An unapologetically racist community tax policy in Surabaya, East Java is triggering outrage in Indonesia due to its disturbingly discriminatory nature.

Neil Ford – In August, Timor-Leste – formerly known as East Timor – celebrated the 20th anniversary of the referendum that paved the way to independence from Indonesia, yet its economic future looks very uncertain.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – "Panembahan Reso," a classic play that tells the story of a bloody power struggle and a barely disguised critique of New Order politics, written by the late, great Indonesian playwright and poet W.S. Rendra, will grace the stage again after an absence of 34 years at the Ciputra Artpreneur in South Jakarta this weekend.

Diana Mariska, Jakarta – The government says it is trying to find a way to bring home 660 Indonesian foreign terrorist fighters now stranded in several overseas countries including Syria, Afghanistan and Turkey.

Jakarta – The House of Representatives' Commission XI, which oversees financial affairs, has announced the establishment of a working committee to monitor the financial services industry following a string of allegations implicating major companies.

Jakarta – A supposed draft of the omnibus bill on job creation circulating in the media is fake, the government has said, adding that it has yet to submit a final document to the House of Representatives.

Rizki Fachriansyah, Jakarta – A comic strip posted on President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's Twitter account that conveys the message of looking past appearances and instead judging people by their actions has been met with a less-than-favorable reception on social media, with many users pointing out the comic's inherent irony in regard to the various instances of discrimination still pl

Jakarta – Two of the six Papuan activists standing trial on charges of treason wore koteka (traditional Papuan dress) to a hearing on Monday at the Central Jakarta District Court, despite the judges' ban last week.

Jakarta – Labor unions voiced their persistence in rejecting the government's omnibus bill on job creation as they staged another protest in front of the House of Representatives building complex in Jakarta on Monday.

Two Papuan activists on trial for treason in Indonesia's capital decried what they described as 'racism' after the court on Monday ordered them to remove traditional penis gourds.

The Jakarta hearing descended into a standoff as the panel refused to proceed until the men put on pants – the second time their native garb led to delays in the trial of six activists.

We've written about heartwarming stories involving app-based motorcycle taxi drivers (locally known as ojek online or ojol for short) before, but a recent viral thread on an elderly driver is making us tear up a little as it restored our faith in humanity.

Indonesia's most infamous alleged fraudster at the moment has owned up to his delusions as his imaginary kingdom crumbles as quickly as it ascended to its imaginary heights.

A man in Bekasi, West Java became the latest sexual assault suspect for allegedly groping the breast of an unsuspecting pedestrian, joining an extensive list of other sexual predators with the same modus operandi in Indonesia.

Jakarta – The public prosecutor says that the lawyers representing six Papua activists indicted on charges of treason and criminal conspiracy do not understand legal classifications after they questioned the failure to include Article 87 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) in the indictment.

[Special report by Arnold Belau, Ligia Giay, Febriana Firdaus and Belinda Lopez of the Voice of Papua newsletter.]

Everything about what happened in the Papuan provincial regency of Nduga just over a year ago is still a blur and closed off. It remains an elephant in the room, just like another mass killing case in West Papua during the 1970s.

James Massola and Amilia Rosa, Jakarta – Bali bombing survivors say they are devastated by delays to the establishment of a memorial "peace park" after landowners in Bali moved to double the price and size of the plot of land on which an Australian-based charity wants to build.

Jakarta – The House of Representatives Commission IX overseeing health care and manpower will form a team with labor unions to discuss the upcoming omnibus bill on job creation, which has been rejected by workers over speculations it would undermine labor rights.

Norman Harsono, Jakarta – The provinces of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and North Sumatra have begun operating four renewable-energy power plants with a modest production capacity of 11.8 megawatts (MW) combined.

Made Anthony Iswara, Jakarta – Indonesia has set its eyes on multinational corporations attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, to attract investments, including tech behemoth Amazon and Singapore ride-hailing giant Grab.

Norman Harsono, Jakarta – A South Korean power producer is looking to finance a hydropower plant project in Central Java that would be the coal buyer's first renewable energy deal with Indonesia.

Jakarta – The lawyer representing Surya Anta Ginting and five other Papuan activists, Mike Himan, has confirmed that two of his clients will continue to wear traditional Papuan penis gourds (koteka) during a hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court today, Monday January 20.

Jakarta – When thousands of students took to Jakarta's streets last year to protest the passing of the new Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law, which they believed was designed to weaken the antigraft commission, the lawmakers – including Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Yasonna Laoly – said their work should be given the benefit of the doubt.

Michael Leach – In an extraordinary development, the government's revised budget for 2020 failed to pass Timor-Leste's parliament last Friday, despite the governing alliance having an outright majority.

Karlis Salna and Arys Aditya – Indonesian labor unions threatened to step up protests and strike against a government plan to press ahead with a reform package that includes a controversial overhaul of the nation's job law.

Agustinus Beo Da Costa, Maikel Jefriando, Jakarta – Several thousand Indonesian workers held a rally on Monday outside parliament to protest against planned changes to labor laws as part of government reforms aimed at creating jobs and boosting investment in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

Jakarta – A footbridge on Indonesia's Sumatra island broke while it was packed with people and several fell into the overflowing river below and drowned, officials said on Monday.

Seven bodies have been pulled from the water as far as 12 kilometres from the bridge that broke Sunday afternoon in Kaur district of Bengkulu province.

