Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto lavished civilian honors upon more than 140 figures last week, some of them posthumously, an act that hardly fulfills the intended purpose of the state awards for at least two reasons.

Agencies, New York, United States – The United Nations on Monday called for investigations into alleged use of disproportionate force after six people were killed in protests across Indonesia sparked by anger over lawmakers' lavish perks.

Jakarta – The National Police have fired tear gas into crowds of protesters near two universities in a major regional city, student bodies and authorities said on Tuesday, adding new tensions to deadly protests that have rocked the country since last week.

Duncan Graham – Cashiered former general Prabowo Subianto was elected president of Indonesia last year on a contradictory campaign image.

One side showed a soft, caring grandpa, friend of the wong kecil (wee folk). The flip side promoted an urbane statesman who'd lift his country's international status as the world's third-largest democracy.

Rebecca Ratcliffe – At least 20 people are missing following violent protests that have gripped cities across Indonesia over the past week, a human rights group has warned.

Rafiqa Qurrata A'yun, Ary Hermawan and Abdil Mughis Mudhoffir – A wave of protests across Indonesia triggered by the genuine grievances of many Indonesians deprived of their right to a decent livelihood has recently devolved into violent riots that have cost the lives of at least seven innocent civilians.

Responding to the Indonesian government's announcement that at least eight people have been killed since nationwide protests against low wages, tax hikes and lawmakers' pay started on 25 August, Amnesty International's Regional Research Director, Montse Ferrer, said:

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The youth wing of Nahdlatul Ulama, Gerakan Pemuda Ansor (GP Ansor), has begun deploying its security unit, Barisan Ansor Serbaguna (Banser), to support security efforts during the wave of demonstrations sweeping across Indonesia.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – Researcher at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Deni Friawan, has cautioned that Indonesia risks sliding into an economic crisis if the government fails to address the root causes of the ongoing demonstrations.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka visited the family home of Andika Lutfi Falah, a student who died after joining a mass demonstration, in Puri Bidara Permai, Tigaraksa, Tangerang Regency, Banten, on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

Jakarta – The wave of demonstrations in Jakarta and several other regions over the past week has formulated a number of demands to the government regarding improvements in bureaucratic governance and law enforcement.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Human Rights, Natalius Pigai, has responded to a request from the United Nations Human Rights Office to investigate alleged human rights violations by security forces during recent mass protests.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) believes that the Indonesian government has not yet responded to the root causes of the recent protests occurring in various regions.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The West Java Regional Police have denied allegations that their officers fired tear gas directly at Bandung Islamic University (Unisba). According to the police, the smoke entered the campus area after being carried by the wind from the street.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has seized 15 vehicles belonging to lawmaker Satori of the National Democratic Party (Nasdem) as part of a probe into alleged misuse of social funds from Bank Indonesia and the Financial Services Authority (OJK).

Basten Gokkon – Researchers have developed the first model to map how supply and demand interact in Indonesia's highly lucrative songbird trade, revealing patterns that could help curb poaching pressure on rare and threatened species.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, or LBH Jakarta, criticizes President Prabowo Subianto's remarks on permission for people who wish to protest. According to LBH Jakarta's Director, Muhammad Fadhil Alfathan, citizens who wish to stage a demonstration are only required to submit a notice, not obtain permission.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati announced that the government will not impose new taxes or raise tax rates in 2026. Despite this, the state revenue target in the 2026 State Budget (RAPBN) is set to increase by 9.8%, reaching Rp3,147.7 trillion.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto's plan to promote police officers injured during recent protests has sparked criticism from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH). The LBH argues that these promotions are inappropriate while many protesters are still injured or have died.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – A student from Tangerang, Andika Lutfi Falah, has died after allegedly being beaten by police during a protest. The 11th-grade student passed away at AL Mintohardjo Hospital on Monday, September 1, 2025, after being in a coma for three days.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has opened an online complaint post for missing persons. Kontras has opened the post to respond to the abundance of information on missing persons during the mass demonstrations in Indonesia from August 25 to 31, 2025.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesia's actor and influencer Andovi Da Lopez was among the demonstrators at the main gate of the House of Representatives (DPR) complex on Monday, September 1, 2025. Together with other influencers, he brought demands named "17+8 People's Demands".

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has found that 1,683 individuals were arrested by the police during the mass demonstrations in Jakarta from August 25 to 31, 2025. They were apprehended by the Jakarta Metro Police.

Rama Sukarta, Muhammad Ghafur Fadillah, Jakarta – Indonesia's economy remains fundamentally strong despite a week of nationwide protests and violent unrest, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said on Monday.

The Indonesian Civil Society Coalition wishes to convey several things:

Sukarjito, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesia has suspended five lawmakers whose controversial remarks about parliamentary perks and displays of privilege inflamed public anger, triggering violent protests that swept across the country.

