forces crackdown that has led to a wave of arrests and political repression.

Protests erupted in Sorong, in the western part of the Melanesian territory, on Wednesday over the transfer of 4 political prisoners out of the territory.

Stefanno Sulaiman and Gayatri Suroyo, Jakarta – Indonesian political parties have agreed to revoke a number of perks and privileges for parliamentarians, President Prabowo Subianto said on Sunday, in a bid to calm anti-government protests that have left five people dead and caused the worst violence in decades in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

Miriam Bahagijo, New York – The seats were almost full as the lights dimmed and an audio speaker transmitted the decades-old announcement of voice actress Marie Oentoe Tinangon, familiar to most Indonesian moviegoers: "The door to Theater 1 is open."

Rebecca Ratcliffe – Indonesian political parties have agreed to cut some lawmakers' perks, including a controversial $3,000 housing allowance, the president said, as security measures were stepped up in an attempt to halt protests that have gripped the country for a week.

Jakarta – Indonesia is living through one of its most volatile moments since the democratic transition of 1998. What began as scattered unrest has now spilled across cities, fueled by deep economic frustration, perceived elite impunity and a rising sense that the political class has grown deaf to the people's plight.

Agencies, Jakarta – Students and civil society groups called off protests on Monday after a week of escalating anger over lawmakers' pay and the police response, citing fears of heightened security measures after deadly riots over the weekend.