Jakarta – Jokowi is taking Indonesia right back to the start of the Reformasi era. The right of inquiry could be a way to save democracy.

Jakarta – A number of people calling themselves the People's Challenge Coalition for Democracy (KARAM) set fire to tyres in front of the General Elections Commission (KPU) offices in Jakarta on Friday March 15.

The demonstrators were protesting against election fraud and demanding that KPU Chairperson Hasyim Asy'ari be sacked.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia and Sri Lanka on Thursday launched the negotiations for a preferential trade agreement (PTA) after waiting since 2017.

Deputy Trade Minister Jerry Sambuaga and Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Minister Tharaka Balasuriya launched the negotiations virtually from their respective countries.

Celvin Sipahutar, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati confirmed on Friday that financial bonuses for civil servants nationwide will be paid in full, amounting to Rp 99.5 trillion ($6.4 billion).

These additional payments encompass both the Ramadan bonus and the so-called 13th salary, covering both basic salaries and benefits.

Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detained 15 employees including a warden on Friday for allegedly taking bribes from inmates. The mass detention of its own employees marks an unprecedented move never happened before in KPK's history.

Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – The warden and guards at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)'s detention facility have been found to have extorted inmates, accumulating at least Rp 6.3 billion ($402,000) between 2019 and 2023, an investigator disclosed on Friday.

Suherdjoko, Semarang – The city of Semarang in Central Java has been inundated following torrential rain on Wednesday and Thursday.

Traffic was stopped on a stretch of the Northern Coast Highway in Kaligawe, Gayamsari district, with waters reaching more than a meter deep.

Icha Rastika, Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) asked about the case dossier on the results of an investigation by the Fact Finding Team (TPF) that looked into the 2004 assassination of renewed human rights defender Munir Said Talib when it questioned Usman Hamid on Friday March 15.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – The names of Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) chairman Kaesang Pangarep and his wife Erina Gudono have emerged as potential contenders in the upcoming regional elections, amid concerns that their first forays onto the electoral stage are part of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's dynasty-building attempts.

Nur Janti, Jakarta – Three ancient inscriptions found in North Sumatra in recent years have brought scholars a step closer to discovering how the province's native Batak, one of the oldest cultures still recognizable in Indonesia today, developed its own script.

Jakarta – The people of Jakarta should fight any attempt to deny them their right to elect their leader directly, otherwise, the metropolis will lose much of its vibrancy and deep-rooted democratic culture.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – The European Union's deforestation regulation (EUDR) will make it harder for Indonesian biodiesel to enter the EU market, as well as that of other countries, experts believe.

Semarang – Atorrential downpour in Semarang, the provincial capital of Central Java, has caused severe flooding, which has inundated major parts of the city including the Old Town area and the nearby Tawang Station.

In the Old Town, which is home to many colonial-era buildings, flooding to a depth of 50 centimeters has prevented motorists from traversing the area.

Jakarta – In a bid to bolster innovation-driven economic growth in Indonesia, Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka has expressed his interest in adopting the United Kingdom's downstream industry practices.

Jakarta – The Trade Ministry has addressed concerns over rising beef prices and import delays, assuring that shipments are on track to arrive in time for the upcoming Idul Fitri celebrations.

The ministry's Director General of Foreign Trade Budi Santoso emphasized that import permits had been issued promptly.

Jakarta – The Defense Ministry, along with the Agriculture Ministry, harvested corn in a food estate area in Tewai Baru village, Sepang district, Central Kalimantan, on Monday.

The food estate, part of the government's 2020-2024 National Strategic Program, manages land used to cultivate crops and integrate food production in the country.

Niniek Karmini, Jakarta – The camps of the two Indonesian presidential candidates who appear to have lost in an election last month said Thursday they plan to challenge the official results in the Constitutional Court with allegations of widespread fraud.

SNS, New Delhi – In the wake of Prabowo Subianto's recent victory in Indonesia's Presidential election, the world is brimming with anticipation and scepticism. The former special-forces general turned President-elect envisions a more influential Indonesia, echoing calls for the nation to step into the spotlight of South-East Asia and global affairs.

Amy Sood – As Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto is set to be named the official winner of last month's presidential race, allegations of electoral fraud and retaliatory investigations have cast a shadow over the nation's democratic integrity, following what analysts describe as "one of the least trustworthy" polls in recent decades.

Dani Prabowo, Jakarta – Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko has responded to a call by Gajah Mada University (UGM) academics who want to hold a people's court to address allegations of fraud in the 2024 general elections.

Moeldoko stated that he does not agree with the call considering that Indonesia is constitutional state.

Burhanuddin Muhtadi – The practice of money politics in Indonesia is insidious, entrenched, and not likely to go away anytime soon, because it works.

Sleman – The Yogyakarta Islamic University (UII) academic community held a ceremony in which they placed flowers on a grave (tabur bunga) on Thursday March 14 to commemoration of the death of democracy in Indonesia.

Eka Yudha Saputra and Yohanes Maharso Joharsoyo (Antara), Jakarta – The Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka pair was ahead in the re-voting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which was held on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Based on the (PSU) result, D document, seen by Tempo, the pair of candidate number 02 received 6,266 votes out of a total of 12,357 votes.

Jakarta – Higher education academics from across Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek) have issued a "Salemba Call" to urge various parties to return Indonesian democracy and state administration to the right path.

