Hannah Brown with AFP and AP – Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, is sinking. Known for its high pollution, this city on the island of Java is struggling to survive amid environmental, overpopulation and infrastructure challenges. It is also prone to earthquakes.

Chris Barrett and Karuni Rompies – As bulldozers and excavators zip back and forth, and cranes tower above, it's not easy to picture a futuristic new presidential palace emerging from the vast, mostly bare patch of dirt.

Here, on the Indonesian side of jungle-laden Borneo, the country's hugely ambitious new capital city isn't quite taking shape yet. But it soon will be.

Jakarta – When an accident occurs in any industry, especially if it is fatal, the company's health, safety and environmental (HSE) practices will come into question as stakeholders seek to determine whether it was preventable and what procedures should be changed to stop it from happening again.

Nur Janti, Jakarta – Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Adm. Yudo Margono has turned down New Zealand's offer of assistance in an operation to release the New Zealander pilot who has been held hostage by an armed Papuan rebel group in Nduga regency, Papua Highlands, for about a month.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian said on Thursday that Indonesia would need to upgrade its civil registry data center as the country tries to adopt e-government based on the national ID numbers or locally known as the NIK.

Surakarta, Central Java – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo will join thousands of Deep Purple fans for a concert by the legendary British rock group in Surakarta, Central Java, on Friday.

Jokowi's son, Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, confirmed on Thursday that the President had bought a ticket.

M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – Domestic Workers joined in the Civil Coalition for the Law on Protection of Domestic Workers (UU PPRT) are determined to camp outside the House of Representatives (DPR) building on March 11-13, in protest against the delay of the bill ratification.

The Indonesian state is causing a renewed humanitarian crisis in occupied West Papua. A 35-year-old woman has been murdered and mutilated by the Indonesian military in Puncak Regency, and villages and churches have been emptied as thousands more soldiers have been deployed in the area. Indonesia must urgently draw back their troops to allow civilians to return home in peace.

A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil, Jakarta – Downed communication lines following a landslide in the remote region of Natuna, Riau Islands, which killed at least 30 people, are hindering evacuation efforts.

Anne Barker, Indonesia – It is now more than a month since Captain Philip Mehrtens was seized and taken hostage after he landed a small Susi Airlines plane last month in the remote highlands of central Papua.

Jayapura, Indonesia – Separatist rebels in Indonesia's Papua province released more photos and videos Friday appearing to show the New Zealand pilot they took hostage last month alive.

A court in Indonesia's Christian-majority East Nusa Tenggara province has sentenced to death a former Protestant seminarian for raping nine minor girls, reports say.

Jayapura, Jubi – Indonesia is approaching the election period. Political parties begin to compete and win people's votes. One of the requirements for registering election participants is the fulfillment of the 30 percent quota for women as stipulated in the Election Law and technical regulations of the General Election Commission (KPU).

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Activists have lambasted the Indonesian government's proposal to include gas in its clean energy transition program funded by industrialized countries.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has asked State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir and Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno to "popularize" themselves ahead of the 2024 presidential election, a senior politician has said.

Sabina Puspita and Muhammad Fajar, Jakarta – The global fight against sexual violence in the higher education sector has seen important progress in the last decade, with collaboration from students, faculty and government serving as an important factor in combating patriarchy in academia.

Fikri Harish, Jakarta – Amid rumors of its deepening ties with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Muhamad Mardiono, the acting chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), revealed that his party was planning to meet with the dominant party soon, and that an electoral alliance between the two was a possibility.

Jakarta – In the past few months, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has hinted several times at an imminent Cabinet reshuffle, only to leave the public holding their breaths every Wednesday, the President's favorite day to announce ministerial replacements.

Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – A Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules that arrived on Monday from the United States is now ready for operating by the Indonesian Air Force, the Defense Ministry said on Wednesday during a ceremony held at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base.

BTV, Kebumen, Central Java – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo had an intimate moment with presidential hopefuls Ganjar Pranowo and Prabowo Subianto on Thursday as he walked them in the middle of paddy fields in the Central Java town of Kebumen.

Moh. Khory Alfarizi, Jakarta – Pricewaterhouse Coopers Indonesia or PwC Indonesia released its latest report on the Indonesian economic outlook for 2023. Head of Economic and Research, Denny Irawan, said that the multinational professional services company projected Indonesia's economic growth in Indonesia will decelerate this year compared to 2022.

Jakarta – Amnesty International, a global movement of more than 10 million people in over 150 countries and territories who campaign to end abuses of human rights, stated on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, that the Indonesian authorities must drop criminal charges against human rights defenders Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar as they stem solely from their right to freedom of expressio

Antara, Jakarta – PT Bukit Asam Tbk (IDX: PTBA), a member of MIND ID, is targeting to produce 41 million tons of coal this year. The production volume target is higher by 11 percent year on year (YoY) from 2022's actual output of 37.1 million tons.

