[From an oped piece by Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) Director Gufron Mabruri titled "Criticising Revisions to the TNI Law".]

Aryo Putranto Saptohutomo, Jakarta – A statement by TNI (Indonesian military) commander General Agus Subiyanto, who said that currently they are not dwi-fungsi (dual-function) but are multi-functional, is considered wrong because it deviates from t

Ambaranie Nadia Kemala Movanita, Jakarta – The Institute for Public Research and Advocacy (ELSAM) has criticised the plan to give police the authority to conduct wiretaps, which is included in the revisions to the National Police Law (UU Polri).

Thousands of workers from the Confederation of the All-Indonesian Workers Union (KSPSI) and the Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance Confederation (KASBI) rallied in front of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) building on Jalan MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta

Fitria Chusna Farisa, Jakarta – The government plans to start the construction of the new capital city (IKN) mega-project "Nusantara" in North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan, in mid-2022.

Jakarta – The Save Indonesia Action Coalition (KAMI) has sent an open letter to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in which they demanded he take serious action against of the resurgence of neo-communism and the “new style” Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

Jakarta – Participants at Sunday’s “Crush Communism Rally” in Jakarta from organisations such as the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), the 212 Alumni Brotherhood (PA 212) and the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa (GNPF-MUI), read out an anti-communist charter.

Ihsanuddin, Jakarta – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will not send a presidential letter (surpres) to the House of Representatives (DPR) signifying its agreement with deliberations on the Draft Law on Pancasila Ideology Guidelines (RUU HIP).

Jakarta – Indonesian Human Rights Watch group Imparsial is asking the government to review the planned involvement of active TNI (Indonesian military) and Polri (Indonesian police) officers in the Agency for Pancasila Ideology Education (BPIP).

Jakarta – Another hammer-and-sickle flag case has again raised its head after a flag with the communist logo was found in Makassar. Over the years such cases have occurred unintentionally, have related to scholarly studies, hoaxes intended to trigger unrests, criminalisation of activists and the revival of identity politics.

Kristian Erdianto, Jakarta – During a working meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto explained the concept of defense and security which he will pursue over the next five years.

The betrayal of the mandate of reformasi – the political reform movement that began in 1998 – has angered Indonesia’s youth, students and the ordinary people.

Alfian, Makassar -- The momentum of Youth Pledge Day on Monday October 28 was used by students and local people in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar to again take to the streets to voice their demands.

Surabaya – Hundreds of workers and student from various different organisations calling themselves the United People’s Struggle Alliance (APPR) held a demonstration at the East Java governor’s office on Jl Pahlawan in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya.

Jakarta – Trisakti University Student President Dino Ardiansyah is urging President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to issue a government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) to annul the recently revised Corruption Eradication Commission Law (UU KPK).

International Women’s Day (IWD) was commemorated in the East Java provincial capital of Semarang on Friday March 8 by the Equality Alliance Front (Aliansi Barisan Kesetaraan, ABK) – an alliance of several organisations and individuals in Semarang fighting for women’s liberation and other oppressed groups.

Ari Saputra, Jakarta – Students and workers have again demonstrated against the draft law on state intelligence (RUU Intelijen Negara), this time by covering their bodies with white paint and chaining their hands together to symbolise the shackling of freedom should the draft intelligence law be ratified by the House of Representatives.

M Hernowo and Anita Yossihara – The Joint Secretariat (Setgab) of political parties supporting the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. This was one of the important political “breakthroughs” in 2010, and the controversy surrounding it has continued to this day.

Jakarta – Discussion of the Draft Law on Defense and Security (RUU Hankam) which has been initiated up by Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono is a step backwards in efforts to reform the Indonesian armed forces (TNI).

Muhammad Atqa, Jakarta – Hundreds of people from the Bekasi Social Forum (Forum Masyarakat Bekasi, FMB) and the Islamic Youth Movement (Gerakan Pemuda Islam, GPI) are calling for the controversial draft law on the armed forces (RUU TNI) to be enacted immediately.