Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) research and mobilisation division head Rozy Brilian says that the Indonesian government always refuses to hold a dialogue with Papuan armed criminal groups (KKB).

Aisyah Llewellyn, Medan, Indonesia – Indonesia has a new serial killer in the form of Slamet Tohari, a 45-year-old self-professed shaman who used to hawk his wares on Facebook, promising the local populace that he could double, triple, and even quadruple their money by casting a few spells and chanting some mantras.

Suherdjoko, Batang, Central Java – Central Java Police have arrested a 58-year-old principal at a pesantren (Islamic boarding school) in Bandar district, Batang regency, Central Java, on allegations that he had sexually abused at least 15 female students.

Fadli, Batam – The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Batam, Riau Islands, has warned local residents to be aware of fire risk as temperatures pass 33 degrees Celsius in the city.

Jayapura, Jubi – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) noted that throughout 2022, there were at least 46 cases of violence in Papua. Komnas HAM continues to encourage various efforts to resolve violence in Papua, including through peaceful dialogue.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – The General Elections Commission (KPU) has remained optimistic that it will not suffer another defeat against a fresh civil lawsuit filed by the Berkarya Party following the election organizer's win in the higher court that overturned a controversial ruling to delay the 2024 general election.

A senior bishop in predominantly Catholic Timor-Leste has appealed to political leaders to promote healthy politics and maintain stability ahead of campaigning for a general election next month.

Voters in one of the youngest countries in the world will be heading to the polls on May 21 for the country's fifth parliamentary election since 2002.

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has practically been declared irrelevant since the legislative body curtailed its powers and what appeared to be an elaborate attempt by its current leadership to purge the commission of some of its best investigators.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Association of Moni Students (IPMMO) in Java-Bali assesses that the armed conflict in Intan Jaya Regency is increasingly heating up with the ongoing sweeping carried out by security forces.

This resulted in people in several villages such as Munumai, Matalipa, Mbamogo, and Dangoa to flee.

Jakarta – Retailers reported a jump in sales last month as consumers apparently entered a spending mood before and during Ramadan.

A Bank Indonesia (BI) report based on preliminary data and released on Wednesday showed that its retail sales index jumped 7 percent in March, more than making up for the 3.4 percent month-to-month (mtm) drop in February.

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – The government has once again delayed the implementation of the long-awaited excise tax on sweetened beverages, raising questions over its commitment to improving post-coronavirus pandemic public health.

Vincent Fabian Thomas, Jakarta – The International Monetary Fund has revised up its outlook on Indonesia's economic growth despite the fund projecting much lower figures for the global economy amid prolonged economic uncertainty and geopolitical strains.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The month of Ramadan is a time when millions of Indonesian Muslims give back to the community by organizing charity events or giving alms to those in need.

Fana Suparman, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, announced on Thursday that it has named 10 suspects in the ongoing corruption investigation at the railway directorate, following the arrest of 25 people during coordinated operations in four cities earlier this week.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – A whopping 81 million Indonesian millennials still do not have their own house, according to government statistics.

Tika Ayu, Jakarta – Indonesia Audit Watch (IAW) submitted a report to Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud Md regarding alleged tax evasion by a mining company that allegedly involved the gratification case of former taxman Rafael Alun Trisambodo.

Antara, Jakarta – The turnover of clothing traders at Tanah Abang Market, Central Jakarta, is skyrocketing during Ramadan, particularly ahead of Eid al-Fitr. A seller of men's clothing, Al, said his sales turnover before the fasting month was Rp2 million per day, and now he could earn up to Rp12 million per day.

Fajar Pebrianto, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo rebutted issues of shortage in government-branded cooking oil Minyakita in traditional markets. According to him, there are many stocks available.

"I checked yesterday that [the commodity] is available at many markets," the President said after visiting Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta, Thursday, April 13.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Two suspected terrorists were killed in a shootout with the National Police's counterterrorism unit Densus 88 in Lampung. "There were six terrorists, and two died," said Densus 88 spokesman Commissioner Aswin Siregar to Tempo on Thursday, April 13.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – The Labor Party together with the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) has pushed PT Agel Langgeng – a subsidiary of instant coffee brand Kapal Api Global – to pay out the rights of its employees who were abruptly and arbitrarily laid off.

Niniek Karmini, Jakarta – Indonesia's counterterrorism police squad fatally shot two men suspected of ties to Jemaah Islamiyah, an al-Qaida-linked group blamed for a string of past bombings, police said Thursday.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – Cilegon received the lowest score of any of the Indonesian cities studied in the 2022 Tolerant Cities Index Report by the SETARA Institute, ranking 94th, with Depok and Padang just above at 93rd and 92nd, respectively.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – High-ranking members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) have refuted reports that party matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri has made up her mind to give the party's 2024 presidential nomination to Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo.

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has released its 2022 annual report which notes that democracy in the era of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has suffered a regression.

This was one of the findings in Komnas HAM's 2022 Annual Report that was released on Wednesday April 12.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) politician Sandiaga Uno didn't deny reports of his planned move to the United Development Party (PPP) which has resurfaced lately, but he said on Thursday he needs time until the end of Ramadan to make up his mind.

