We the undersigned organizations are concerned by the recent response from the Government of Indonesia to an October 2024 letter sent by the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food and eight other UN Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups regarding environmental and human rights violations by Indonesian palm oil company Astra Agro Lestari (AAL).[1]

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – A commissioner of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has proposed extreme measures against corruption convicts, including isolating them on a remote island without state-provided food supplies.

Johanis Tanak, a senior KPK official, also suggested imposing a minimum prison sentence of 10 years for those convicted of graft.

Jakarta – The recent developments surrounding the extradition order for fugitive businessman Paulus Tannos have cast a spotlight on the efficacy of the Indonesia-Singapore Extradition Treaty.

Tannos, implicated in a massive graft scandal involving Indonesia's electronic identification (e-ID) card project, is currently contesting his extradition from Singapore.

Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Robertus Belarminus, Jakarta – A number of national figures who are members of a civil society organisation called the National Conscious Movement (Gerakan Nurani Bangsa) have criticised the planned revisions to the law on the Indonesian Military (UU TNI) which now only needs to be ratified in a plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR).

Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) and the government have continued discussions on revisions to Law Number 34/2004 on the Indonesian Military (UU TNI) in the midst of public criticism.

Yolanda Agne, Jakarta – On March 14, 2025, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) announced its official management team for the 2024-2029 term, revealing that Hashim Djojohadikusumo, the brother of President Prabowo Subianto, along with his two children, Aryo Djojohadikusumo and Rahayu Saraswati Djojohadikusumo, have been appointed to strategic positions.

Jakarta – The Supreme Court is grappling with a significant shortage of judges, with nearly 2,000 more needed across high courts and district courts, the Supreme Court's General Judiciary Institution (Badilum) director general Bambang Myanto said on Thursday.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – The Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) scrutinized the budget used by the House of Representatives (DPR) to debate the amendment on the Law concerning the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI Law) at the Fairmont Hotel, Jakarta.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The Norwegian government is monitoring growing concerns over Indonesia's decision to appoint political figures with little climate expertise to oversee a climate forestry program largely financed by Norway.

Jakarta – Civil society organizations strongly reject the proposed amendments to Law No. 34/2004 on the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI Law), which pose a serious threat to democracy, civilian supremacy over the military, and human rights in Indonesia.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The coalition of lecturers who are members of several civil society organizations claim not to be surprised that the revision of the TNI Law, currently being discussed by the DPR and the Indonesian government, will soon be passed. The revision of this law has garnered public criticism.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The Institute for Economic and Social Research of the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia (LPEM FEB UI) has released a survey report on the effectiveness of President Prabowo Subianto's economic policies during the first 100 days.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia had been enjoying a positive trade balance for 58 consecutive months, but the monthly surplus had weakened in February, official data showed on Monday.

Jakarta – At least two people were killed and more than a dozen others injured following a violent clash between two youth groups in Southeast Maluku early Sunday morning.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – House Speaker Puan Maharani defended the revision of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Law, asserting that the amendments have followed proper legislative mechanisms and do not reintroduce the controversial dual-function role of the military.

Salman Mardira, Jakarta – Businesses across Indonesia continue to face intimidation and extortion by criminal groups posing as civic organizations, discouraging investors and disrupting industries, business leaders say.

Alfi Dinilhaq, Gresik – President Prabowo Subianto on Monday inaugurated a state-of-the-art precious metal refinery operated by mining giant Freeport Indonesia in Gresik, East Java. With an annual production capacity of up to 50 tons of fine gold, Prabowo declared the facility to be the largest of its kind in the world.

Vinnilya, Jakarta – Indonesia's tax revenue fell by 30 percent in February 2025, indicating a broader economic slowdown, according to the Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Shopping Center Management Association (APPBI).

Mei Leandha, Medan – The prosecutors in the case of the murder of journalist Rico Sempurna Pasaribu and his family are seeking the death penalty for the alleged killers, namely Bebas Ginting alias Bulang, Yunus Tarigan and Rudi Sembiring. They were found to have violated Article 340 of the Criminal Code concerning premeditated murder.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The House Defense Commission claims the three articles being discussed during the revision of the Law concerning the Indonesian Armed Forces or TNI Law, namely Articles 3, 47, and 53. Deputy Speaker of DPR Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said there are additional civilian posts that can be taken by active soldiers under Article 47.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad suggested the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) report the alleged intimidation experienced by several of its members after disrupting a closed parliament meeting discussing the revision of Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) Law.

Najla Nur Fauziyah, Jakarta – Civil society groups have rejected the government's push for the amendment of the Law on Indonesian Armed Forces, or TNI Law, citing its rushed process and flawed implementation. The groups include the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Amensty International Indonesia, and the Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI).

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Central Coordinator of the Executive Board of the All-Indonesia Student Executive Bodies or BEM SI, Herianto, has urged students and the public to strongly reject the plan to reintroduce the dual function of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) through the revision of the TNI Law.

Jakarta – The Institute for Economic and Social Research at the University of Indonesia Faculty of Economics and Business (LPEM FEB UI) released its Economic Experts Survey on Monday March 17.

Vinnilya, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has announced the government's ambitious plans to boost industrial and investment sectors, with nearly 30 strategic projects set to launch this year.

