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.

Firda Janati, Dani Prabowo, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid says that the statement by Minister of Culture Fadli Zon that there were no rapes during the May 1998 riots in Jakarta is a fatal error.

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.

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.

Jakarta – National University (Unnas) historian Andi Achdian is questioning the government's decision through the Ministry of Culture to revise the history of the Republic of Indonesia.

Jakarta – Minister of Culture Fadli Zon said that an official project to rewrite Indonesian history would not change the history of the 1965 massacre, often referred to as the G30S/PKI (September 30 Movement/Indonesian Communist Party) or the 1st October Movement (

May Day or Labour Day for us, the organisations that are members of GEBRAK, is a day of momentum for the workers' struggle, we must always promote it. [...] There is no reason that is adequate for people who have up until now suffered bad policies and repressive treatment from the state to then become close to and unite with oppressive power.

Singgih Wiryono, Danu Damarjati, Jakarta – Human rights activist Usman Hamid and the band The Blackstones commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference (KAA) at an event held by the Indonesian Democratic

Iwan Kurniawan – In 1979, shortly after being released from Buru Island in the Maluku Islands, Pramoedya Ananta Toer, a writer and member of the People's Cultural Institute (Lekra), together with Hasjim Rachman and

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.

Larius Kogoya, Jayapura – The Papuan people have continuously been victims of the militaristic practices carried out by the Indonesian government since 1963.

Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition which is part of the Try Suharto Civil Society Movement (Gemas) has sent a letter containing a petition to the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) requesting that the New Order (Orba) ruler former president Suharto not be aw

Tria Sutrisna, Ihsanuddin, Jakarta – The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has officially revoked Provisional People's Consultative Assembly Decree (TAP MPRS) Number 33/1967 on the Revocation of Executive Powers from President Sukarno, Indonesia's founding president.

[From an oped piece in Kompas.id by Jember University lecturer Andang Subaharianto titled “Explaining Jokowi's Apology”.]

Putu Merta Surya Putra, Jakarta – Hundreds of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) cadres and sympathisers commemorated the Kudatuli incident (the July 27, 1996 riots) on Friday July 26 by holding a long-march from the PDI-P Central Leadership Board (DPP) office on Jalan

Tria Sutrisna, Ihsanuddin, Jakarta – The Civil Society Network for Gender Justice Policies is urging House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani to push through the enactment of the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers (RUU PPRT).

Elisa Sekenyap, Jayapura – A peaceful demonstration by Papuan students in the Balinese provincial capital of Denpasar on Wednesday May 1 to commemorate the day Papua was annexed into the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) has been blocked and repressed by police.

Jakarta – Scores of Papuan activists held an action in Central Jakarta on Friday December 1 at the Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat intersection. During the action they criticised a number of issues including the recent hunger crisis in Papua.

Hayamuddin – On September 7 residents and security forces clashed on the island of Rempang, Riau province, after local people attempted to stop the authorities from conducting land measurements and boundary marking for the Eco City development project.

Syakirun Niam, Jakarta – A 1965 exile who resides in Amsterdam, Holland, Sri Budiarti or Ning, has related her experience of being berated and accused of being a member of the now-defunct Indonesian Women's Movement (Gerwani).