Anwar Siswadi (Contributor), Jakarta – The West Java Forum for the Environment (Walhi) denounced the dirt bike racing event held in Ranca Upas of Bandung Regency on Sunday, March 5. The event is recently under the public spotlight after a video of a man swearing at the event and Perhutani (State Forestry Public Company) that permitted the activity made rounds in social media.

surabaya, Indonesia – An Indonesian court sentenced a football match official to one and a half years in prison on Thursday (Mar 9) after finding him guilty of negligence over one of the world's deadliest stadium stampedes.

Melalusa Susthira, Cindy Frishanti Octavia, Jakarta – The deliberation of the bill on domestic workers protection (PPRT Bill) at the House of Representatives (DPR) has been postponed, according to DPR Speaker Puan Maharani.

Cassie Freund – In 2020, the Indonesian government set a goal of restoring 600,000 hectares, or nearly 1.5 million acres, of mangrove ecosystems by 2024.

Erin Handley – By this time next year, Anies Baswedan hopes to be elected president of the world's fourth largest country.

The Indonesian presidential hopeful has met with Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe during his visit to Australia.

Pontianak Hendra Cipta (contributor), Jakarta – Four unidentified individuals attempted to close down a discussion on endangered Tapanuli orangutans threatened by a hydroelectric dam project in North Sumatra that was being held by the conservation group Satya Bumi and several civil society organisations (CSO) in Tebet, South Jakarta, on Thursday morning, March 9.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, mulls mandating state officials of lower echelons to report their personal assets following the suspiciously rich taxman scandal.

Antara, Jakarta – Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali has submitted his resignation to the president after he was elected as deputy chairman of the Indonesian Football Association, or PSSI.

Investor.id, Jakarta – Indonesia is aiming for up to $5 billion in furniture export revenue this year which can be achieved by improving raw material supplies and export funding scheme, Chief Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said on Thursday.

Jayapura, Jubi – Head of Cartenz Peace Operation 2023 Sr. Comr. Faizal Ramadani says negotiations to free New Zealand pilot of Susi Air, Philip Mark Mehrtens, who was currently held hostage by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) led by Egianus Kogoya, had not been fruitful.

Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Jakarta – A demonstration was held by women's groups in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Jakarta on the afternoon of Wednesday March 8 to coincide with International Women's Day (IWD).

Jayapura, Jubi – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) of Tolikara Region in Mountainous Papua Province is urging young Papuans not to apply as members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The Indonesian government should issue an investment guideline on waste management, according to a startup founder.

The lack of a guideline has become one of the challenges that businesses in the sector face when trying to invest in districts and municipalities.

Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta. The Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, made a shocking revelation on Wednesday that 134 tax officials are indicated to be in possession of shares in hundreds of companies.

Jakarta – Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD announced on Wednesday that some Rp 300 trillion (US$19.4 billion) in suspicious transactions had been discovered within the Finance Ministry.

Speak, East Kalimantan – A top official pledged on Wednesday that construction on a new capital city deep within the jungles of Kalimantan would not stall when the presidency changes hands next year as new incentives were unveiled to encourage investment.

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

9 March 2023

Dear Foreign Minister,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Australia West Papua Association in Sydney concerning the issue of West Papua. Tragically, the human rights situation in West Papua is seriously deteriorating.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – The Labour Party commemorated International Women's Day (IWD) by holding a protest action in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Jakarta on Wednesday March 8.

The party made a number of demands, including the participation of women in political affairs.

Dwi Lindawati, Surabaya – the commemoration of International Women's Day (IWD) 2023 in East Java was marked by a mass convoy of 200 people and a demonstration at the Negara Grahadi building (governor's office) in the provincial capital of Surabaya on March 8.

Rumondang Naibaho, Jakarta – A demonstration commemorating International Women's Day (IWD) near the Arjuna Horse Statue in Central Jakarta on March 8 became heated after police prevented protesters from approaching the State Palace.

Neti Istimewa Rukmana, Yogya – Dozens of students from various different universities that are part of the International Women's Day (IWD) alliance articulated the 2023 IWD Manifesto during an action at the Malioboro shopping district in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on March 8.

Vincent Fabian Thomas, Jakarta – Indonesia will need to ease a number of import regulations if it wants to attract more investment, Korean firms have said, challenging the government to address the issue.

Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi on Monday reaffirmed Indonesia's bilateral relations with Japan, with an emphasis on key trade and investment cooperation by reaffirming commitments to advance the amendment of protocols for the Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJEPA).

Jakarta – The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) revealed on Tuesday that the amount of money kept in more than 40 frozen bank accounts possibly linked to tax official Rafael Alun Trisambodo could amount to Rp 500 billion (US$32 million).

Beritasatu, Jakarta – A director at state-run oil company Pertamina has been removed from his post days after a devastating fire broke out at the company's oil depot in North Jakarta and engulfed nearby houses, killing at least 19 people.

Fajar Pebrianto (Asia Pacific Defense Journal), Jakarta – Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto at the Halim Perdanakusuma airbase on Wednesday assured that Indonesia's military air fleet will continue to be expanded.

The latest plan, he elaborated, is to acquire a number of used military planes that are still considered to be in good condition.