Protesters began gathering at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) arts and cultural centre in Cikini on Friday afternoon, February 21, ahead of the climax of the Dark Indonesia actions at the Horse Statue in Central Jakarta.

Jakarta – Hundreds of students from a Dark Indonesia protest action were still standing in front of the West Java Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building in the provincial capital of Bandung on Friday February 21 even though it was raining in the area.

Advist Khoirunikmah, Jakarta – The 'Dark Indonesia' protest took a volatile turn as participants hurled firecrackers and Molotov cocktails at police officers stationed near the Horse Statue area. This chaotic escalation occurred following the Civil Society Coalition's delivery of their demands on Friday night, February 21, 2025.

Jakarta – Hundreds of students and activists rallied in some major cities for more "Dark Indonesia" protests on Friday, opposing President Prabowo Subianto's policies including $19 billion of spending cuts that they say undermine their support systems.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Chairperson of the National Economic Council (DEN), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, signaled a plan to eliminate subsidized fuel by 2027. He proposed a unified fuel pricing system to President Prabowo Subianto.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – The hashtag #AdiliJokowi has been trending across social media platforms in recent days. Users of X (formerly Twitter) are using it to demand authorities take legal action against Indonesia's 7th president, Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

BeritaSatu, Yogyakarta – Several newly elected mayors and regents from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) gathered in Yogyakarta on Friday, opting to skip a presidential retreat in nearby Magelang.

Advist Khoirunikmah, Jakarta – The 'Dark Indonesia' (Indonesia Gelap) rally returned to the Horse Statue (Patung Kuda) area near the National Monument, Central Jakarta, on Friday, February 21, 2025.

Today's demonstration drew participants from diverse backgrounds, including private sector employees and students.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – The Jakarta Provincial Government is affected by the budget cut mandated by President Prabowo Subianto through Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2025 regarding Budget Efficiency in the Implementation of the 2025 State Budget and Regional Budget. Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno revealed that the city's managed funds have been reduced by Rp38 billion.

Advist Khoirunikmah, Jakarta – The atmosphere of the 'Dark Indonesia' (Indonesia Gelap) mass action on Friday afternoon, February 21, 2025, heated up albeit rain had briefly poured over the Horse Statue area in Central Jakarta from 15:49 to 16:22 WIB (Western Indonesia Time).

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The decision of PT Sanken Indonesia to close its factory in Cikarang, West Java, by mid-2025 has come as a blow to the 459 employees who have worked there for decades. The factory's closure is due to the parent company Sanken's intention to shift to a semiconductor producer in Japan. As a result, hundreds of workers are at risk of layoffs.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Constitutional law expert from Andalas University, Feri Amsari, stated that President Prabowo Subianto has compromised the independence of the judiciary by recently meeting with Supreme Court judges and providing them with directives.

Wijayanti Putri, Solo – Former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said on Friday all newly installed governors, mayors, and regents should honor an invitation for a brainstorming session with his successor, Prabowo Subianto, despite a call from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to boycott the retreat program.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has granted Freeport Indonesia a limited export permit to ship copper concentrate overseas for the next four months, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia announced on Friday.

Rama Sukarta, Jakarta – The government's Free Health Checkup (CKG) program, which officially launched on Feb. 10, has seen increasing public participation. However, the Health Ministry continues to push for greater public awareness, as many Indonesians still perceive medical checkups as intimidating.

Jakarta – We are witnessing a welcome resurgence of youth activism. The so-called "golden generation" is finding its voice again – at the ballot box, in the digital sphere and, most recently, on the streets. Their message is clear: they reject the status quo.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Deputy Chairman of Commission IX of the House of Representatives, Charles Honoris, has called on the government to respond wisely to the viral #KaburAjaDulu, or just run away first, hashtag, which reflects growing dissatisfaction among young Indonesians over domestic job opportunities and career prospects.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The rollout of the government's free nutritious meal program in Papua has triggered student protests, with demonstrators demanding better access to education in the region.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto told the newly sworn-in regional heads to do what's best for the people as Indonesia witnessed a major transition in local leadership.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto swore in 961 regional heads at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, marking a major transition in local leadership across Indonesia.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Indonesian punk band based in Central Java city Purbalingga, Sukatani, announced the withdrawal of their song 'Bayar Bayar Bayar' from all music streaming platforms. The song, which criticizes the police, was released as part of their album Gegap Gempita.

Pribadi Wicaksono (Kontributor), Jakarta – Thousands of students in Yogyakarta take to the streets on Thursday, February 20, 2025, protesting against various policies adopted by President Prabowo Subianto.

The protest, which began around 11:30 a.m. local time, completely shut down Malioboro, causing police to redirect traffic away from the area.

Yuni Rohmawati, Jakarta – The Chief of the Palembang Metropolitan Police, Grand Commissioner Harryo Sugiharrtono, said 2 groups of protesters would carry out the Indonesia Gelap (Dark Indonesia) rally centered in front of the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) Office of South Sumatra on Thursday, February 20, 2025.

Executive Summary

Jakarta – The government of President Prabowo Subianto will host a week-long mountain glamping retreat for hundreds of regional leaders this week, a presidential official said Wednesday, sparking criticism as the President imposes widespread budget cuts.

Jakarta – A boy is missing West Kalimantan island after he was attacked by a crocodile, police said on Thursday, the second such attack in the area in two weeks.

The island is home to several species of crocodiles that regularly attack and kill humans.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – More than 75% of the nickel refining capacity in Indonesia, home to the biggest reserves of this critical mineral, is controlled by Chinese companies, many with affiliations to the Chinese government, according to a U.S.-government funded think tank.

