Muhammad Hendartyo, Jakarta – The Taiwanese government will once again open migrant worker placement for Indonesian workers after suspending it in December 2020 due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The reopening will start on Thursday, November 11.

Jakarta – The move by Education, Culture, Research and Technology Minister Nadiem Makarim to issue a ministerial regulation to prevent and overcome sexual violence at higher education institutions has generated a polemic.

Dewi Nurita, Jakarta – Indonesia is seeing an increasing rate of new infections over the past week. The National Covid-19 Task Force spokesman Wiku Adisasmito said that five provinces recorded the highest increase in new cases, including Jakarta and Papua.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian Epidemiology Association (PAEI) member Masdalina Pane said efforts to prevent another wave of Covid-19 spread is not by mandating PCR tests on travelers but maintaining strict health protocols (3M) such as practicing physical distances among each other, always wearing face masks, and routinely washing hands.

Antara, Jakarta – The central government has urged all regional governments to fully utilize their COVID-19 vaccine stocks by hastening vaccinations in their respective regions.

Jakarta – Greenpeace Indonesia says that forest loss over the last five years was as much as 2.13 million hectares or the equivalent of 3.5 times the size of the island of Bali.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) is urging the police to hold an independent investigation to find the perpetrator of the terror attack on the home of the parents of human rights activist Veronica Koman.

Lili Rambe, Jambi, Indonesia – Conservation authorities in Indonesia have reported the death of a Sumatran tiger captured in October following reports of deadly attacks on people. Officials have linked the death to a suspected local outbreak of African swine fever killing the big cat's main prey.

Claire Jiao and Grace Sihombing – Indonesia will likely catch up on growth in the fourth quarter as its all-important consumption engine returns to high gear.

Fajar Pebrianto, Jakarta – State-pharmaceutical firm Bio Farma in a House Hearing on Tuesday appeared in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) Commission legislators to answer questions surrounding the costs of PCR testing.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – UNESCO has renewed its call for the closure of a road running through Indonesia's Lorentz National Park after the nation's environment minister said shutting it down would be impossible.

TAPOL is deeply concerned about a series of escalating threats and attacks made against the family of prominent Indonesian human rights lawyer and defender, Veronica Koman in Jakarta. These threats and attacks indicate a worsening situation for human rights lawyers and defenders in Indonesia, with other prominent human rights defenders being subjected to police investigations.

Arjuna Pademme, Jayapura – The Civil Society Coalition has challenged newly appointed Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Andika Perkasa to fulfill his promise to use a humane approach in dealing with conflicts in Papua.

Arjuna Pademme, Jayapura – The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) has asked the media that reported the terror against the parents and relatives of rights lawyer Veronica Koman to immediately make corrections, as a number of media clearly state in their reports the identity and addresses of Veronica Koman's parents and relative.

Driving around Jakarta now is a far cry from the height of mobility restrictions a couple of months ago – not in a good way, by any means. Yet the Jakarta Traffic Police's prediction for further increase in traffic activity portends even more maddening macet (traffic jams) in the near future.

It's not Indonesia if there's no pushback from conservatives when progressive rules are passed, and a set of regulations by the Education Ministry designed to protect students from sexual violence on campus has met that exact fate.

There's condemnation in Indonesia after an apparent attack on the parents of Veronica Yoman a lawyer who advocates for West Papuan human rights issues.

A number of packages were delivered to the pair's house in Jakarta on Sunday morning.

According to Amnesty International Indonesia, two of the packages exploded, scattering bits of paper and red paint in the garage.

A senior Indonesian official made special mention of beach clubs and bars in Bali when talking about health protocol violations, warning of dire consequences even though COVID-19 cases on the island have thankfully remained low in recent weeks.

Katharina R. Lestari, Jakarta – Indonesian police are investigating threats made by suspected nationalists against the parents and sister of fugitive lawyer and leading Papuan rights activist Veronica Koman.

Two unidentified men on a motorcycle threw two small packages into the garage of her parents' house in Jakarta on Nov. 7.

Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders says that the home of Veronica Koman's parents has been terrorised twice over a period of two weeks. The latest was in the form of a bomb attack.

Putu IS, Rahmad Nasution, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has urged General Andika Perkasa, the newly-approved Military Commander (TNI), to prioritize approach-based dialogue to address Papua issues.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The UK government announced on Monday that it would soon add China's Sinovac and Sinopharm to its list of approved Covid-19 vaccines for inbound travel, thus making traveling easier for fully vaccinated people coming from Indonesia.

Dewi Nurita, Jakarta – The Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Qolil Qoumas in a written statement on Tuesday advocated the sexual violence prevention and handling act (PPKS) No. 30/2021 introduced by the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Minister.

Dewi Nurita, Jakarta – The directorate general of higher education, research, and technology on Tuesday responded to criticism aimed at the Education Minister's Regulation that focuses on protection for victims of sexual violence. Some have alleged the new regulation of legalizing adultery.

On October 27, Indonesia's Constitutional Court ruled that it is constitutionally acceptable for the Indonesian government to block and throttle the internet in times of social strife.

Herman, Thresa Sandra Desfika, Jakarta – State-run airline Garuda Indonesia has "technically" gone bankrupt due to the fact of being insolvent and in negative equity amid allegations of corruption and misappropriation, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Taufik Wijaya, Palembang, Indonesia – Silo Siswanto picks a rejung melody over a guitar fretboard under stage lights in the Teater Potlot in the city of Palembang, evoking the fragility of the remaining forests across Indonesia's South Sumatra province.

