Jakarta – West Papua province has again been recorded as having the worst democracy index. This year (2019), West Papua’s Democracy Index (IDI) was 57.62, even dropping lower from 2018 when it was 58.29 points.

Jakarta – Arbi M. Nur, a student from the Khairun University (Unkhair) in Ternate, North Maluku, who was expelled by the university after taking part in a free Papua protest action, has now been charged with treason.

Jakarta – Papuan students from the Action Committee Against Special Autonomy demonstrated in front of the Home Affairs Ministry offices in Jakarta on Tuesday July 14 against Special Autonomy (Otsus). The students said that the policy is not needed by the people of the land of the Bird of Paradise as Papua is known.

Jakarta – Former Papuan political prisoner Filep Karma says that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo promised to release all Papuan political prisoners during his administration. Widodo made this pledge, said Karma, to five of his fellow political prisoners in Jayapura, Papua, who were release in 2015.

Achmad Nasrudin Yahya, Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) recorded 38 cases of religious blasphemy between January and May, 2020.

YLBHI Chairperson Asfinawati revealed that there were three pieces of legislation which were used to indict people in these cases.

Jakarta – The Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) is urging President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to temporarily halt operations by mining companies around the country which they believe are neglecting workers’ safety in the midst of the corona pandemic (Covid-19).

Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia is calling for the release of 13 South Maluku Republic (RMS) activists who were arrested for commemorating the anniversary of the separatist group. Aside from being inappropriate amid the corona virus pandemic, the arrests are a violation of freedom of expression.

Jakarta – Human Rights lawyers Veronica Koman and Jennifer Robinson have sent a letter to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the United Nations Special Rapporteur asking them to urge the Indonesia government to release 63 political prisoners (tapol) indicted on charges of treason related to the free Papua movement.

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Rahmat Rahman Patty, Ambon – A protest action by scores of Papuan students calling themselves the Struggle Committee for Democracy and Human Rights in front of the World Peace Gong in Ambon City, Maluku, was broken up by police on Sunday December 1.

Racism by the ruling class through the security forces and reactionary civil militia groups against the Papuan people has triggered a fight back. The siege and attack on the Papuan student dormitory in the Central Java city of Surabaya on August 16 triggered a wave of anti-racist protests in Papua and across Indonesia.

Jakarta – The Papuan student dormitory in the Kalasan area of the East Java city of Surabaya was besieged by hundreds of people from various ormas (mass or social organisations) on the afternoon of Friday August 16.

Friski Riana, Jakarta – The Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) will not join other workers rallying in Jakarta during the commemoration of May Day or International Labour Day on May 1.

The 2019 Jakarta Women’s March will be held on Saturday April 27 with the slogan #BeraniBersuara (ReadyToSpeakOut). This year, the action will be held close to Kartini Day – making the birthday of turn-of-the-century feminist hero Kartini – which is commemorated on April 21 each year.

Agus Bebeng, Bandung – Commemorating the Global Day of Solidarity with Venezuela, a group of protesters from the Solidarity Committee for Venezuela (KSV) held a protest action in West Java provincial capital of Bandung on the afternoon of Monday March 18.

Ahmad Fauzan, Bandung – Scores of youth activists from the Solidarity Committee for Venezuela (KSV) held a protest action in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung on Monday March 19 to express the solidarity of Bandung youth with the economic crisis being suffered by the people of Venezuela.

Samarinda – Scores of protesters wearing multi-coloured clothing from the Samarinda Anti-Sexism Alliance began gathering at 2 pm local time at the Samarendah Park on Friday March 8.

Chen Toisuta, Ambon – Scores of student from the Student Struggle Centre for National Liberation (Pembebasan) and the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) have called on the public not to vote or golput in the legislative and presidential elections (pemilu) on April 17.

Rabul Sawal – Scores of students from the 2019 (Bourgeois) Election Boycott Committee (Komite Boikot Pemilu (Borjuis) 2019), held a protest action rejecting the 2019 presidential and legislative elections (pemilu).

Mela Arnani – Every year February 9 is commemorated as National Press Day which, it is hoped, will be an impetus to improve press freedom in Indonesia.