The United Liberation Movement for West Papua has condemned an Indonesian government protest over Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka's declared support for ULMWP full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) as "grotesque hypocrisy".

Jakarta – Residents searched through the remains of their charred homes on Saturday after a fuel storage depot fire in Jakarta left at least 17 people, including two children, dead.

Three people were still missing after Friday night's blaze at state energy firm Pertamina's Plumpang depot in north Jakarta.

Matt Brann – Ausralia's largest woodchip exporter says Indonesia has become a net importer of wood-fibre and is shaping up as an important customer for Australian timber companies.

Midway Limited chief executive Tony McKenna said his company was expecting Indonesian imports to increase "significantly" this year.

Jakarta – Officials have called for an investigation and an audit of state energy company Pertamina's facilities after a fire at its storage facility killed 13.

The fire, which started at around 8 pm on Friday from a fuel pipe at Pertamina's Plumpang fuel storage depot in Jakarta, quickly spread to nearby houses and sent residents in the densely populated area into panic.

Ni Komang Erviani, Denpasar – One member of crew died and nine others are still missing after a fishing boat sank south of Bali on Tuesday. Five people from the crew were rescued by another passing fishing boat.

The KM Linggar Petak 89 sank in waters about 62 kilometers from Bali on Tuesday at around 1 a.m. Central Indonesia Time (WITA).

Jakarta – Greater Jakarta commuters are at risk of facing worse rush hour struggles when the Commuter Line operator retires 10 trains, about 10 percent of its current fleet, by the end of the year with no replacements yet available.

A new survey showed that Indonesian female journalists have experienced various forms of sexual violence in the workplace and in the course of fulfilling their duties in the field.

This statement was originally published by the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) on aji.or.id on 20 February 2023.

Ade Ridwan Yandwiputra, Jakarta – At least 39 officials at the Finance Ministry possesses multiple positions as commissioners in state-owned companies or SOEs, the Secretariat of the Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (Fitra) has discovered.

Tatan Syuflana and Niniek Karmini, Jakarta – Indonesian rescuers and firefighters on Saturday searched for possible victims under the rubble of charred houses and buildings after a large fire broke out at a fuel storage depot in the capital, killing at least 15 people and leaving 16 others missing.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – As the world's biggest palm oil exporter, Indonesia plans to establish the country's own crude palm oil (CPO) benchmark price by the end of this year, aiming to increase transparency in the commodity, the Futures Exchange Supervisory Board (Bappebti) said on Thursday.

News Desk, Jakarta – Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD has urged the General Elections Commission (KPU) to challenge the Central Jakarta District Court verdict that ordered a halt in the electoral preparation leading to the 2024 general election.

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – Ongoing efforts to reform Indonesia's healthcare system following the COVID-19 pandemic could face major hurdles this year, with the threat of a looming global recession and the 2024 presidential election getting closer, the Center for Indonesia's Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI) has warned in a report.

Apriadi Gunawan – North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi offered his apology to the province's residents for including names of dead and retired civil servants during a mass officiating ceremony on Feb. 21.

"It's not the subordinate's mistake, the governor is in the wrong here, and for that, I apologize," Edy said after another mass officiating ceremony on Thursday.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The Finance Minister's special staffer for communications Yustinus Prastowo on Thursday said it would be difficult to implement a wealth tax in the country due to issues related to inventory and asset valuation.

Nur Janti and Yerica Lai, Jakarta – Amid an ongoing probe into his sources of wealth by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Finance Ministry has officially refused to accept the resignation of tax official Rafael Alun Trisambodo.

Jakarta – The Press Council demanded on Friday that the government continue to give it the sole authority to oversee the media industry in the country including in the business of negotiating with global tech platforms, a job that will likely be included in the upcoming publishers' rights regulation.

Jakarta – The Constitutional Court is one of the pillars of our constitutional democracy. It is requisite that this judicial body, which serves as the ultimate interpreter of our constitution, is credible and free from any partisan influence of the other two branches of the government, namely the executive and legislative bodies.

Superpowers don't seem to be at play here – a video of a KRL Commuterline train window shattering at a touch went viral recently, at a time when questions are being asked about the longevity of the company's trains.

Wamena, Jubi – A number of parties have formed an independent team to investigate the incident in Sinakma, Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, on February 23, 2023, which resulted in the death of 11 people and injured dozens.

Jayapura, Jubi – Director of the Association of Human Rights Advocates (PAHAM Papua) Gustaf R Kawer criticized the mediation process of civilian shooting run by the Mountainous Papua Regent Association, who agreed to pay compensation for victims' families. Kawer said such payment did not educate the public and even had the potential to become a corruption act.

Jakarta – A senior former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) officer is included in the list of People's Justice and Prosperity Party (Prima) executive members, the party that won a lawsuit in the Central Jakarta District Court with a ruling ordering a postponement of the 2024 elections.

Jakarta – Aceh's traditional leader (Wali Nanggroe Aceh), Tgk Malik Mahmud Al Haytar, has handed over data on 5,000 cases of human rights violations that occurred in Aceh province to the central government through Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs Mahfud MD.

BTV, Surabaya – The East Java Police declined to issue clearance for a Liga 1 match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya scheduled for Sunday, which should become the first encounter between the neighboring teams after their October 1 clash which was followed by a deadly crush that killed more than 130 Arema supporters in Malang.

Jakarta – Top government and political party officials reacted angrily after a district court in Jakarta on Thursday ordered a delay in the historic 2024 general elections in a ruling favoring a newly-established party that fails to qualify for the poll.

