Jakarta – Scores of Papuans held a protest action in front of the Arjuna Wiwaha (Horse) statue on Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta on Tuesday December 1. The action coincided with the day which is often linked to the commemoration of Papuan independence, December 1.

Jakarta – Beds for COVID-19 patients at hospitals in Yogyakarta, one of the country's top tourist and education destinations, had reached almost full capacity on Monday following a continuous increase in confirmed cases over the past few weeks.

The province saw its daily average surge to 70 new cases in November compared to a daily average of 38 new cases in October.

Jakarta – The national COVID-19 task force spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito has admitted that there are data discrepancies between the central government and regional administrations, and the central government is synchronizing the data.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The surge in newly coronavirus cases has extended the run of record-breaking seven-day average for the ninth day in a row on Tuesday, after hitting the 5,000 mark for the first time since the outbreak two days ago.

Caesar Akbar, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Pandjaitan, demanded all officials to no longer allow people to gather in large numbers. This followed the significant hike in positive cases of COVID-19 in Jakarta and Bali after the long weekend in October's end.

Budiarti Utami Putri, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) asked President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to postpone the enactment of the Presidential Regulation Draft on the military or TNI task in countering terrorism acts.

Egi Adyatama, Jakarta – Dozens of people on Tuesday, Dec 1, had gathered in the capital city's landmark Monas (National Monument) in Central Jakarta to commemorate the anniversary of the Free Papua Organization (OPM), which is considered by the government as a separatist group.This rally – that is heavily guarded by security personnel – reportedly comprises people from numerous pro-

M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – The Jakarta Tanah Abang Police precinct on Tuesday announced that it has mobilized a number of its personnel to investigate a video, that went viral on social media, showing a person reciting the azan [call to prayer] containing calls for jihad.

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has tested positive for COVID-19 days after his deputy, Ahmad Riza Patria, was found to have the illness.

"This should serve as a warning that anyone can contract COVID-19, so we need to remain cautious," Anies said on Tuesday.

Norman Harsono, Jakarta – State-owned coal miner PT Bukit Asam's US$2 billion flagship coal gasification project has been added to the national strategic projects list as the government continues to pursue the development of a downstream mining industry.

Francisca Christy Rosana, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Tama Langkun on Monday said the alleged corruption committed by former Maritime and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo was a huge blow to President Joko Widodo or Jokowi.

Bangkok/Geneva – We are disturbed by escalating violence over the past weeks and months in the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua and the increased risk of renewed tension and violence.

James Massola and Karuni Rompies – The brutal murder of four Christians in the Indonesian province of Central Sulawesi was inspired by the Islamic State, but not ordered by it, according to one of the world's foremost experts on the terror group.

Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab continues to attract controversy since his return to Indonesia, with reports alleging that he escaped from the hospital amid a messy COVID-19 test drama.

Rizki Fachriansyah, Jakarta – Deputy governor Ahmad Riza Patria has tested positive for COVID-19, raising concerns over the health and safety of other officials of the Jakarta administration who had been in direct contact with him, including Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.

Markus Makur, East Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara – Maria Sedis was picking ripe chilies grown on a plot of land belonging to Santo Robertus Bellarminus Tilir Parish in the East Manggarai regency of East Nusa Tenggara.

Her friends, Fantiana Jemina and Kristiana Anu from Kampung Tilir were helping her harvest the popular ingredient to sell in the neighborhood.

Sausan Atika, Jakarta – The Jakarta administration is planning to alter the route of its first light rail transit (LRT) corridor, as city councilors, who were left out of the discussions, raise concerns that the decision was too hasty.

Arys Aditya – The Indonesian Medical Association of doctors is urging the government to shorten or scrap the year-end holiday entirely to prevent a resurgence in coronavirus infections.

More than 180 doctors have died in the pandemic so far and health workers are suffering heavy fatigue and exhaustion from work, Chairman Daeng M Faqih said in a briefing on Monday.

Indonesian police have arrested 36 people in two West Papuan cities for demonstrations to support a pro-independence movement.

The Asia Pacific Report reported the demonstrations in Manokwari and Sorong were commemorating the anniversary of the West Papua New Guinea National Congress at the weekend.

Swa.Co.Id, Jakarta – A member of University of Indonesia (UI) business and economy chairperson-cum-expert of the COVID-19 mitigation team on behavior changes, Turro Wongkaren, said Indonesians were not truly abiding by the government's health protocols.

He argued that this might stem from the sets of protocol that were not personally-related with society itself.

Antara, Jakarta – Several sea tourist destinations in Bintan Regency of Riau Islands were polluted by oil waste, including ones in Madu Tiga Beach and Resort areas.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has once again reminded the public of the risks of COVID-19 infection, after the national active case rate reached 13.41 percent, up by nearly 1 percentage point from last week.

Jakarta – Although the central government has given regional administrations the option to reopen schools in 2021, a recent study by the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has found that 83 percent of schools are not prepared for in-person teaching.

Jakarta – Brebes Regent Idza Priyanti's entourage, which accompanied her to several areas of East Java from Nov. 7 to Nov. 10, has contributed at least 36 new COVID-19 cases to the region.

