On December 16 President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo attended a gathering of TNI (Indonesian military) village supervisory non-commissioned officers (Babinsa) from throughout Sumatra at the Balariung Pinang Masak, Jambi University, in Central Sumatra.

Jakarta – Hundreds of workers from the Confederation of United Indonesian Workers (KPBI) held a protest march on Saturday December 8 from the Farmers Monument in Central Jakarta to the nearby State Palace. During the action, the workers highlighted the problems of corruption and the government’s failure to resolve human rights violations.

Palembang – The secretary general of Tommy Suharto’s Working Party (Partai Berkarya), Priyo Budi Santoso, says that the Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno presidential ticket will restore the country to exactly the same as it was under Tommy’s father, Indonesia’s second president Suharto.

Ray Jordan, Lampung – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo insists that work on the Trans Papua road project will continue despite the recent shooting of construction workers in Nduga regency, Papua.

Widodo is asking that all infrastructure projects and Trans Papua workers always be accompanied by security personnel.

Jeka Kampai, Padang – The Pariaman municipal government in West Sumatra has responded swiftly to anxiety about deviant behaviour by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people in the city.

West Sumatra Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) chairperson Buya Gusrizal Gazahar has forbidden (mengharamkan) the Islamic community from voting for leaders who reject bylaws (perda) based on Islamic law.

Fadiyah Alaidrus – The mayor of Padang, Mahyeldi Ansharullah, has led a declaration attended by thousands of people rejecting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) in the West Sumatran city.

Budiarti Utami Putri, Jakarta – Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) chairperson Grace Natalie has been reported to the national police headquarters criminal investigation bureau (Bareskrim Mabes Polri) for alleged blasphemy against religion.

Protests against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) groups have taken place in a number of parts of the country. Why is it difficult for society to accept the presence of the LGBT community in a more intelligent way?

Pariaman – The Pariaman municipal government (pemkot) in West Sumatra will be taking more serious measures against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people in the city by using customary law. The punishments could range from paying a fine in the form of cement or a buffalo.

Padang – Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) officials in Padang, West Sumatra, have hunted down and arrested 10 women for being suspected lesbians after they uploaded photographs containing homosexual content on their Facebook account.

Jeka Kampai, Padang – All elements of Payakumbuh City in West Sumatra have declared war on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people and other types of social illnesses.

Rio Tuasikal – Raids conducted without legal grounds have again occurred against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people. Three transgender women in Lampung province, North Sumatra, were hosed down with water from a fire truck in an action which has been slammed as “inhuman” and “arbitrary”.

Jakarta – The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) says that since 2012 Indonesia has had no functioning early tsunami detection buoys.

Bulukumba – Hundreds of farmers from the Bulukumba People’s Struggle Front (FPR) in South Sulawesi commemorated National Farmers Day (HTN) with a protest action in front of the Bulukumba regent’s office on Monday September 24.

Christie Stefanie, Jakarta – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo says that he respect the verdict handed down by the Medan District Court against Meiliana who was sentenced to one-and-a-half years in jail after being found guilty of blasphemy.

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).

Abraham Utama – Prabowo Subianto has preempted President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in embracing labour groups in the lead up to the 2019 presidential elections.

Hanif Mustafa, Bandar Lampung – The Adipura Monument in the South Sumatra city of Lampung was suddenly packed with hundreds of protesting works all wearing red.

The workers, who came from the Lampung People’s Struggle Centre (PPRL) were holding a peaceful action to commemorate International Labour Day (May Day) on May 1.

Langkan, Padang – Workers from the All Indonesia Trade Union Confederation (KSPSI) in Padang, West Sumatra (Sumbar), donated blood and held a relaxation walk during the commemoration of International Labour Day or May Day 2018.