Amy Heppy, Jakarta – Jakarta acting governor Heru Budi Hartono on Friday gave a short answer following questions about the capital city's plan to procure luxurious vehicles for city official transport. He only said that he would look into the plan.

"I am not aware. But I will look into it later," said Heru in Jakarta on March 3.

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – The Papua Student Front (FMP) held a protest action in front of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) offices in Jakarta on Friday March 3.

The action began at 1.17 pm with protesters demanding that the Komnas HAM commissioner come outside and directly declare their position on the incidents of violence occurring in Papua.

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform and Humanity for Papua is urging President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to abandon the security approach in Papua following the riot in Wamena on February 23.

Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – Paramadina University political observer and executive director of the Institute for Democracy and Governance Studies (CDGS), Ahmad Khoirul Umam, says that the People's Justice and Prosperity Party (Prima) is just a small pawn in a larger plot to postpone the 2024 elections.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – A delay in the 2024 election would only lead to problems, including investors' distrust and disruption to the new capital megaproject, according to an Indonesian think-tank following the Central Jakarta District Court's controversial ruling.

Investor Daily, Jakarta – The government is preparing itself to face a possible lawsuit by China in the World Trade Organization regarding the ban on the export of unprocessed bauxite ores that will take place in June 2023, a Trade Ministry official has said.

China is very likely to file the lawsuit as 90 percent of Indonesian bauxite ore export went to the country.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – An official diplomatic note from the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry to the Fiji government ensued after a meeting took place between Prime Minister Stivini Rebuka and the United Liberation Movement of West Papua leader Benny Wenda.

Timor-Leste president Jose Ramos-Horta has appealed to international partners to invest in Church organizations and civil society groups stating that the government has sufficient funds but lacks the necessary resources to execute social development programs.

Fani Ramadhani, Jakarta – State oil company Pertamina has decided to raise the price of Pertamax dan Pertamax Turbo gasoline products. Starting March 1, the fuels' selling price had increased to Rp13,000 and Rp15,100 per liter, respectively.

Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has urged foreign investors to keep coming to Indonesia and invest in the country despite the intensifying political competition ahead of the 2024 general elections.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The highly disaster-prone Indonesia calls for aseismic constructions or buildings designed to withstand earthquakes, according to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Apriadi Gunawan, Toba, North Sumatra – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has called for greater improvement to the tourist facilities at Lake Toba in North Sumatra, after observing their subpar quality during the Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship over the weekend.

Jakarta – After more than three weeks, efforts to release Susi Air pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens from members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), have so far borne no fruits.

Made Supriatma – A promising 2024 presidential contender's hopes rest on political forces beyond his control.

The race to Indonesia's 2024 presidential election is moving fast. The field is volatile due to elite political manoeuvres; in particular, one among the top three frontrunners' fortunes might be waning.

Why bother paying taxes if the people responsible for them are going to get up to no good? That is essentially the argument used by a revered Islamic figure in Indonesia amid increased scrutiny towards filthy rich officials.

Jose Matheus – Authorities in Timor-Leste are pushing for Portuguese to be adopted as the sole medium of instruction in the country's schools, even though some 80 per cent of the country's educational establishments are currently teaching in other languages.

Jayapura, Jubi – Commander of the XVI Yahukimo Defense Area Command Elkius Kobak of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) claimed to have attacked and shot members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) in Yahukimo Regency on Wednesday, March 1, 2023/This was stated in a written statement delivered by TPNPB spokesperson Seby Sambom.

Jayapura, Jubi – The clashes that led to the shooting of residents in Wamena on February 23, 2023, had a similar pattern to the shooting in Wamena on September 23, 2019. Police's failure to prevent casualties shows that the security approach in handling the incident in September 2019 has never been evaluated.

Government officials have been under fire for possessing questionable wealth and flexing them on social media.

Yogi Eka Sahputra, Jakarta – The Central Statistics Agency for Batam reported a number of indicators of the city's economic growth which showed bright results. In 2022, the economic development rate skyrocketed to 6.84 percent.

Noviar Andayani, Universitas Indonesia in Depok – Strong legislation backed by science and technology could help protect Indonesia's wildlife.

Ali Akhmad Noor, Jakarta – Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) senior economist Aviliani on Thursday said the "political year" which comes ahead of the 2024 General Elections (Pemilu) will increase public consumption, which will contribute to growing the national economy.

Ade Ridwan Yandwiputra, Jakarta – The Labor Party along with labor unions and organizations from a number of Indonesian regions are planning to conduct a five-day long march that will see the House of Representatives (DPR) headquarters as their final destination. In an official statement, this movement comes as a protest against the government's Job Creation omnibus.

Anugerah Rizki Akbari, Leiden University in Leiden – When Indonesian prosecutors went after the leader of an illegal wildlife syndicate operating near the Malacca Strait, they relied on the country's then relatively new 2019 Quarantine Act to seek a prison sentence.

Anwar Siswadi (Contributor), Jakarta – The number of road accident victims in the West Java region continues to increase annually. In 2022, the victims who state-owned insurance firm Jasa Raharja compensated amounted to 13,454 people.

Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Jakarta – Parliamentary watchdog Forum of Concerned Citizens for Indonesia's Parliament (Formappi) says that this is not the first time that a survey has shown the public's low level of trust in the political parties (parpol) and the House of Representatives (DPR).