There are seven points in Salemba Call. One is urging the House of Representatives (DPR) to intervene to investigate the abuse of power.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – US President Joe Biden has sent a personal letter to Prabowo Subianto to congratulate him on his lead in the Feb. 12 presidential election.

A copy of the letter, which was dated March 12, was posted on Prabowo's Instagram account on Thursday.

Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – Prosecutors on Thursday recommended a prison sentence of 13 years and eight months for Supreme Court Secretary Hasbi Hasan, who is accused of accepting Rp 11.2 billion ($718,848) in bribes.

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – The North Sumatra High Prosecutor's Office has arrested the province's health agency chief for alleged corruption worth Rp 24 billion (US$1.54 million) in the procurement of personal protection equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Deforestation for oil palm plantations continues unabated at the northern tip of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, likely driven by new processing mills that in turn may ultimately be supplying major consumer goods companies.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The General Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) has resolved a total of 140 cases involving legal violations during the 2024 Elections.

Among these cases, Bawaslu indicated that the majority consisted of administrative violations, totaling 71 cases, followed by 63 criminal violations, with the remainder comprising other legal infractions.

Fito Akhmad Erlangga, Jakarta – Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno highlighted the need for Indonesia to acquire up to 350 more airplanes to alleviate ticket prices.

Ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday in April, airplane ticket prices and other modes of transportation have seen a surge of approximately 10 to 12 percent.

Heru Yustanto, Bogor – The Bogor City Police Criminal Investigation Unit has apprehended Dimas, 27, on suspicion of orchestrating a human trafficking scheme through an online prostitution business spanning Greater Jakarta and Indonesia.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – KAI Commuter, a subsidiary of the state-owned railway company KAI, recently signed a deal with Japan's JR East Rail Car Technology & Maintenance (JRTM) for the purchase of train spare parts worth Rp 734 billion (approximately $47 million).

The signed agreement is a multi-year deal that spans 2024-2027.

Jakarta – Chandra Asri Pacific (Chandra Asri Group) recently built a 50.2-kilometer plastic asphalt road in Garut, West Java.

This program is part of Chandra Asri Group's commitment to a circular economy, and to abide by the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. Chandra Asri Group is also partnering with the sub-national government.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Defense Minister and likely presidential winner Prabowo Subianto is seeking to form stronger defense ties with Japan.

Prabowo recently hosted a visit by the Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Masaki Yasushi at his ministerial office in Jakarta. The former military general announced the meeting on the social media platform X on Thursday.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo inaugurated a pilot plant for red cooking oil in Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra, on Thursday, as part of his efforts to promote domestic industrialization of raw materials.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka secured a substantial lead in 21 out of 38 provinces and one overseas electoral district for the 2024 Presidential Election.

According to the General Election Commission (KPU) national vote recap, Prabowo amassed 58,989,343 votes as of Wednesday.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) predicts that economic growth in 2024 will only reach 4.8 percent, falling below the government's target of 5.2 percent.

Wijayanti Putri, Solo – Vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka has spoken out regarding speculation that he will become the next Chairman of the Golkar Party. He firmly asserted that there are many more deserving figures than himself.

"Nah, no way. Let the more experienced seniors handle it," he told reporters at the Solo City Hall on Wednesday.

Jakarta – The development of the Nusantara Capital City has the potential to cause massive environmental damage. The claim that it will be a sustainable forest city is just empty words from officials.

Bagus Pribadi and Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – The Supervisory Board of the Corruption Eradication Commission, or Dewas KPK, will try several employees in the case of illegal levies or extortion in KPK detention centers. The trial will be held in closed court until the verdict is read.

Defara Dhanya Paramitha, Jakarta – Several legal aid associations for women and domestic workers have implored the House of Representatives (DPR) to expeditiously pass the bill on the protection of domestic workers (RUU PPRT).

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian Religious Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Anna Hasbie, clarified that the ministry has never imposed any prohibition on the use of loudspeakers in mosques and prayer rooms during Ramadan.

She said the ministry had only issued a guideline on the use of loudspeakers. "We have never issued such a ban," Anna said on Tuesday, March 12.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – The school operational assistance (BOS) fund has been put forth as a possible financing source for Prabowo Subianto's free school lunch program, the presumptive winner's key campaign promise.

Jakarta – The Transportation Ministry has predicted that more than 193 million people, or 71 percent of the country's population, are expected to participate the annual Idul Fitri tradition of mudik (exodus) in early April.

Jakarta – Eleven fishermen survived after three days at sea clinging to their capsized boat, rescuers said Wednesday as they searched for at least 22 crew still missing after the weekend incident that left two dead.

Asyraf Kamil, Singapore – Whether Indonesian President Joko Widodo shifts his allegiance to Indonesia's oldest political party Golkar in a bid to continue to wield political influence after he steps down largely depends on when it holds its national congress, experts said.

Syafiq Hasyim – A plank of Prabowo Subianto's team's winning strategy for East and Central Java in last month's election rested on the shoulders of an unusual cleric who hails from Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest mass Muslim organisation.

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman said on Wednesday that the persistent increase in rice prices has been driven by a shortage of subsidized fertilizers.

Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced on Wednesday it has launched an investigation into alleged bribery in state-owned construction company Hutama Karya related to the Trans-Sumatra toll road project.

Jakarta – There is no Indonesian political party as dynamic as the Golkar Party, the vehicle of the militaristic New Order to control the country following procedural democracy. No other party has stood the test of time quite like Golkar.