Jakarta – Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) Chairperson Prabowo Subianto acknowledges that the issue of human rights violations in 1998 always come up and is linked to him every time a presidential election is held.

According to Prabowo, this is quite legitimate. In a democratic country, he says, people have the freedom to elect their leader.

M Rosseno Aji, Jakarta – The Papua Police on Friday announced that the armed separatist group under Egianus Kagoya's leadership had asked for an Rp5 billion ransom for the release of New Zealand Pilot captain Philips Max Mehrtens who had been taken hostage for the past couple of months.

Chris Barrett, Jakarta – Blindsided by the AUKUS submarine deal two years ago, Joko Widodo has revealed how trust has been restored with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in charge, but the Indonesian president has called on Australia and its allies to deepen engagement with other nations on regional security to "include all parties, not exclude them".

David ALed Williams – Environmental groups are stressing the importance of the 2024 elections for the future of Indonesia's forests. The Madani Foundation recently expressed concerns about the fragility of the country's environmental performance, citing links between past deforestation and changes of government.

Jakarta – Under growing public pressure, the government has launched an investigation into allegations of blasphemy against Al-Zaytun's pesantren (Islamic boarding school), with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) claiming that the Islamic boarding school is teaching heresy.

Yohana Belinda, Jakarta – The International Monetary Fund has recommended that the Indonesian government phase out its policy of mineral export bans.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo earlier this week held a meeting with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, a front-runner in next year's presidential election, the third in less than month.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – New allegations of embezzlement at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have added to a slew of others at the institution, including bribe-taking and sexual assault, stoking concerns that the current incarnation of the antigraft body has lost the public's trust.

Jakarta – West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation (TPNPB-OPM) or KKB (armed criminal group) spokesperson Sebby Sambom claims that they have not asked for a ransom to be paid for the release Susi Air pilot Mark Mehrtens, who has been held hostage since February.

Kornelius Purba, Jakarta – In her victory speech after the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) won the June 1999 legislative election, Megawati Soekarnoputri vowed not to let Aceh, which had seen armed conflict between rebels and the government since 1976, suffer.

Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan has called for more concrete efforts to elevate the ties between Indonesia and the United States in a speech delivered at a US Independence Day celebration in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia on Friday gave the latest updates on Indonesia's proposal for a global nickel cartel, saying that it has had intense talks with some unnamed countries.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia boldly rejects the advice of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to abandon its industrial downstream policy and demands that the global financial institution cease interfering in the country's affairs.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Investment and Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia, has called upon global companies specializing in software certification and testing to establish battery testing facilities to support the development of the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem in Indonesia.

Josephine Parsons – Among the world-famous paddy fields and rainforests of Ubud, at a "welfare-certified conservation park", a baby elephant named Krishna poses for selfies with tourists. Only three years old, Krishna was born and raised at the park for this purpose – to be cute and photogenic. There is a rope around his neck to ensure he does a good job.

Jakarta – A fire at a nickel smelter in Central Sulawesi left one worker dead and injured six others, police said on Wednesday, the latest in a series of deadly incidents that have prompted concern over safety at the $2.7 billion facility.

Suherdjoko, Semarang – The Central Java Police have arrested a 57-year-old man in Banyumas for allegedly sexually abusing one of his daughters for years, leading to multiple pregnancies, and murdering the babies conceived as a result of the incest.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan claimed that the country managed to reduce plastic waste that flows into the sea by up to 27 percent.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia's marine economy has a lot of room to grow and the country could become a high-income country in the next few years, stated Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut B. Pandjaitan.

According to Pandjaitan, in 2045, the contribution of the marine sector to the national economy would rise by twofold and continue to grow.

Juli Hantoro, Jakarta – Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy responded to the polemic over the Al Zaytun Islamic boarding school in Indramayu, West Java.

According to him, Al Zaytun is like a commune which is not common as most Islamic boarding schools.

Stevani Wijaya, Jakarta – The Indonesian Police said on Wednesday they have arrested 642 suspects charged with human trafficking during a crackdown this month alone.

"As of today, we have uncovered 553 [human trafficking] cases involving as many as 642 suspects," said Brig. Gen. Djuhandhani Rahardjo Puro, the director of the general crime division with the National Police.

Jakarta – Former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan says that the current state of the KPK, which has been in the public spotlight over problems ranging from the leadership down to the staff level, was predictable back in 2019.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The trial of former communications and information minister Johnny G. Plate of the NasDem Party began on Tuesday, with prosecutors accusing him of pocketing some Rp 17.8 billion (US$1.18 million) in kickbacks from inflated procurement in a government 4G telephony project.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – The growing use of low-value plastics (LVPs) in Indonesia is posing a significant challenge for the recycling industry, as the material's near-zero value makes recycling it too expensive, according to plastic recycling start-up Tridi Oasis.

