Indonesia, West Papua – Christian Solidarity International (CSI) delivered a statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 28 March 2025, warning of Indonesian Government plans to expand its military presence and exploit natural resources in West Papua. CSI highlighted growing threats undermining the land rights of indigenous Papuans.

Jakarta – Indonesia wants a fair and equal relationship with the United States, and will pursue diplomacy to address a 32 per cent tariff rate imposed by the Trump administration, President Prabowo Subianto said on April 7, while his ministers are working to finalise its negotiation proposal.

Azifah Astrina – In early 2025, Indonesia enacted amendments to its National Armed Forces Law that expanded the domestic and bureaucratic roles of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), raising alarm among civil society actors, scholars, and democracy advocates. At first glance, the move appears technical – a response to evolving security challenges such as cyber threats and terrorism.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) confirmed there will be no troop reinforcements in response to the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) declaring nine regencies in Papua as war zones.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto recently met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the latter's Putrajaya residence as ASEAN chair Kuala Lumpur tries to coordinate a unified bloc response to the US' tariff blitz.

April 4, 2003 was a dark day for the Papuan people, especially in Wamena.

Harumbi Prastya Hidayahningrum, Majalengka – President Prabowo Subianto has promised to provide 1,000 owls to farmers as a natural solution to combat rat infestations in agricultural areas. The announcement was made during a harvest event attended by representatives from 14 provinces in Majalengka, West Java, on Monday.

Firda Janati, Dani Prabowo, Jakarta – Indonesian Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Chairperson Nani Afrida believes that the increasing number of cases of violence against journalists in Indonesia is due to the widespread impunity afforded to perpetrators. Impunity is an exemption from punishment given to perpetrators of violations, including perpetrators of violence.

Rahel Narda Chaterine, Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has asked all parties to be objective in viewing demonstrations criticising government policies.

Jakarta – Hundreds of doctors and health workers (Nakes) from various professional organisations and humanitarian institutions held a peaceful action in Jakarta on Monday April 7. The action was a form of solidarity with health workers and humanitarian volunteers who have fallen victim to the violence in Gaza, Palestine.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Nearly half of Indonesia's peatlands are vulnerable to flooding due to degradation caused by unchecked exploitation, with 6 million hectares (15 million acres) – an area twice the size of Belgium – classified as highly vulnerable, according to a new report.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Another incident of violence against journalists has occurred. This time, the violence was committed by a member of the security team of the Chief of the Indonesian National Police.

Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, Penajam Paser Utara – Nusantara, Indonesia's future capital, is grappling with a rat infestation, prompting authorities to deploy hundreds of traps across the core government area to address the issue.

Intan Setiawanty, Jakarta – The Indonesian National Police (Polri) has stated that it will investigate the alleged intimidation and violence against journalists by the aide of the Chief of the Indonesian National Police during coverage at Tawang Station, Semarang on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

Shinta Maharani, Yogyakarta – Dozens of alleged victims of sexual harassment by a professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta, Edy Meiyanto, have urged the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Technology to take firm action by revoking the perpetrator's status as a civil servant.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Association of Motor and Auto Parts Industries (GIAMM) has urged the government to consider imposing reciprocal tariffs on the United States following Washington's recent decision to raise import duties on products from several countries, including Indonesia.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Amirullah, Jakarta – The Udayana University (Unud) in Bali has established cooperation with the Indonesian Army's (TNI AD) Udayana/IX Regional Military Command (Kodam). This cooperation is contained in agreement document number B/2134/UN14.IV/HK.07.00/2025.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI) recorded that 60,000 workers had experienced layoffs from January to early March 2025. The data is based on the Research and Development (Litbang) of KSPI and the Labor Party, which differs from the data released by the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker).

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The Head of the Cartenz Peace Task Force, Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani, stated that the conflict between two factions supporting regional head candidates in the Puncak Jaya regional election in Central Papua has left 12 people dead. The fatalities occurred during several clashes over the past three months.

Hanif Musyaffa, Widy Wicaksono, Jakarta – Jakarta's post-Eid al-Fitr travel surge continues to climb sharply as of Saturday, six days after the holiday. Authorities report that approximately 2.2 million people have returned to the Greater Jakarta area via toll roads in Central Java alone.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto met with 7 journalists from 7 different media outlets in Hambalang, West Java on Sunday, April 6, 2025. The seven journalists interviewed Prabowo together.

Agencies, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia said on Saturday it was committed to keeping the rupiah currency stable after US and Chinese tariff announcements resulted in market uncertainties.

The central bank said in a statement it would optimise interventions in the spot, domestic non-deliverable forward and bond markets to ensure adequate foreign exchange liquidity.

Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has urged the government to thoroughly review and clarify five domestic policies that the United States claims are harmful to American interests, prompting Washington to impose a 32 percent tariff on Indonesian goods.

Dede Adhitama, Cirebon – The abrupt shutdown of Yihong Novatex Indonesia has left 1,126 workers jobless just days before Eid al-Fitr, highlighting a growing crisis in Indonesia's labor-intensive manufacturing sector.

Ahmad Rifqi Danwanus, Jakarta – Mount Semeru in Lumajang, East Java, erupted with volcanic ash reaching a height of 900 meters on Saturday. The Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation has urged people living around the slopes of the mountain to stay alert and maintain a safe distance.