Dewi Nurita, Jakarta – The Legal Aid Institute of the Indonesian Women's Association for Justice (LBH APIK) opined that the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministerial Regulation (Permendikbudristek) No. 30 of 2021 on prevention and handling of sexual violence is a step forward.

Agung Sandy Lesmana and Ria Rizki Nirmala Sari – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo signed Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 98/2021 on the Economic Value of Carbon on Friday October 29. Greenpeace Indonesia forest campaign spokesperson M Iqbal Damanik says the regulation is not a solution to the climate crisis.

Jakarta – Activists from the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) and the Alliance Against Climate Change (APPI) were forcibly escorted out of a seminar at the Environment and Forestry Ministry (KLHK) building on Tuesday November 9 after they expressed criticisms of the United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP26 in Glasgow.

Hon Nanaia Mahuta
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Parliament Buildings
Wellington

Tena koe Nanaia Mahuta,

West Papua Action Auckland was pleased to note your comments about West Papua (Radio New Zealand – New Zealand aims to work more alongside Pacific nations, RNZ News, 8 November 2021).

Jakarta – Activists in Indonesia on Monday condemned a series of threats against the family of a prominent human rights lawyer and urged a thorough police investigation after an explosive package was sent to her parents' home.

Jessica Ester, Friski Riana, Jakarta – Veronica Koman often receives terrors for her advocacy for human rights in Papua. The latest one was the explosion at her parents' house on Sunday, November 7. Based on the police's preliminary suspicion, it was caused by firecrackers.

Police are investigating an explosion at the family home of lawyer and pro-Papuan liberation activist Veronica Koman, who is widely seen by nationalists as a traitor to the country.

Aisyah Llewellyn – The curious incident of a dog left to die in a crate for transporting cabbages has shocked Indonesia and sparked a discussion on "halal" tourism, as Southeast Asia's largest economy seeks to attract more Muslim travellers.

Jakarta – The Detachment 88 (Densus) Special Anti-Terrorist Unit says that the material found at the scene of an explosion at lawyer and Papua activist Veronica Koman's Jakarta home on Sunday November 7 does not resemble the bomb materials usually used by terrorists.

Jakarta – The House of Representatives accepted the nomination of Andika Perkasa as the new military chief during a plenary session on Monday, the same day when outgoing commander Hadi Tjahjanto reaches his retirement age.

Jakarta – The government is preparing several policies to prevent a Covid-19 third wave during the year-end and Christmas holidays – a period that will likely increase people's mobility and the spread of the delta variant viruses.

Febriana Firdaus, Bali – Activists in Indonesia have called for a thorough investigation after an explosion outside the home of the parents of a prominent human rights lawyer who represents those involved in the West Papuan independence movement.

Hendro Situmorang, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is considering buying 1 million doses of Covid-19 antiviral drug developed by US pharmaceutical company Merck & Co Inc., Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Monday.

Karin Goodwin – Four months before Raki Ap was born his father, a West Papuan cultural leader, anthropologist and musician, was killed. He had been arrested in November 1983 by the Indonesian military special forces and imprisoned and tortured for suspected sympathies with the Free Papua Movement, although no charges were laid.

James M. Dorsey – An Indonesian promise to work with the United Arab Emirates to promote 'moderate' Islam raises questions of what constitutes moderation and how it can best be achieved.

Chris Barrett, Singapore – Inside an abattoir in Indonesia's West Java province, a Brahman cross calf is struck twice with a stun gun from above and rolled out onto a concrete platform for slaughter.

A worker approaches to hold its head as it is still kicking and struggling, while another arrives with a knife to cut its throat.

Kartika Sukarno – My father, Sukarno, the first elected president of Indonesia, was put under house arrest in March 1967 a few days after I was born. He was 67. In the months before, there had been a bloodbath in the country in which he lost many trusted friends and allies.

Putu Savitri, Fadhli Ruhman – On Wednesday, House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani said that the parliament had received a Presidential letter proposing a single candidate, General Andika Perkasa, for the post of the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander.

Arjuna Pademme, Jakarta – Chairman of Papua Legislative Council's (DPRP) Special Group John NR Gobai said that the Papua provincial government must immediately respond to the situation in Intan Jaya Regency, which has returned to turmoil in the past weeks.

Shotaro Tani, Jakarta – Indonesia has signed a deal worth $15 billion with an American gas processing and chemical company to develop a coal gasification industry in the country, a government agency said on Friday.

Rieka Rahadiana and Arys Aditya – An Indonesian parliamentary commission gave its nod for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's nominee to lead the armed forces as the country seeks increased security to reopen its economy following the pandemic, and as maritime territorial disputes heighten.

Andita Rahma, Jakarta – The national disaster mitigation agency (BNPB) recorded that two people died of the flash floods that hit a number of districts in West Kalimantan, as per Thursday, Nov. 4, at 18:55 western Indonesia time.

One of the victims was from Tempunak and another one from Binjai, Sintang Regency.

Egi Adyatama, Jakarta – Indonesia recorded the lowest additional daily Covid-19 cases this year, as per Saturday, November 6. The national Covid-19 Task Force logged 401 new cases today.