Indonesia has a long history of struggle by the oppressed people against colonialism, feudalism, militarism and capitalism. In this struggle, left-wing ideas played a central role as one of the main currents in shaping political awareness, the strategies of struggle and the direction of national development.
Analysis and Opinion
June 2025
May 2025
Dika Mohammad – Reformasi – the political reform process that began in 1998 – was an important moment in Indonesian political history. It marked the end of the New Order authoritarian regime.
Sharon Muller – Indonesian military operations have again been launched in Intan Jaya regency, Central Papua province. This is the umpteenth time operations have been launched by the TNI (Indonesian Military) on the pretext of pursuing the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organ
Ishvar – According to Law Number 20/2009 on Titles, Services and Honours, the requirements to be named a national hero include having moral integrity and setting an exemplary example, a service to the nation and state and/or being loyal to and not betraying the nation and state.
Miswanto – International Workers' Day (May Day) was born from the embers of resistance. It was not a compassionate gift from the ruling class, but the result of a long struggle by the international working class demanding the most basic rights: eight hours of work, eight hours of rest and eight hours of human e
Jakarta – The project to rewrite Indonesian history initiated by the Ministry of Culture has attracted the attention of a number of historians. It is hoped that the rewrite will not to ignore the dark chapters of Indonesian history, especially related to gross human rights violations that have been committed by the state.
March 2025
Ika Ningtyas, Inge Klara Safitri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto said recently that there are foreign forces who want to sew disunity in Indonesia through non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the mass media. The statement was made during a speech at the anniversary of the
Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) and the government have continued discussions on revisions to Law Number 34/2004 on the Indonesian Military (UU TNI) in the midst of public criticism.
Riang Karunianidi and Dipo Negoro – The first one hundred days of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has already given us a picture of how this regime will run in the future.
February 2025
Dika Moehammad – "In our lives, there is only one thing we have, that is courage. If we don't have that, then what is the value of our lives?" This was a statement by Indonesia's foremost author Pramoedya Ananta Toer. The problem of courage or guts is what we don't have today.
Jakarta – A wave of demonstrations involving students and civil society organisations titled "Dark Indonesia" took place in a number of regions, including Jakarta, between Monday February 17 and Friday February 21.
Jakarta – The inauguration of Deddy Corbuzier to the Defence Ministry as a special staff member for social and public communications adds to the long list of celebrities in government.
The polemic about writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer has only wasted energy. Now is the time to respect him in a place that is fitting.
Hilmar Farid – History, literature, and imagination come together in the life and works of Pramoedya Ananta Toer. He not only wrote literature, but also explored history and used words to revive the past that was deliberately deleted.
Jakarta – The government plans to provide pardons or amnesty for around 44 thousand prisoners. One of the categories of prisoners who will receive amnesty are political prisoners related to Papua.
December 2024
Fika Nurul Ulya, Dani Prabowo, Jakarta – University of Indonesia (UI) Political Studies Centre (Puskapol) Director Hurriyah believes there is a hidden agenda by the political elite who are proposing changing the election of regional heads (Pilkada) from a direc
Vitorio Mantalean, Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) Executive Director Djayadi Hanan believes that President Prabowo Subianto's proposal for regional heads to be elected by Regional Houses of Representatives (DPRD) is un
Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto's proposal to restore the indirect election of regional heads (Pilkada) through Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) is not really a solution to the high political costs of elections.
Jakarta – The number of people that did not use their right to vote or golput in the 2024 election of regional heads (Pilkada) was fairly high. In a number of regions, the number of votes for those that won elections was far less than the golput figure.
November 2024
Hadi Sutanto dan Dipo Negoro – President Prabowo Subianto accompanied by Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka inaugurated the ministers and deputy ministers of the new Red and White Cabinet for 2024-2029 at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday afternoon, Octo