Jakarta – Indonesia's current account deficit widened in 2024 as its merchandise trade surplus shrank amid weaker global demand, the central bank said on Thursday, and analysts pointed to a worsening outlook for global trade this year.

Yogyakarta – Protesters from the Jogja Calling Alliance taking part in a protest action titled #WithThePeople (#Bersamarakyat) in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta highlighted the song "Pay Pay Pay" (Bayar Bayar Bayar) by the punk band Sukatani which has recently been withdrawn from all streaming services.

Bill Birtles in Jakarta and Hellena Souisa – Indonesia's government has slashed travel, stationary and even turned the lights off early for civil servants in a widespread austerity drive, as President Prabowo Subianto's free meal program worsens a squeeze on funds.

Jayapura – Student Executive Boards (BEM) from a number of campuses in Jayapura, including the Jayapura University of Science and Technology (USTJ), the Cenderawasih University (Uncen) and the Papua Muhammadiyah University, held a "Dark Indonesia" demonstration on the grounds of the USTJ campus in Abepura, Jayapura city, Papua province on Thursday February 20.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jeff Hutton – As a summit of Southeast Asian leaders in Jakarta fast approached in September 2023, Indonesia's state-run electricity provider, PLN, partially shut down one of its oldest and biggest coal-fired power plants in the hopes of cleaning up the capital's filthy air.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – The Indonesian government frames the approval of the revised Law No. 4 of 2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining (Minerba Law) as an effort to restore the essence of Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Hasto Kristiyanto, secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and a trusted aide to party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, was detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday, nearly two months after being named a suspect for allegedly bribing an election official.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Newly sworn-in West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has vowed to crack down on budget misuse in the province, citing alleged misappropriations in the education sector and wasteful spending on non-essential programs.

Iman Rahman Cahyadi, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri on Thursday ordered all elected governors, mayors, and regents from her party to withdraw from President Prabowo Subianto's retreat program, just hours after the arrest of her close aide, Hasto Kristiyanto, on graft charges.

Norman Harsono – Students rallied in Jakarta and other Indonesian cities on Thursday to protest President Prabowo Subianto's state budget revamp that has threatened contractual workers' jobs, rolled back scholarships and dimmed lighting at government offices.

Girard Mariano Lopez – Thousands of Indonesian students across the country are taking to the streets protesting the current Prabowo administration. This comes as the controversial former military general reaches five months in office, with great dissatisfaction with the current political situation across the country.

Raden Putri Alpadillah Ginanjar, Jakarta – The 'Indonesia Gelap' rally has come to its peak today, Thursday, February 20, 2025, after the protest that took place a few days ago in the Patung Kuda area. Students also took to the streets in several regions across Indonesia, including Bandung, Lampung, Surabaya, Malang, Samarinda, Banjarmasin, Aceh, and Bali.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Chairperson of Projo (a group of supporters of former President Jokowi), Budi Arie Setiadi, has confirmed that he recently met with Jokowi. He revealed that the meeting discussed the establishment of a new political party, 'Super Tbk'.

Jakarta – If you want to know about the direction of President Prabowo Subianto's environmental policy, just look at how the budget cuts have been applied to a number of ministries related to natural resources. The latest fiscal policy shows even more clearly that the Prabowo administration's policies are not on the side of climate crisis mitigation and conservation agenda.

M Ambari, Yogi Eka Sahputra, Jakarta/Batam, Indonesia – Mounting reports of illegal seabed dredging in Indonesian waters have raised ecological alarm bells following the resumption of a controversial policy of sand exports.

Jakarta – Thousands of students staged 'Dark Indonesia' protests in cities across the country on Thursday against budget cuts and other policies of President Prabowo Subianto, fearing they will undermine social support systems and their futures.

Pribadi Wicaksono (Kontributor), Yogyakarta – Thousands of students joining the Jogja Memanggil activist coalition marched and delivered speeches denouncing the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto and the Red and White Cabinet on Thursday, February 20, 2025.

Yuni Rohmawati, Palembang – South Sumatra Health Office (Dinkes Sumsel) confirmed the report of students experiencing stomach aches due to food poisoning after consuming Free Nutritious Meals in the Empat Lawang Regency, South Sumatra (Sumsel), on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stated that the launch of the National Strategic Investment Fund (NSIF) will be carried out on Monday, February 24 next. He referred to Danantara as a force that will support Indonesia's economy in the future.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – The student demonstration entitled 'Indonesia Gelap' or 'Dark Indonesia' will reach its peak today, Thursday, February 20, 2025. The rally is a continuation of the action that took place in the Patung Kuda area, Central Jakarta, on Monday, February 17, 2025.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Papua Police Chief Inspector General Patrige Renwarin stated that Aske Mabel was involved in several attacks since fleeing the police force with four organic firearms from the Yalimo Police Resort, Papua Highlands, in mid-2024. Patrige stated that Aske was at least involved in 10 attacks and killed six people.

Oyuk Ivani S, Jakarta – Jakarta Vice Governor Rano Karno revealed the message from the Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Megawati Soekarnoputri, for his administration and Pramono Anung in Jakarta.

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Surabaya – The Nusantara Freshwater Fish Lovers Community (Kopipa) has called on the East Java administration to take stronger measures to protect the Brantas River, one of the province's longest rivers, as severe pollution has caused the extinction of at least half of the fish species in the river.