Chairman of House of Representatives Commission I overseeing defense and security Utut Adianto claimed on Monday that the planned revision of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Law would in fact further limit the role of the military in civilian affairs.

Stania Puspawardhani, Jakarta – Five months after stepping down as Indonesia's president, Mr Joko Widodo has been kept busy by the queue of people keen to meet him at his house in Solo in Central Java, seeking his advice, bringing petitions or just to thank him for his contributions to the country.

President Prabowo Subianto's goal of establishing between 70,000 and 80,000 new cooperatives using loans from state-run lenders is problematic and could pose a serious financial risk.

Maulani Mulianingsih, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition has launched a petition "Reject the Return of Dwi-Fungsi through Revisions to the TNI Law" in which it expressed its opposition to revisions to the Indonesian Military Law (UU TNI) that will allow active military officers to occupy civilian positions and will weaken the fight against militarism.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Meta has been approving advertisements posing as news articles of legitimate local and international media outlets, which cybersecurity experts say could lead to cybercrime.

Jakarta – The groundbreaking of the Indonesian Women and Children's Hospital in the Gaza Strip is scheduled to take place sometime next month, Foreign Ministry officials and Palestinian civil society groups announced in a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.

More than 30 organizations are ready to support the Rp 402 billion (US$24.6 million) project, they said.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The Indonesian government and private sector owed foreign creditors $427.5 billion as of the end of January, up from $424.8 billion in the previous month, Bank Indonesia announced on Monday.

The latest foreign debt figures increased 5.1 percent compared to the same month last year.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – World's largest palm oil producer Indonesia announced Monday that exports of its top agricultural commodity had witnessed a double-digit increase in February.

Indonesia, West Papua – The Pacific state of Vanuatu, in cooperation with the Federated State of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, and Samoa, delivered a joint statement on the situation of human rights defenders in West Papua during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders on 6 March 2025 at the 18th Meeting of the 58th Session of the Hu

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – The Trade Ministry has imposed sanctions on 66 businesses for various violations related to the sale and distribution of Minyakita, the government-subsidized cooking oil, Trade Minister Budi Santoso announced on Monday.

Associated Press, Budong-Budong, West Sulawesi – Nearly seven months after a crocodile attack almost took her life, Munirpa walked to the estuary outside her home with her husband and her children, ready to brave a reenactment.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto landed at Juanda International Airport, Sidoarjo, East Java, on Monday, March 17, 2025, at 12:40 PM WIB (Western Indonesia Time). His visit includes inaugurating an integrated precious metal refinery (PMR).

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – Palace through State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi relayed President Prabowo Subianto's position on the public debate surrounding the TNI bill revisions. He emphasized that while democracy is encouraged, it should be exercised within reasonable limits.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The Institute for Economic and Social Research, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia (LPEM FEB UI) surveyed economists to assess the first 100 days of Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka's administration.

Novianti Setuningsih, Jakarta – Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya Saputra has revealed that as of Sunday afternoon, March 16, the Kontras office located on Jalan Kramat II in Kwitang, Central Jakarta is still being monitored by unknown people (OTK).

The government submitted a problem inventory list (DIM) on the revisions to the Indonesian Military Law (UU TNI) to the House of Representatives (DPR) on March 11. There are articles in the revisions that will restore militarism (the TNI's dwi-fungsi or dual function) in Indonesia.

Antara, Jakarta – Eight individuals arrested during recent raids in Ogan Komering Ulu Regency, South Sumatra, arrived at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in Jakarta for questioning on Sunday morning.

The detainees include three members of the local legislative council, four officials from the regency's Public Works Department, and a businessman.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The executives of KontraS reported that their office on Jalan Kramat II, Kwitang, Central Jakarta, was terrorized by three unknown individuals in the early hours of Sunday, around 00:16 WIB (Western Indonesian Time).

Irfan Kamil, Robertus Belarminus, Jakarta – Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Chairperson Muhammad Isnur says that a police report on an alleged commotion during a House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I Working Committee (Panja) meeting discussing the Draft Law on the Indonesian Military Law (RUU TNI) on Saturday March 15 is wrong.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The decision to hold closed-door discussions on amendments to the military law at a luxury hotel in Jakarta has further fueled controversy amid public concerns about expanding military influence over civilian positions.

Tenggara Strategics – Nearly three weeks have passed since the much-anticipated launch of Danantara, Indonesia's latest and most ambitious investment entity, on Feb. 24, 2025.

We Indonesians hear the national anthem "Indonesia Raya" (Great Indonesia) a lot as we go about our days.

At schools, it is routinely sung – typically on Monday mornings during a regular flag-raising ceremony.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Economist Awalil Rizky from Bright Institute assessed that the Finance Ministry is refusing to acknowledge the weakening dynamics of the national economy, as evidenced by declining tax revenue.

The National Police has named Adj. Sr. Comr. Fajar Widyadharma Lukman, former chief of Ngada Police in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), a suspect in the alleged sexual abuse of minors and of drugs misuse.

The suspect status was announced on Thursday following an investigation by the police's internal affairs division.

Jakarta – For 64 years, USAID has played a role in Indonesia. According to its official website, the agency was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 as a central aid body responsible for managing donor funds to other countries, particularly those related to social and economic development.