Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Ombudsman member Johanes Widijantoro stated that the government is applying pressure against the residents of Rempang, Batam, to agree with relocation in order to develop Rempang Eco-City.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the green economy is one of the government's efforts to slow down the climate crisis.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – A defendant in a major corruption trial related to the fraudulent procurement of telecommunication infrastructure implicated Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo during a hearing on Wednesday.

Stevani Wijaya, Jakarta – The Indonesian Police have issued a new directive regarding the hairstyle of female officers, which prohibits them from altering the natural color of their hair and wearing colorful head accessories.

Antara, Jakarta – The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued an early warning of land and forest fires in a number of Indonesian regions today, September 27, 2023, amid low rainfall and rising air temperatures.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi said his youngest son Kaesang Pangarep had asked for his blessing to become the chairman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI).

"I support him," he said after opening the National Jamboree of Dai Madani Parmusi Village in Cianjur on Tuesday, September 26, 2023.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – The government will keep a watchful eye on crude oil prices, which are expected to surge by the end of this year. The Finance Ministry says it is prepared to carry out stress testing if needed to anticipate any impact on the state budget, particularly energy subsidies.

We demand the removal of Cuba from the United States (US) Administration's list of countries supporting terrorism, along with the unconditional lifting of the debilitating blockade, an action met with unanimous opposition from the international community.

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – Wildfires have engulfed several more national parks as a prolonged dry season triggered by the climate phenomenon El Nino continues to sweep the southern part of the country.

Yohana Belinda, Jakarta – Coal-fired power plants will not be mandated to participate in the newly launched carbon exchange, which the government has formed as a way for the country to expedite emission cuts, despite the energy sector being one of the country's major emissions sources.

Jakarta – A proposal to introduce mass clemency for convicted drug users and to revise the Narcotics Law as part of the country's judicial reforms has been presented by a government-sanctioned but independent team to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Jakarta – Less than a year after it was announced, a $20 billion bet to wean Indonesia off coal is mired in controversies over financing and the construction of new plants to power industry.

The Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) for Indonesia was unveiled last November, as the country hosted the G20 summit in Bali.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Indonesia Art Movement, in collaboration with the Monj Hen Wani Community and with support from various institutions, local communities, and art and environmental advocates in Papua, organized the Arumbay Tonotwiyat, also known as the Women's Forest People's Party.

Jayapura, Jubi – Upon his release, Papuan rights activist convicted of treason Viktor Yeimo was warmly received by a multitude of Papuan people on the Cultural Stage of Expo Waena in Jayapura City. Thousands of Papuans came together to welcome Viktor Yeimo on Saturday, September 23, 2023.

Jayapura, Jubi – In a celebration marking his release from Abepura Penitentiary in Jayapura City on Saturday, September 23, 2023, Viktor Yeimo, the International Spokesperson of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) convicted of treason, urged the Papuan people to persist in their battle against racism and discrimination.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Experts have slammed a court ruling that significantly slashes the fines imposed on Indonesian palm oil billionaire Surya Darmadi, even as it increased his jail sentence, in the biggest corruption case in the country's history.

Jakarta – Indonesia has banned e-commerce transactions on social media platforms, the trade minister said on Wednesday (Sep 27), in a move intended to protect traditional retail and which will mostly impact short video platform TikTok and its shopping platform.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – The Nusantara Capital City or IKN Authority head Bambang Susantono said a lot of innovations will be implemented in Indonesia's new capital by 2045, such as flying taxis.

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)PO Box 28, Spit Junction,NSW 2088

Senator the Hon Penny Wong
PO Box 6100
Senate
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

27 September 2023

Dear Foreign Minister,

Marni Cordell – The body of 17-year-old Wity Unue was brought back by the Indonesian military in a box, witnesses say. When soldiers couldn't find his family, they burned the cardboard coffin, with his body inside, in a clearing at the end of a road in the remote highlands of West Papua.

Alamsyah M. Djafar and A'an Suryana – After waiting for 16 years, a church congregation in Bogor City, West Java Province, finally found a new home at which to practise their faith: a new church building located just a kilometre away from where their previous church stood.

Agnes Anya, Jakarta – As clothing seller Hendri Tanjung struggles to hawk his tunics to buyers outside his market shop, he says customers are turning to cheaper versions on TikTok, pummelling his income.

The 35-year-old sells his wares at Tanah Abang, Southeast Asia's largest textile market, where sellers are desperately calling out to passersby.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia canceled plans to relocate the people of Rempang Island, Batam, to Galang Island. He said this was in line with the people's aspirations.

Jakarta – Indonesia launched its first carbon exchange on Tuesday, giving companies a chance to offset their emissions as Jakarta pledges to reach carbon neutrality in its power sector by 2050.

Jakarta – It is relatively easy to find news about fires in Indonesia during the dry season, especially now that the El Nino weather phenomenon has caused a long drought in recent months. But unlike previous years, we have seen an increase in landfill fires this year.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – Activists and members of humanitarian organizations pointed out government shortcomings in tackling human trafficking during a seminar on Friday night, saying that more needs to be done.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The General Elections Commission (KPU) has given an assurance that it would still have enough time to prepare for the 2024 regional elections should they be fast-tracked by two months.