Antara, Jakarta – Two leaders of prominent Indonesian universities have urged the public to remain calm and exercise restraint in responding to the current political situation marked by demonstrations.

The Rector of the University of Indonesia (UI), Heri Hermansyah, said that the public should express their aspirations while preventing anarchic acts.

Mohammad Muajijin, Kediri, East Java – The Regent of Kediri, Hanindhito Himawan Pramana, has called on looters to return cultural artifacts stolen during violent demonstrations on Saturday that left government offices burned and the Bagawanta Bhari Museum ransacked.

Jakarta – Indonesia has made digital declarations mandatory for all international travelers beginning September 1, 2025, through the government's new All Indonesia app.

Antara, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) will continue to remain in the market to maintain the stability of the exchange rate and the adequacy of rupiah liquidity post the recent protests.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto stated that while the right to protest is guaranteed by law, demonstrations must follow strict rules, including obtaining a permit and concluding by 6:00 p.m.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia's palm oil exports saw another double-digit increase as of July as shipments of this agricultural commodity – both in crude and processed – hit the $14 billion mark in value.

Andrew Tito, Jakarta – Indonesian police said Monday that the security situation in Jakarta and other regions has returned to "conducive" levels after a week of violent demonstrations, as joint patrols by police, soldiers, and community groups were rolled out to prevent further unrest.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has acknowledged that police officers sometimes make mistakes while enforcing the law, which can lead to casualties during demonstrations.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Prominent content creator Jerome Polin Sijabat, in collaboration with various civil society groups, is pressuring the government to address public grievances stemming from recent nationwide protests.

Jakarta – Unlike other types of corruption, corruption in the hajj pilgrimage management involves two wrongdoings in one. Firstly, it harms the state and millions of prospective pilgrims. Secondly, it manipulates the earnest desire of the faithful planning to undertake their obligations according to the fifth pillar of Islam.

Yovanda Noni, Antara, Samarinda – Twenty-two students from Mulawarman University, East Kalimantan, were caught making dozens of Molotov cocktails that were allegedly intended for use in a protest scheduled for Monday.

Indonesia is weighing the acquisition of Italy's decommissioned aircraft carrier as part of Jakarta's push toward a blue-water navy.

Newsweek contacted the Indonesian Ministry of Defense and the Italian Embassy for comment via email.

Why it matters

Basten Gokkon – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has set up a new authority to build a massive seawall along the north coast of Java, a project aimed at shielding millions of residents from flooding and sinking land, but observers reject it as a true solution while highlighting risks, elite bias and lack of consultation.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Indonesia recorded deflation of 0.08 percent in August 2025 on a month-to-month basis, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). The figure is deeper than the 0.03 percent deflation seen in August last year.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia announced Monday that it had extended its surplus streak for the 63rd month following a $4.17 billion positive trade balance in July.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Police in the Indonesian capital have arrested more than 1,200 people following a week of violent protests marked by looting and vandalism, Jakarta Police Chief Inspector General Asep Edi Suheri said on Monday.

Michael H. Hadylaya, Jakarta – In The Hunger Games, the Capitol glitters while the districts starve. The elites feast, dress extravagantly and stage parades as if hunger were a distant rumor. That was fiction, but in Indonesia today, the parallels feel striking.

Stefanno Sulaiman and Gayatri Suroyo, Jakarta – Indonesian political parties have agreed to revoke a number of perks and privileges for parliamentarians, President Prabowo Subianto said on Sunday, in a bid to calm anti-government protests that have left five people dead and caused the worst violence in decades in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

Jakarta – Lawmakers at the House of Representatives returned to work on Monday with members of key commissions kicking off fresh rounds of deliberations on crucial legislation.

Members of Commission I overseeing defense and foreign affairs on Monday resumed their session to discuss details of the 2026 state budget with the leadership of the Indonesian Military (TNI).

Agencies, Jakarta – Students and civil society groups called off protests on Monday after a week of escalating anger over lawmakers' pay and the police response, citing fears of heightened security measures after deadly riots over the weekend.

Jakarta – Indonesia is living through one of its most volatile moments since the democratic transition of 1998. What began as scattered unrest has now spilled across cities, fueled by deep economic frustration, perceived elite impunity and a rising sense that the political class has grown deaf to the people's plight.

Rebecca Ratcliffe – Indonesian political parties have agreed to cut some lawmakers' perks, including a controversial $3,000 housing allowance, the president said, as security measures were stepped up in an attempt to halt protests that have gripped the country for a week.

Miriam Bahagijo, New York – The seats were almost full as the lights dimmed and an audio speaker transmitted the decades-old announcement of voice actress Marie Oentoe Tinangon, familiar to most Indonesian moviegoers: "The door to Theater 1 is open."

Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition and the Indonesian Academic Alliance of Concern have responded to a speech by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto regarding the situation that has triggered large demonstrations in a number of regions since last week.