Jakarta – For Erick Thohir, the chairman of the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI), the national team qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is nonnegotiable. This explains why under his watch, the PSSI has been relentless in its hunt for naturalized players who can make the country's long-held dream come true.

Jakarta – The initiatives of a number of pesantren, or Islamic boarding schools, in implementing circular economy practices need to serve as an example for other educational institutions.

Mathias Hariyadi, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto personally attended the funeral of Mgr Petrus Turang, Archbishop Emeritus of Kupang, in Jakarta Cathedral. He died yesterday at the age of 78.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Spokesperson for the XVII/Cendrawasih Military Command, Candra Kurniawan, has stated that the institution will not designate a "war zone" in managing conflicts in Papua.

Jakarta – There has been a new trend in the House of Representatives (DPR) in the last three years: the Legislation Body has been gaining strength as a producer of laws. The DPR's auxiliary body is both an entrance and an exit for bills put forward by the government or on the initiative of the lawmakers.

Taranaki, New Zealand – Greenpeace Aotearoa activists have stopped an Indonesian ship offloading 30 thousand tonnes of palm kernel expeller (PKE), destined for use as animal feed by the country's biggest environmental polluter, dairy giant Fonterra.

Marina Ika Sari – The establishment of a National Defence Council (NDC) is a significant development in the early months of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's administration. The NDC represents a good first step towards better defence policymaking, but Indonesia's broader defence strategy is in increasingly urgent need of revitalisation.

Jayawijaya, Highland Papua – The Education and Culture Office of Highland Papua ensured that the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program is operational across eight districts in the province.

The districts benefiting from this initiative include Jayawijaya, Lanny Jaya, Tolikara, Nduga, Central Mamberamo, Pegunungan Bintang, Yahukimo, and Yalimo.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Calls are mounting for President Prabowo to pick his envoy for the US after US President Donald Trump slapped 32 percent retaliatory tariffs on imports coming from Indonesia.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Presidential Communication Office (PCO) announced that President Prabowo Subianto has formulated mitigation strategies in response to the import tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Indonesia.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Senior journalist Najwa Shihab has denied claims that she was offered the position to lead the Indonesia's Head of Presidential Communication Office (PCO) as a replacement for Hasan Nasbi.

Tatang Guritno, Robertus Belarminus, Jakarta – Musician Baskara Putra has revealed the reasons behind the making of a song in collaboration with Maria Sumarsih, the mother of the Benardinus Realino Norma Irawan, or Wawan as he was known by friends, a student who was killed in the Semanggi I tragedy in 1998.

The British government restated its commitment to a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights visit to West Papua on Tuesday 2nd April, after being questioned over its 2024 critical minerals agreement with Indonesia.

Dr. Sameer Kumar – Indonesia sits atop the world's biggest nickel reserves – a metal essential for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and the renewable energy transition. In recent years, Jakarta has boldly wielded its resource might by banning exports of raw nickel ore to force global companies to invest in domestic processing.

Salsabilla Azzahra Octavia, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) noted that the rupiah has weakened against the US dollar recently. Previously, BI revealed that the rupiah closed at Rp16,575 per US dollar on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Meanwhile, on Thursday's opening, March 27, 2025, the rupiah weakened again to Rp16,590 per US dollar.

Abdil Mughis Mudhoffir and Rafiqa Qurrata A'yun – Fears of an authoritarian reversal in Indonesia have gained traction, especially after Prabowo Subianto, a former military general known for his record of alleged gross human rights violations, assumed the presidency in Indonesia.

Zac Gillies-Palmer – In September 1974, socialists in Dili founded the Revolutionary Front for the Independence of Timor-Leste, better known as FRETILIN. Against the backdrop of the Cold War, FRETILIN grew from a small group of left-wing intellectuals into East Timor's main independence party and armed resistance movement.

Yovanda Noni, Nusantara – The number of visitors to Indonesia's future capital, Nusantara, has seen a significant uptick during the Eid al-Fitr holiday season. Daily visitor numbers rose from around 8,000 on the first day of Eid (April 1) to over 14,100 by April 3.

Jakarta – There's only a thin line separating good communication strategy with bad public relations. When the government is backed up by a well-planned communication strategy, an effective messaging campaign and a team of professionals, even a crisis can be an opportunity to score a win.

Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati visited former president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at his residence in Surakarta, Central Java, on Thursday in celebration of Idul Fitri.

Joseph Rachman – Students are protesting across Indonesia – chanting slogans; skirmishing with police; and in one city, even throwing Molotov cocktails. The protesters are demanding the repeal of a law passed on March 20 that they say threatens to bring Indonesia back to the days of the military dictatorship that lasted from 1965 to 1998.

Jakarta – Indonesian activists on Thursday (Apr 3) decried a new regulation allowing police to monitor foreign journalists and researchers working in the country, a move they say would limit press freedom.

James Pearson – Estrella Resources is about to make history in Timor-Leste with the arrival of the nation's first mineral exploration rig. The company is gearing up to kick off an exploration drilling campaign at its Ira Miri, Sica and Lalena manganese prospects in the country's northwest.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – The Chairperson of the Press Council, Ninik Rahayu, regretted the issuance of Police Regulation No. 3 of 2025. The regulation required foreign journalists to have a police clearance (SKK).

Secretly and in violation of internal procedures, the House of Representatives (DPR) passed the revisions to Law Number 34/2004 on the Indonesian National Armed Forces (UU TNI). The revisions to the TNI Law will give more power to the military.