The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) recorded 78 cases of violations of freedom of expression in public between January and October 2019. These 78 cases involved 6,128 victims, 51 of which died. The data was obtained from the outcome of advocacy and complaints received by YLHHI and its 16 branch offices around Indonesia.

Kevin Candra, Lea Citra, Jakarta – Newly appointed Attorney General (AG) ST Burhanuddin has promised to make past human rights (HAM) cases a priority during his first 100 days in office. Burhanuddin said that the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is looking into the evidence.

Valda Kustarini, Jakarta – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has appointed constructional law expert Mahfud MD as the new Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs (Menko Polhukam).

Despite this, Mahfud’s appointment may not guarantee that the government will soon solve cases of past gross human rights violations.

Jakarta – The announcement and inauguration of the new Advance Indonesia Cabinet members by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin has attracted a variety of responses. There are some who are happy because they have long awaited such a lineup. There are others however who are disappointed and dissatisfied.

Lightning reads: Oligarchy

Man: I hope you’ll weather the storm.

Reza Gunadha, Eleonora Padmasta Ekaristi Wijana – Lawyer and human rights activist Veronica Koman has been awarded the Sir Ronald Wilson Human Rights Award by the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID).

The ACFID presented the award to Koman at its annual conference in Sydney on the evening of Wednesday October 23.

Reza Gunadha and Novian Ardiansyah – The 212 Alumni Brotherhood (PA 212) is calling on Prabowo Subianto to repatriate Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Muhammad Rizieq Shihab within 100 days after being inaugurated as the new Defense Minister (Menhan) by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

Jakarta – Students protesting near the Horse Statue in Central Jakarta today said they hope that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will not betray the people during his second term in office.

Jakarta – The Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) offices in Medan, North Sumatra, has been attacked by molotov cocktails thrown by unidentified assailants. Police are currently searching for two people beloved to have thrown the bombs.

Ihsanuddin, Jakarta – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo refused to answer a question from a journalists about progress in solving the acid attack against senor Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan. Widodo instead responded the question by talking about the makeup of the next cabinet.

Jakarta – Activist and human rights lawyer for Papuan affairs, Veronica Koman, has met with Australian parliamentarians in Canberra. She said that during the meeting she asked the government of the Kangaroo Country to play a more active role in ending the bloodshed in Papua.

Muhammad Aminudin, Malang – Seven young people in the East Java city of Malang took turns in reading out quotes from the Fact Finding Team (TPF) report on the assassination of Munir.

Jakarta – The AMAR Law Firm and Public Interest Law Office says that 37 tertiary education institutions have threatened to sanction students who take part in #ReformasiDikorupsi (Reform Corruption) demonstrations to coincide with the inauguration of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on October 20.

Sydney – Veronica Koman, who is currently on the Indonesian police’s wanted persons list, met with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Australia on Tuesday October 8.

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).

Jakarta – The Institute for the Study of the 1965-1966 Massacres (YPKP 65) is ready to provide a list of names of people to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) who can be witnesses to the bloody 1965/66 tragedy. This follows long delays in resolving past human rights violations.

Valda Kustarini, Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) believes there is no relationship between the Draft Law on the Elimination of Sexual Violence (RUU PKS) and the Draft Criminal Code (RKUHP).

Resky Novianto, Jakarta – Indonesia is still a country which unfriendly to minorities such as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people. An organisation which focuses on the rights of LGBT people, Rainbow Current (Arus Pelangi), has recorded 1,840 cases of persecution against LGBT people between 2006 and 2018.

September 24 marks the commemoration of National Farmers Day. Every year, thousands of farmers take to the streets to demand the justice and prosperity that seems to have been forgotten by the government.

Yulida Medistiara, Jakarta – The Draft Law in the Elimination of Sexual Harassment (RUU-PKS) is still being deliberated by the House of Representatives (DPR). Women’s Solidarity Chairperson Dinda Nur Annisa Yura believes that this shows character of DPR members who are tolerant of sexual violence.