The idea of bringing forward the elections by two months first came from the government but has yet to win unanimous support from lawmakers.

Mita Amalia Hapsari & Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Kaesang Pangarep officially joined the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) on Saturday and, just two days later, he was appointed chairman in what is arguably the biggest leap an Indonesian politician could ever achieve

Mohammad Said & Nasori, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is imposing a minimum price of $100 for transactions involving imported goods on online marketplaces under a regulation aimed at safeguarding the interests of local micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, a senior official said on Monday.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo through Presidential Decree No. 24 of 2023 established a National Exports Task Force in response to global economic and geopolitical dynamics affecting national exports and the need to improve performance and strengthen the trade balance.

Riri Rahayu, Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – E-commerce observer and former chairperson of the Indonesia E-commerce Association (idEA), Ignatius Untung, disagreed with the government's decision to ban online sales through social media platforms or social commerce such as TikTok Shop, albeit it is aimed at protecting local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has adopted a fresh approach in addressing the longstanding West Papuan issue, as confirmed by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare upon his return from the UNGA in New York last week.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said Tuesday that people should refrain from fighting one another despite rooting for different presidential candidates as Indonesia gets closer to the 2024 election.

BeritaSatu, Banjarnegara – Prosecutors on Tuesday formally indicted a man for the alleged murder of at least 12 individuals through poisoned drinks in the Central Java regency of Banjarnegara. This case follows investigations that began in April.

Nusa Dua, Indonesia – Western countries are not ready to fund the early retirement of Indonesian coal-fired power plants under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), a government official said on Monday, a major setback to expedite a reduction in emissions.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) has found that national strategic projects (PSN) and the management of natural resources (SDA) under the administration of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has crfeated injustice and oppression for the ordinary people.

Jakarta – Scores of protesters from the Labour Party and the Indonesian Farmers Union (SPI) held a demonstration in front of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) building in South Jakarta on Monday September 25.

The action, which was held to commemorate National Farmers Day, was also held at the Arjuna Wiwaha or Horse Statue Monument in Central Jakarta.

Nur Khasanah Apriliani, Jakarta – Zenzi Suhadi, the executive director of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), disclosed the fact that the national strategic project (PSN) on Rempang Island lacked an environmental impact analysis (Amdal) or strategic environmental assessment (KLHS) that should have been conducted before the deal between PT MEG and Xinyi Group was sealed

Moh. Khory Alfarizi, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati visited the new capital city, Nusantara on September 21 and 22 to accompany President Joko Widodo following an invitation from Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – Two Islam-based parties could not be more different than the National Mandate Party (PKB) and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), yet they have joined hands in nominating former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan as their presidential candidate for next year's election.

Jakarta – TikTok has come under the spotlight yet again. Top government officials have accused the video hosting platform of predatory pricing and monopolistic practices that have inflicted losses to many brick-and-mortar shops in Jakarta's major textile hub Tanah Abang, as well as to micro, small and medium enterprises across the country.

Nur Janti, Jakarta – Law enforcement institutions, especially the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Attorney General's Office (AGO), have recently launched investigations into graft cases dating back years, raising speculation that such moves are politically driven ahead of the 2024 elections.

Yohana Belinda, Jakarta – Siti was a flight attendant for five years with privately owned airline before eventually settling down to open a clothing store along with her husband in Tangerang, Banten, serving both offline and online customers.

Yvette Tanamal and A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil, Jakarta – As wealthy nations were held to their unfulfilled promises during a dialogue on Wednesday at the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Indonesian delegates reiterated their support for reforming the international financial architecture, describing the current system as long outdated and unsuitable.

BeritaSatu, Jakarta – Colossal music festival Semesta Berpesta over the weekend made a stop in Surabaya, the capital city of East Java.

Han Revanda Putra, Jakarta – Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani has spoken up about the polemic regarding the revision of the General Election Commission Regulation or PKPU No. 10 of 2023 on the minimum quota of 30 percent for female legislative candidates. She stressed that the minimum quota for women's representation in parliament is 30 percent.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Observers are calling for greater public participation and transparency in a $20 billion effort by Indonesia to move away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy, following the government's failure to publish the plan for the phased transition in time.

Chairul Fikri, Jakarta – An Indonesian minister on Monday delivered a strong rebuke to tech giant TikTok for continuing to host live shopping on its platform, saying the video-sharing app will be shown the door if it doesn't follow the rules.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – Kaesang Pangarep, the youngest son of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, was unanimously appointed as the chairman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) during an internal congress in Jakarta on Monday evening.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia ensured President Jokowi's administration would proceed with the development in Batam despite alleged human rights violations and rejection from locals. "[Rempang Eco-City development] will be resumed, there is no cancellation," he said when met after a meeting today, September 25, 2023.