Idza was accompanied by a number of administration officials on a visit to Malang, East Java, and the nearby Mt. Bromo by bus.

Djemi Amnifu and Nina Loasana, Kupang – The eruption of Mount Ili Lewotolok in Lembata regency, East Nusa Tenggara, on Sunday morning has forced 4,628 residents out of their homes, according to the Lembata Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD).

Norman Harsono, Jakarta – The government is considering to shut down the aging Suralaya coal-fired power plant (PLTU) in Cilegon, Banten, and replace it with green energy, as Indonesia chases its long-delayed commitments to cut carbon-dioxide emissions.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesia has gone through nine months of desperate attempts to contain the spread of coronavirus with no immediate signs that it will ultimately flatten the curve.

Rully Satriadi, Jeis Montesori, Jakarta – The National Police and Indonesia Military has launched an operation to hunt down an Islamist terror group East Indonesia Mujahidin, or MIT, hiding in a forest in Sigi, Central Sulawesi, after the terrorist allegedly killed a Christian family in The Salvation Army church's outpost on Friday.

Under the cooperation, the Indonesian Army will send its troops to take a joint exercise with the French Army next year, General Andika said in a written statement released on Saturday.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian Army Chief of Staff General Andika Perkasa has discussed military cooperation including the development of Platoon Exchange program with several U.S. military representatives for Indonesia,

Antara, Jakarta – Hengky Heselo, a native Papuan community leader in Jayawijaya District, Papua Province, appealed to the police to crack down on people and groups that launch anti-Indonesian campaigns and spread slanders through social media platforms.

Indonesia's Mount Ili Lewotolok erupted on Sunday, releasing a column of smoke and ash 2.5 miles (4km) into the sky, triggering a flight warning and the closure of the local airport.

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Jakarta – Hospitals in Jakarta treating Covid-19 patients are nearly full amid a surge in infections following several mass gatherings involving a controversial Islamist cleric and a recent five-day-long weekend.

Jakarta – As the majority of COVID-19 transmission in Greater Jakarta came from family clusters, a pulmonologist has urged Jakartans to be stricter in following health rules.

John McBeth, Jakarta – The long drawn-out saga of mining giant Freeport Indonesia's (PTFI) proposed new copper smelter has taken a new turn with China's Tsingshan Steel agreeing to build the US$1.8 billion facility at its Weda Bay nickel processing complex in Halmahera, eastern Indonesia.

Bandung – West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil has suggested that the central government reduce the number of collective leave days set for the Christmas and New Year break and instead shorten the year-end holiday to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Jakarta – COVID-19 hospitals in Bogor regency, West Java, have shown a rapid increase in patient intake, Bogor Deputy Regent Iwan Setiawan has revealed.

According to Iwan, several hospitals have reached full capacity and some are 75 percent occupied, exceeding the World Health Organization's (WHO) suggestion of 60 percent capacity.

Yudha Baskoro – Environmental activists, students, and children joined the "Asia Climate Rally" in front of the Jakarta City Hall on Friday to raise awareness about climate change and voice demands to the government to step up its efforts in mitigating the crisis.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesia reached a new milestone in daily number of coronavirus cases after adding 6,267 new cases on Sunday, the third time it broke its own daily record during the past week alone.

The country now has a total of 534,266 cases amid a dramatic surge in newly cases spurred mainly by four provinces in the most crowded island of Java.

Jakarta (Reuters) – Indonesian police were searching on Saturday (Nov 28) for suspected militants accused of killing four people said by rights groups to be Christians, beheading one and burning down their homes.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) officially appointed its new leadership board for the period 2020-2025 during its 10th National Conference which was held in Jakarta on November 25-27.

A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil, Jakarta – The Indonesian Biodiversity Conservation Trust Fund (Kehati) Foundation bestowed awards to five individuals and a private company on Friday for their significant contributions in protecting the country's biodiversity through their actions and activism.

Senator the Hon Marise Payne
Minister for Foreign Affairs
PO Box 6100
Senate
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

28 November 2020

Dear Foreign Minister,

A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil, Jakarta – The Environment and Forestry Ministry and the World Bank signed a deal on Friday on the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), which provides an additional opportunity for the government to receive payments in exchange for reducing carbon emissions.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The National Covid-19 Task Force claimed on Saturday that the preparation for the distribution network of vaccines against coronavirus is almost complete, as the surge in newly cases continues.

A. Muh.

Ridho Syukra, Jakarta – American food and giant Cargill has invested $100 million in its Indonesian subsidiary Sorini Agro Asia Corporindo to expand a sweetener factory in Pandaan, East Java, the company said on Friday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesian palm oil companies have pledged not to open new palm oil plantations as they come to terms with the government's decision to put a moratorium two years ago but hoped the landmark omnibus law would help unlock two million hectares of plantation area currently under dispute with the forest authorities.

Robertus Wardi, Jakarta – Despite the noisy and cordial welcome by a huge crowd wherever Rizieq Syihab arrives, it turns out that a majority of Indonesian people don't like the leader of the hardline group Islamic Defenders Front, or FPI, according to a recent poll.

Speculation that Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab has contracted COVID-19 has grown ever stronger after the firebrand cleric was admitted to a hospital in Bogor late yesterday evening due to "exhaustion."