Jakarta – The Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) – an institution concerned with freedom of expression in the digital world – has criticised the newly established virtual police (VP) unit formed under the national police headquarters that is tasked with monitoring the activities of netizens.

Jakarta – Virtual Police from the Bhayangkara Corps – as the Indonesian police are known – have officially begun operating. The unit, which was the idea of national police chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, was formed to prevent criminal actions which violate the Information and Electronic Transaction Law (UU ITE).

Jakarta – The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has accused sections of the oligarchy in government circles of being one of the causes of the series of natural disasters that have occurred around the country over the last few weeks.

Man: That's for us isn't it?

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration has suffered yet another blow to its once clean image after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Social Affairs Minister Juliari Batubara a suspect in a graft case involving the distribution of Covid-19 social aid (Bansos).

Jakarta – A protest action opposing Law Number 11/2020 on Job Creation took place in the Medan Merdeka area of Central Jakarta on the afternoon of Tuesday November 10.

Jakarta – A non-government organisation focusing on mining in South-East Asia, Transforming Energy and Development (Trend Asia), is urging the government to reveal detailed information on mining contracts in Indonesia. Trend Asia representative Ahmad Ashov made the call on International Right To Know Day which fell on September 28.

Ilyas Istianur Praditya, Jakarta – The Indonesian Trade Union Council (MPBI) has confirmed it will postpone mass actions against the Draft Omnibus Law on Job Creation.

Jakarta – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s plea for workers, students and worshipers to stay home in order to prevent the spread of the corona virus (Covid-19) can’t be followed by all workers. There are groups who have to continue working outside the home in order to keep kitchens fires burning despite the risk of the fatal disease.

Jakarta – The commemoration of International Women’s Day (IWD) in Jakarta on Sunday March 8 was marked by a long-march from the General Elections Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) building in Central Jakarta to the nearby Presidential Palace.

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Jakarta – The wife of Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) spokesperson Surya Anta, Lucia Fransisca, says that her husband was treated differently from other patients when he underwent a medical examination at the prison clinic.

Haris Fadhil and Indra Komara, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has strongly criticised a statement by Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko who said that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) could be hindering investment. Although he has since clarified his statement, ICW says that Moeldoko’s logic is misguided.

If you can, pick the clean ones. Don’t play favourites, show some real guts Mr...

Document reads: 10 Candidate KPK Leaders

Gita Irawan, Jakarta – Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) researcher for political affairs, Professor Syamsuddin Haris, is concerned that there is a plot to “tame” the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) through the selection of new batch of KPK leaders for 2019.

Adi Ahdiat, Jakarta – The government has completed the next year’s draft budget for ministries and state institutions. The budget is set out in the government’s 2020 Macroeconomic Projection and Draft Fiscal Policy (KEM-PPKF) document which was released by the Ministry of Finance in May.

According to the Ministry of Health, while Indonesia has seen a gradual decline in stunting from 37.2 percent in 2013 to 30.8 percent in 2018, other reports confirm a far higher prevalence of malnutrition among children in eastern Indonesia with some area reporting figures as high as 40 percent.

Maria Rosari Dwi Putri, Jakarta – The Anti-Corruption Civil Society Coalition has rejected the composition of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) candidate leadership selection committee (pansel capim) established by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Friday May 17.

Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) says there are 1,466 state civil servants (PNS) who have been proven guilty of corruption but have yet to be dismissed. The state is also suffering financial losses because they are still receiving wages.

Jakarta – The younger brother of missing radical street poet and labour activist Wiji Thukul, Wahyu Susilo, is urging presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto to go to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) and testify on the abduction and the forced disappearance of democracy activists by the Rose Team in 1997-98.

Jakarta – Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) researcher Aisah Putri Badriati is surprised that neither presidential candidate raised the issue of West Papua in first presidential debate on January 17.