Audrey Santoso, Jakarta – There seems to be no end of surprises when it comes to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Jakarta – Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo is pessimistic about the chances of resolving past gross human rights violations through legal channels.

Rofi Ali Majid – The education system has failed to realise the ideals of reformasi – the reform movement that began with the overthrow of former president Suharto in 1998.

This view was put forward by Max Lane, the author of the book Unfinished Nation: Indonesia Before and After Soeharto.

Wahyu Amuk, Padang – If Indonesia does not properly address the era of globalisation and modernisation there will be negative impacts with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) lifestyles, drugs and free sex running rampant, which will destroy the nation’s younger generation.

Today, Thursday March 8, is commemorated as International Women’s Day (IWD). IWD action coordinator Jumisih said that the women’s should not be banned from wearing an Islamic veil on campus.

Muhyiddin, Jakarta – Activist and writer Taufik Ismail says that although the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) no longer exists in Indonesia it is currently starting to be revived in order to take revenge for the defeat of the PKI in 1965.

Abraham Utama – The Working Party (Partai Berkarya), which was initiated by former President Suharto’s youngest son Hutomo Mandala Putra alias Tommy Suharto, is aiming to occupy third place in the 2019 legislative elections.

Aceh Governor Aceh Irwandi Yusuf has spoken at a rally by Islamic organizations (ormas) supporting the actions of North Aceh regency police chief Assistant Superintendent Untung Sangaji who ‘retrained’ 12 transgender women (waria) in North Aceh recently.

Dadang Kurnia, Bambang Noroyono – The sensitive LGBT issue has become a political hot potato following a statement by People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Zulkifli Hasan.

Pancasila – the philosophical and ideological basis of the Indonesian state – comprises five principles which are represented on the country’s coat of arms: Belief in the one and only God symbolised by a black shield and gold star; A just and civilized humanity symbolised by a chain of square and round links; The unity of Indonesia represented b

Ika Ningtyas, Jakarta – Scores of residents in the Pesanggaran sub-district of Banyuwangi, East Java, held a protest action demanding the release of their colleague, Heri Budiawan, who is being tried for spreading communist ideas.

Muhammad Aminudin, Malang – A demonstration by the Papua Student Alliance (AMP) in the East Java city of Malang ended in a clash with Pancasila Youth (PP) members who were offended by the protest.

Bagus Prihantoro Nugroho, Jakarta – The recently enacted Law on Social Organisations (UU Ormas), which was previously the Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 2/2017 (Perppu Ormas), was the subject of a discussion between President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and mass media editors.

Amirullah, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi says that the Pancasila Youth (Pemuda Pancasila, PP) are a special social organisation (ormas) and he is calling on the group to be the bulwark of the state ideology of Pancasila.

Bayu Ardi Isnanto, Solo – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo attended the keynote event of the Pancasila Youth’s (PP) 58th anniversary in the Central Java city of Solo. The president was given the opportunity to present his greetings and close the event.

Rakhmat Nur Hakim, Jakarta – Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 2/2017 (Perppu Ormas) has finally been passed into law by the House of Representatives (DPR) during a plenary session at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday October 24.

Moh. Nadlir, Jakarta – The government says there are still groups of social organisations (ormas) and individuals that explicitly want to replace the national ideology of Pancasila.

Dandhy Dwi Laksono – As in the case of the song Genjer-Genjer which was composed by M. Arief, the song Garuda Pancasila was also written by an artist from the People’s Cultural Institute (Lekra). His name was Sudharnoto.

Dwi Andayani, Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) and the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) believe there is a link between yesterday evening’s attack on the their offices and President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo statement about “clobbering the PKI”. The remark is seen as prone to misuse.

Dwi Andayani, Noval Dwinuary Antoni, Jakarta – Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) advocacy head Muhammad Isnur says that retired Major General Kivlan Zen and Presidium 313 member Rahmat Himran were behind the attack on the LBH Jakarta offices yesterday evening.