Adi Ahdiat, Jakarta – The Papua Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) says that since the beginning of Indonesian independence up until now, the country has never been free of racist practices.

David Sobolim, Jayapura – Papuan students from the Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) and the Semarang and Salatiga Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) Committees held a joint protest action in the Central Java city of Salatiga in Thursday August 15.

Saiful Bahri I, Lhokseumawe – Female religious pupils (santriwati) from the An Islamic boarding school (pesantren) in Lhokseumawe, northern Aceh, are now required to wear the cadar (full length Islamic veil) in and around their new pesantren.

Jakarta – A number of ormas (social or mass organisations) arrived at the People’s Democratic Party (PRD) offices in the Bratang Gede area of the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya on Monday July 22. Tension in and around the location were apparently unavoidable.

Supriyadi – The Depok municipal Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) has tabled a draft regional regulation (Raperda) against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT). Loosing Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto’s Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) is at the forefront of the anti-LGBT fight in Depok.

Jakarta – House of Representatives Deputy (DPR) Speaker Fahri Hamzah has confirmed that the Indonesia New Direction Movement (Garbi) social organisation (ormas) will soon be transformed into a political party (parpol).

Jakarta – Defense Minister (Menhan) Ryamizard Ryacudu still reminisces about his friendship with the supreme leader of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab.

As the 2014-2019 term was coming to an end, the House of Representatives (DPR) were persistently trying to pass through a variety of draft legal revisions.

Jakarta – The Indonesian police plan to conduct cyber patrols of WhatsApp groups. The patrols will be done by means of investigating information on hoaxes being spread through WhatsApp groups based on complaints from the public.

M Rosseno Aji, Jakarta – The 212 Alumni Brotherhood (PA 212) says it will hold a series of protests in the vicinity of the Constitutional Court (MK) in Central Jakarta throughout the legal challenge against the presidential election result by the loosing ticket of Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno.

Christoforus Ristianto, Jakarta – Data and facts had little effect on voting patterns in the 2019 presidential election. According to Indikator Politik Indonesia Executive Director Burhanudin Muhtadi it was identity politics using a strategy of post-truth which was actually more effective.

Jakarta – Some time ago President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo gave his blessing to six ministers in his “Working Cabinet” to run as candidates in the 2019 legislative elections. But the majority of them failed to obtain enough votes to become representatives of the people in Senayan, as the parliament is known.

Jakarta -- Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo has denied accusations that law enforcement officials are using the makar (treason, sedition, subversion, rebellion) article like a “fire sale” (obral). Prasetyo believes that the use of the makar article in several recent cases are in accordance with the facts.

Farih Maulana S, Jakarta – The Trisakti University has commemorated 21 years since the tragedy which took place on May 12, 1998. The commemoration was held by retracing the footsteps of those killed in the incident and scattering flowers on the Trisakti campus grounds.

Jakarta – Lokataru Foundation Human Rights and Law Director Haris Azhar is pessimistic that the administration of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla have the political will to resolve the murder of labour activist Marsinah 26 years ago.

Jakarta – The deputy chairperson of the Islamic based Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS), Hidayat Nur Wahid, says that he doesn’t agree with the petition against the Islamic Defenders Front’s (FPI).

Jakarta – Amnesty International Asia-Pacific Advocacy Manager Fransisco Bencosme paid a visit to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) building on Friday April 26.

Chitra Paramaesti, Jakarta – The director of the film Memories of My Body (Kucumbu Tubuh Indahku), Garin Nugroho, has spoken out about an on-line petition rejecting his film which is currently being shown on the big screen.

Jakarta – At least 114 investigators from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have signed a petition complaining over the obstacles they face when pursuing corruption cases. The petition was addressed to the KPK leadership because they are having difficulties indicting big fish.

Jakarta – National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Commissioner Beka Ulung Hapsara says the prosecution of past cases of gross human rights (HAM) violations is being hindered by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and there is nothing new in the AGO’s latest response.