Titis Anis Fauziyah, Semarang – Hundreds of students taking part in a protest action against the Job Creation Law (Cipta Kerja) broke down two gates at the Central Java governor's office in the provincial capital of Semarang on Thursday April 13.

Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) believes that the implementation of the Sexual Violence Crimes Law (TPKS) is still being hindered by religious-political content in the revisions to the Criminal Code (KUHP).

Jayapura, Jubi – The police on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, dispersed a silent protest demanding the release of Viktor Yeimo before the Jayapura District Court. The police also beat and allegedly arrested a man named Iman Kogoya.

Jayapura, Jubi – Head of the Papua Representative of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM Papua) Frits Ramandey said he was ready to follow up on the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) request for the Indonesian government to stop military operations in Nduga Regency as a condition for negotiating the release of the Susi Air pilot held hostage by TPNPB.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Infrastructure and Development Monitoring Coalition (KPPII) says that there was intimidation by security personnel against local residents in the Mandalika MotoGP project in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Wednesday asked visiting US Congress members for the continuation of the trade preference program Generalized System of Preferences, commonly shortened as the GSP.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, has seized assets including 1 kilogram of gold nugget belonging to disgraced Papua Governor Lukas Enembe from his home in upscale housing complex Pantai Indah Kapuk in West Jakarta, an attorney for the graft suspect said on Wednesday.

Niniek Karmini, Jakarta, Indonesia – Three suspected Uzbek militants escaped from an immigration detention center in Indonesia's capital after fatally stabbing an officer and seriously injuring four others, police said Wednesday.

Jakarta – Hundreds of students from various campuses in the provincial capital of Surabaya held a protest action at the East Java (Jatim) Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) on Wednesday April 12.

Antara, Jakarta – Four individuals have been taken into the custody of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) over graft charges following a sting operation.

These people who are believed to be involved in a corruption scheme within the Central Java Directorate of Railways (DJKA) arrived at the KPK headquarters in South Jakarta on April 12.

Fajar Pebrianto, Jakarta – Human rights watchdog Amnesty International Indonesia has openly protested the arrest made by police against 76 activists in Jayapura, Papua as the people were spreading leaflets demanding the release of Victor Yeimo who was accused by authorities of committing treason.

Fajar Pebrianto, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo met with five members of the United States Congress from the Democratic Party at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday, April 12.

A number of issues were conveyed to the congress members, including the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), a US trade program that exempts import duty tariffs.

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA partner organisation, the Local Initiative for OSH Network (LION) warmly welcomed APHEDA & ASU NSW/ACT Services Branch members – Maddie, Nick and Bella – to the LION office in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – After serving more than nine years in prison for a graft conviction, former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum said on Tuesday he will enjoy a taste of freedom with the family and reconnect with old friends, telling news broadcaster BTV that political agenda can wait.

BTV, Jakarta – If there's a person who best understands the calamity endured by Anas Urbaningrum, it must be Angelina Sondakh.

Both were once the shining stars of the ruling Democratic Party in 2009-14 until corruption scandals kicked them out of the party. Anas and Angelina have paid their dues by spending more than nine years in prison without remission.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The government is advising travelers during the Ramadan exodus against using motorbikes when they head back to their hometowns as these two-wheelers are highly prone to accidents.

Jakarta – Death row inmate Ferdy Sambo had his appeal rejected by the Jakarta High Court on Wednesday, two months after he was convicted by a district court of murdering former subordinate Brigadier Nofriansyah Yosua Huatabarat and condemned to death.

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – At least two people were killed and 13 others injured on Tuesday afternoon when a passenger bus plunged into a ravine in the Lake Toba tourism area in Nainggolan district, Samosir, North Sumatra.

Aisyah Llewellyn, Medan, Indonesia – Siti, who sells used clothing in the Indonesian city of Medan, usually cannot wait for Ramadan.

During the Muslim holy month, shoppers flock to her stall in one of the city's largest secondhand-clothes markets to buy clothes ahead of the Eid holiday.

Jayapura, Jubi – Spokesperson for the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Ones Suhuniap said at least 37 KNPB activists were arrested by police in Sentani and Abepura for distributing leaflets on Monday, 10 April, 2023, calling the people to join a protest demanding the release of Viktor Yeimo, the KNPB international spokesperson currently on trial at the Jayapura District Court fo

Herman, Jakarta – Japanese auto giant Honda Motor Co. is preparing two models of electric motorbikes for the Indonesian market where the government is pushing for vehicle electrification and offering generous incentives for owners of emission-free vehicles.

Fikri Harish, Jakarta – Coordinating Legal, Political and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD announced on Monday the creation of a joint task force to dig into the Rp 349 trillion (US$23.4 million) in suspicious transactions under the Finance Ministry, prioritizing the alleged money laundering case worth Rp 189 trillion involving imported gold bars.

Vincent Fabian Thomas, Jakarta – Indonesia has responded cautiously to the idea of creating an Asian Monetary Fund as a way to reduce the region's reliance on the United States dollar.

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deserves praise for taking action against yet another former tax official, but we remain cautious about whether the antigraft body will go deeper and harder until all involved parties get their dues, and the whole system is actually improved.

Jakarta – The Jakarta High Court on Tuesday overturned a lower court's controversial order to delay the 2024 presidential and general elections by two years, arguing it had overstepped its jurisdiction and had no authority to make the decision.