Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday summoned B. Rudijanto Tanoesoedibjo, the elder brother of MNC Group chairman Hary Tanoesoedibjo, for questioning in a newly launched corruption case over the distribution of social aid by the Social Affairs Ministry.

Muhammad Firman, Jakarta – While the average company lifespan is just 40-50 years, according to Boston Consulting Group, some Indonesian firms have defied the odds, enduring for more than a century. These businesses have weathered colonial transitions, political upheavals, shifting consumer trends, and economic crises, and remain integral to the country's economy.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Indonesia's middle class – long regarded as the backbone of domestic consumption and a key driver of national economic growth – has been shrinking sharply over the past five years, prompting calls for urgent government intervention, including tax relief.

Welcoming 80 years of Indonesian independence, the Indonesian History Transparency Alliance (AKSI) has warned of the dangers of a "national decline".

Putri Nurjannah Kurita, Sentani – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) has called for peaceful actions to commemorate 63 years since the New York Agreement on August 15, 1962, and the racist incident against Papuan students in Surabaya on August 17, 2019.

Dandi Bajuddin, Jakarta – The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) projects that Indonesia's economic growth may still struggle to reach the 5 percent mark.

Dewi Rina Cahyani, Jakarta – Indonesia is seeing about a 75.12 percent surge in instant noodle exports to Canada in 2024, with US$4.94 million in 2024, compared to US$2.82 million the previous year.

Anisa Fauziah, Jakarta – Indonesian shopping mall operators are banking on a nationwide Independence Day discount program to revive sales during the current low season following the end of the long school holidays.

Prisma Ardianto, Jakarta – The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has officially dissolved two pension funds owned by state-run insurer Asuransi Jiwasraya, as part of the company's ongoing liquidation process.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The government revealed Thursday that the United States had been the biggest buyer of Indonesian toys as Washington's fresh tariff hikes had been around for a week.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 10 August 2025, police officers from the Teluk Bintuni Police Department arbitrarily arrested two young women, Mrs Aksimina Muuk,20, and Mrs Derina Mosoum, 20, at Bintuni Bay Port, Papua Barat Province, along with a five-month-old infant and a five-year-old boy, Wene Husage.

On 5 August 2025, members of the Yahukimo Military District Command (Koramil) arbitrarily detained Mr Son Balingga (see photo on top, source: independent HRDs) at the rear complex of the Koramil Yahukimo. At the time of his arrest, Mr Balingga was accompanied by his friend and had stopped to refuel his motorcycle.

Indonesia, West Papua – In the early hours of 7 August 2025, Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) reportedly raided the Oholumu Village, Mewoluk District, Puncak Jaya Regency, resulting in the burning of civilian homes, the destruction of church facilities, and the shooting of a 13-year-old girl named Y. W.

Criticisms continue to rage against the Timor-Leste government's plan to build a football stadium in a historically, culturally, and religiously significant environmental zone.

The opposition has grown as the government reportedly aims to start this year the proposed US$20 million stadium at Tasi Tolu, some eight kilometers west of the national capital, Dili.

Gembong Hanung, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) has deployed dozens of personnel on a 12-day humanitarian mission to deliver aid via airdrop for Palestinians in Gaza, where the hunger crisis is spreading.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia wants Japan to shorten its internship term to no more than a year, as Jakarta refuses to have its citizens work as "cheap labor" overseas.

Wahyu Sahala Tua, Jakarta – Indonesia's music licensing body, Wahana Musik Indonesia (WAMI), has doubled down on its stance that wedding organizers must pay royalties for any live or recorded music played during the celebration, amid mounting public criticism over the policy.

Erfan Maruf, Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – The government recently admitted that almost half of the social assistance did not reach the targeted households, while promising that they would improve the recipients' database.

Muhammad Iqbal Ikromi, Jakarta – A massive protest involving tens of thousands of residents demanding the resignation of Pati Regent Sudewo descended into chaos at the Pati Regency Hall in Central Java on Wednesday, prompting the local legislature to initiate impeachment proceedings.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – Hundreds of thousands of workers planned to stage simultaneous demonstrations across 38 provinces on Thursday, August 28, 2025. Among their key demands is a minimum wage increase for 2026, ranging from 8.5% to 10.5%, as well as a sectoral minimum wage increase of 0.5% to 5%.

Jamal Abdun Nashr, Jakarta – At least 34 people became victims of clashes during a demonstration in front of the Pati Regency Office, Central Java, on Tuesday, August 13, 2025. The demonstration demanded the resignation of Pati Regent Sudewo.

Jakarta – It is hard to believe that this is happening today, that 27 years after the Reformasi, the flying of a flag from a comic can be viewed as treason. The overreaction by the authorities to the flying of the One Piece flag further underlines their dislike of any dissent.

Sapto Yunus – Member of Commission VII of the People's Representative Council (DPR) Bambang Haryo Soekartono said the Indonesian government needs to immediately evaluate the plan to relocate its capital city from Jakarta to the Nusantara New Capital City, or IKN, in Penajam Paser Utara Regency, East Kalimantan.