Fikri Harish, Jakarta – Two presumptive presidential candidates Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan have bumped into each other while on a lunch break during the haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

Jakarta – A fire at a nickel smelter in Indonesia left one worker dead and injured six others, police said on Wednesday, the latest in a series of deadly incidents that have prompted concern over safety at the $2.7 billion facility.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi' Widodo on Tuesday launched a nationwide non-judicial settlement of 12 gross human rights violations in Rumoh Geudong in Pidie, Aceh, where over 100 people were allegedly tortured and killed by security forces more than two decades ago during operations to quell a rebellion in the province.

Angeline Tan – Indonesia's president vowed on Tuesday to "heal" the pain caused by serious human rights violations by compensating those who suffered during the country's dictatorship years.

Antara, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has offered to restore citizenship to two persons who have been forced to live in exile since the 30 September Movement, which was marked by political upheaval and mass killings.

Antara, Jakarta – The National Food Agency (Bapanas), Jakarta regional-owned meat industry company Dharma Jaya, and the Jakarta provincial Food Security, Maritime Affairs, and Fisheries (KPKP) Office will hold cheap chicken market operations ahead of Eid al-Adha.

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia has reminded the government not to forget its commitment to resolve cases of gross human rights violations in Indonesia through judicial mechanisms.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The government has announced plans to launch a National Health Survey (SKI) in August, an opportunity to measure the state of the nation's health and nutrition, as well as the risk factors plaguing millions of Indonesians.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – Rescuers have recovered the remains of six people from the site of a SAM Air plane crash in Yalimo regency, Papua Highlands, as authorities focus their efforts on identifying the victims.

Fadli, Batam – The Maritime and Security Agency (Bakamla) launched on Monday the fourth domestically built high-speed patrol vessel, claiming it to be the fastest patrol boat in the country, in Tanjung Uncang waters in Batam, Riau Islands.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The International Partners Group – a coalition of rich nations – should provide grants worth about $1.5 billion in the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) climate finance package, according to think tank IESR.

Investor Daily, Jakarta – Indonesians across the archipelago are enjoying a long holiday for Eid al-Adha, but the extended weekend has sparked concerns in the manufacturing industry.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – The Indonesian Forum for the Environment or Walhi commented on the government's plan of bleaching or pardoning 3.3 million hectares of oil palm land in forest areas through articles 110 A and 110 B of the Job Creation Law, as stated by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan last week.

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) working division head Tioria Pretty is urging President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to settle cases of gross human rights violations through a judicial mechanism.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said his administration was sincere about its efforts to solve gross human rights violations of the past, adding that the goodwill measure would be appreciated by victims of past atrocities.

M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo appointed 12 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia at Central Jakarta's State Palace. The new ambassadors who took the oath will then be designated to various countries based on the President's Decree No. 51P and 55P/2023.

Dian Erika Nugraheny, Jakarta – A victim of the Kertas Kraft Aceh pulp and paper mill in Aceh massacre, known as Simpang KKA, Samsul Bahri, said he hopes that the government will continue to pursue legal or judicial means to settle the 12 cases of past gross human rights violations acknowledged by the state.

Jakarta – The World Bank said on Tuesday it had approved a $1.14 billion project to expand access to cleaner electricity in Indonesia, for which it will provide $500 million in financial support, and $600 million toward a project to improve childhood nutrition.

Semarang – Victims and the families of victims of gross human rights violations during the 1965 tragedy and the mysterious shootings (Petrus) in 1982-1985 in Central Java are urging the government to straighten out the history of the two incidents.

Sugapa, Jubi – The Bishop of Jayapura, Msgr. Yanuarius Theofilus Maatopai You, believes that the conflict in Intan Jaya Regency can be resolved through negotiations.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – There's been renewed scrutiny of the infrastructure being built for Indonesia's new capital city on the island of Borneo following the sighting of a critically endangered orangutan crossing the site of a planned toll road.

Jakarta – Indonesia, home to a third of the world's rainforests, has seen its annual deforestation drop by 8.4 percent, the Environment and Forestry ministry said on Monday, attributing the fall to better control of fires and stricter permitting for tree clearance.

Aditya Hadi, Jakarta – The World Bank expects Indonesia's economy to slow down this year as foreign direct investment (FDI) plays a smaller role in the country's gross domestic product (GDP) than it did before the pandemic."The FDI in dollar and rupiah has been stable. It's not picked up or declined. But as a share of the economy, it has declined compared with before the pandemic.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Lower world commodity prices will impact state revenue this year, the Finance Ministry has said, as the sector accounts for a significant portion of the government's tax and nontax income.

Ima Dini Shafira, Jakarta – Presidential nominees Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo met in Mecca while performing the Hajj pilgrimage. The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman Al Muzammil Yusuf said the meeting presented a good message for the 2024 presidential election.

M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is set to launch a program of non-judicial settlement of past gross human rights violations cases in Rumoh Geudong, Pidie Regency, Aceh Province, today, June 27.