After having failed to meet two police summons for a witness statement last week, Siwi Widi Purwanti, an air hostess who has been accused by a whistleblower of being a key figure in an alleged prostitution scandal within flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, finally showed up at the Jakarta Metro Police today.

M Yusuf Manurung, Jakarta – Six Papua activists who are defendants in a treason case performed the song "Hindang Makendang" before the hearing began at the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday January 20. The song was sung to the accompaniment of a guitar.

M Yusuf Manurung, Jakarta – The public prosecutor handling the treason case against six Papua activists has rejected all of the arguments of the demurrer presented by the lawyers representing the six.

Not just rejected the demurrer's arguments, the prosecutor also explained the aim of the treason charges to the panel of judges.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – For the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, to come to fruition, a collaborative effort involving the private and public sectors is necessary, according to the National Development Planning Board, or Bappenas.

Karina M. Tehusijarana, Jakarta – A three-judge panel at the Jakarta Corruption Court has sentenced former United Development Party (PPP) chairman Muhammad "Romy" Romahurmuziy to two years' imprisonment for accepting bribes in relation to promotions in the Religious Affairs Ministry.

Benny Mawel, 300,000 – Four tribes in Keerom regency, Papua, have handed over 10 hectares of land to the Indonesian Military (TNI), paving the way for the construction of a new headquarters for the area's military command post (Korem).

Aside from receiving financial compensation, the tribes also asked the military to prioritize their children in enlistment.

Jakarta – A female student in Anambas regency, Riau, has decided to drop out of vocational high school after allegedly being subjected to constant verbal abuse by her peers.

The student was reportedly called a lonte (prostitute) by a religious studies teacher in public, prompting her classmates to refer to her by the derogatory term on a regular basis.

Jakarta – Contrary to what the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Law and Human Rights Ministry have claimed about the whereabouts of politician Harun Masiku, CCTV footage taken from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport appears to show that the politician, who is embroiled in graft allegations, returned to Indonesia on Jan. 7.

Aryo Wisanggeni, Jayapura – The Advocate Team for Indigenous Papuans hopes the panel of judges would be objective and fair in examining the facts during the trial of a mass rampage on 29 August 2019. They said it is crucial acts to avoid perceptions that the Jayapura District Court is only an instrument of Indonesian colonialism against Papuans.

Lea Citra, Adi Ahdiat, Jakarta – The Labour Movement with the People (Gebrak) is urging the government to cancel plans to enact the Omnibus Law on Job Creation (Cilaka). Gebrak spokesperson Ilhamsyah says that the regulation will only benefit employers while harming workers' groups.

Sania Mashabi, Jakarta – Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta) Director Arif Maulana believes that the Omnibus Law will only benefit the oligarchy or the interests of the government which is being run by a handful of people from the elite. Because, he says, the regulation will largely sides with investors.

Andita Rahma, Jakarta – The presidential advisory board (Wantimpres), led by former Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto, paid a visit to Tempo headquarters on Monday to introduce the team's main tasks and functions.

Halida Bunga, Jakarta – Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin has pledged to solve the human rights violation cases of the Trisakti, Semanggi I, and Semanggi II tragedies. Burhanuddin made his promise in a joint meeting with the Indonesian House of Representatives' (DPR) Law Commission on Monday, January 20, 2020.

Marchio Irfan Gorbiano and Kharishar Kahfi, Jakarta – In an apparent move to consolidate power around him, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has teased the public with the idea that his former rival Sandiaga Uno would "very likely" succeed him in 2024.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Health Ministry had declared an anthrax outbreak status in Gunung Kidul District, Yogyakarta Province, made effective from Dec. 28, 2019 to Jan. 6, 2020, the ministry's top official stated on Friday.

Karlis Salna and Arys Aditya – Indonesian President Joko Widodo is facing a fresh wave of protests over a plan to overhaul the nation's labor law, testing his ability to push through tough economic reforms.

Nivell Rayda, Jakarta – Like other Chinese Indonesians, Mr Naga Kurniadi looks forward to spending time with his family this Chinese New Year, as well as participating in some of the customs and traditions associated with the celebrations.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia officially launches its first Esports Association on Saturday to nurture professional gamers and introduce regulations for a potential domestic league.

The newly-established board of executives is chaired by National Intelligence Agency head Budi Gunawan, who immediately expressed his goal to set up a world-class training center.

Muhammad Ridwa – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) regrets a statement by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo who said that Law Number 19/2019 on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has not weakened the fight against corruption.

Jakarta – The online petition website change.org recorded that petitions related to the democracy and anti-corruption movement were the most popular in 2019. Eight petitions on these two issues received some 2.3 million votes or signatures.

Jakarta – Flood controls in the capital city falls under long-term policies. Governor Anies Baswedan has become fixated on rhetoric.

John McCarthy – Every country has its legends. They may be important to national self-esteem, but they're not necessarily good history.

Twenty years after the ballot in which the East Timorese decided their future, it's time to reflect on Australia's East Timor legend.

Marchio Irfan Gorbiano, Jakarta – With his eldest son and son-in-law running in mayoral races this year, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has ensured the public that he will not be campaigning for them, citing his workload.

Caesar Akbar, Jakarta – The Law and Human Rights Minister, Yassona Laoly, together with the House of Representatives (DPR) legislation board collectively agreed on 50 bills to be included in the prioritized 2020 national legislation program (Prolegnas). One of which is the much anticipated anti-sexual violence bill simply known as the RUU PKS.