Basten Gokkon – In their latest study, a group of researchers from Indonesia, the U.K., and the U.S. find that heath forests (locally known as kerangas) span 16,586 square kilometers (6,400 square miles) – almost the size of Hawaii's land area – across Kalimantan.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Indonesia's 2025 fire season is spiraling into one of the worst in recent memory, with a sharp spike in hotspots and toxic haze already choking parts of Malaysia.

Forest and peat fires, mostly caused by deliberate land clearing for agriculture, are an annual problem in Indonesia that strain relations with neighboring countries.

Indonesia, West Papua – Between April and July 2025, Papuan students in the Indonesian cities Gorontalo, Surabaya, Makassar, and Yogyakarta faced an alarming escalation of coordinated intimidation campaigns.

Executive Summary

There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Indonesia during the year.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has arrested nine people in a sting operation in Jakarta over alleged bribery involving a state-owned forestry company.

Antara, Jakarta – The protest by Pati Regency residents against Regent Sudewo's policy and demanding his resignation descended into chaos. Initially peaceful, the demonstration turned violent.

The crowd damaged the fence of the regent's office, shattered glass windows, and set a car on fire, Antara reported on Wednesday afternoon, August 13, 2025.

Jihan Ristiyanti, Jakarta – Indonesia's Attorney General's Office (AGO) has named Sritex Director General Iwan Kurniawan Lukminto (IKL) as a new suspect in the case involving credit provided by PT Bank Pembangunan Daerah Jawa Barat and Banten, PT Bank Jawa Tengah, and PT Bank DKI to Sritex.

Jamal Abdun Nashr, Jakarta – Pati Regent Sudewo is refusing to resign despite protests by residents on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. The demonstration turned chaotic, with police using water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Devy Ernis – The decision by Pati Regent Sudewo to increase rural and urban land and building tax (PBB-P2) rates was met with a demonstration by thousands of residents on Wednesday August 13.

Rama Sukarta, Jakarta – The United States has imposed a 19 percent import tariff on coffee from Indonesia, a move that local industry leaders say will hurt American buyers more than Indonesian producers, given the US's heavy reliance on imported coffee.

On 25 July 2025, Mr Yordan Nyamuk Karunggu, a Papuan activist from Nduga Regency, Papua Highlands Province, rejected accusations by Indonesian intelligence operatives and student groups alleging that he was a member of the TPNPB (West Papua National Liberation Army).

Indonesia, West Papua – The humanitarian crisis in West Papua continues. As of mid-August 2025, more than 80,709 people in West Papua [1] remain internally displaced as a result of armed conflict between Indonesian security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).

Jakarta – When the tech boom was at its peak, its shine hid a lot of problems. But as the tech winter arrives, the water level has fallen, and like a drying lake, the ugly things at the bottom are now in plain sight.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's flagship Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program could require more than Rp 300 trillion ($18.58 billion) in state funds annually by 2026 as the government expands coverage to 82 million beneficiaries, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Wednesday.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – The Association of Indonesian Energy, Mineral, and Coal Suppliers (Aspebindo) sees an opportunity to diversify its export market after demands from major consumer countries like China and India are slowing down.

The Civil Society Coalition Against Impunity condemns the awarding of a four-star honorary general rank on Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Retail sales in July are projected to grow after nine months of sluggish performance, driven by increased commerce in certain goods.

Jakarta – On paper, streaming services the likes of Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube music solve a lot of problems, especially for music fans. For the first time in the history of humanity, every recorded piece of music is available in a handheld device that consumers can carry in their pockets and can be played with just a click of the button.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) stated on Monday that preliminary findings from a corruption probe into the allocation of additional Hajj quotas in 2024 indicate more than Rp 1 trillion ($64 million) in state losses.

Hanoi – Viet Nam and Indonesia are targeting two-way trade of US$18 billion by 2028, zeroing in on food industry ties and food security, heard the Indonesia-Viet Nam food security cooperation forum hosted by the Indonesian Consulate General and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Ho Chi Minh City branch (VCCI-HCM) on Monday.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi – Joao Angelo De Sousa Mota has decided to resign from his position as CEO of PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara. In his announcement of resignation, Joao mentioned the invasion of large-scale rice mills to small farmers in Indonesia, who are only treated as mere laborers.

Sapto Yunus – The phenomenon of raising flags from the Japanese manga and anime series One Piece ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia has been occurring in various regions. Instead of the Indonesian national flag, some people have been erecting the Jolly Roger pirate flag from the anime series on their houses and vehicles.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesia's coach building industry is sounding the alarm over a surge of completely built-up (CBU) truck imports from China, warning that the influx is eroding opportunities for domestic manufacturers and sole brand agents.

Julianus Palermo, Surabaya – East Java has introduced new restrictions on the use of high-powered "sound horeg" systems, a form of mobile street entertainment often criticized for blasting music at ear-splitting volumes late into the night.

Igor Oneill, Jakarta – Greenpeace Indonesia has launched a photo book Paradise Silenced at KALA in Kalijaga, South Jakarta. Following International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, the launch provided a joyful space for Indigenous Papuan representatives and the wider public to discuss the past, present, and future of West Papua (or 'Tanah Papua' as it is also known).

Gatra Priyandita – 17 August 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of Indonesia's independence. Surrounding the commemorations are various discourses on whether Indonesia was colonised by the Netherlands for 350 years, or less than that. Regardless of the answer, traces of colonialism prevail.