Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs Wiranto says that the government is open to dialogue with all parties to improve the situation in Papua, but it will not discuss a referendum or Papuan independence.

Adi Ahdiat, Jakarta – The Papua Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) says that since the beginning of Indonesian independence up until now, the country has never been free of racist practices.

Jakarta – A number of workers planning to hold a protest action were arrested by police in the vicinity of the House of Representatives (DPR) and People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) building in Jakarta on Friday August 16.

Fakhrizal Fakhri, Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) opposes the Draft Presidential Regulation (Perpres) on the Indonesian Military’s (TNI) role in Overcoming Terrorism which will soon be signed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

Muhammad Taufiqqurahman, Makassar – A group calling itself the Indonesian Muslim Brigade (BMI) has seized books they say smack of communism from a Gramedia bookstore in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar, including books by Franz Magnis-Suseno.

Felix Nathaniel – Social media has been abuzz after the TNI’s (Indonesian military) official Twitter account carried a cartoon about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) practices. The following day, the police (Polri) also spoke out on the issue saying that LGBT is a disease that requires early prevention.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) says that the deployment of the TNI (Indonesian military) and Polri (Indonesian police) personnel to help extinguish forest and land fires (Karhutla) fails to address the root cause of the problem.

Bangun Santoso – The seizure of books allegedly containing communist ideas belonging to the Vespa Literacy community by the Kraksaan sectoral police and Probolinggo regency TNI (Indonesian Military) on July 27 was an abuse of power and violated the law.

Jakarta – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has officially signed Presidential Regulation Number 42/2019 on Two Revisions to Presidential Regulation Number 10/2010 on the Organisational Structure of the Indonesian Military (TNI). The presidential regulation (perpres) was signed and came into force on July 3.

Afif – The North Aceh regency government has banned women and under age children from going out at night or roaming the streets during school hours without being accompanied by a mahram (husband or male family member) or their parents.

Jakarta – A number of parties have protested over statements quoted by the loosing Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno presidential ticket in a legal challenge against the presidential election (pilpres) result with the Constitutional Court (MK).

Danu Damarjati, Jakarta – Following the riots that took place in Jakarta on May 22, the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) and 15 LBH branches across Indonesia are calling on the political elite to stop triggering conflicts.

Eva Mazrieva, Washington DC – In mid-April Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released its annual report and world press freedom index. Surprisingly, Indonesia was still in 124th place meaning press freedom has stagnated and there has been absolutely no progress since 2018.

International Women’s Day (IWD) was commemorated in the East Java provincial capital of Semarang on Friday March 8 by the Equality Alliance Front (Aliansi Barisan Kesetaraan, ABK) – an alliance of several organisations and individuals in Semarang fighting for women’s liberation and other oppressed groups.

Jakarta – Scores of people have been arrested and convicted using the “rubber” (catchall) articles in the Information and Electronic Transaction Law (UU ITE) as a result of a rise in criticism against the government.

Fitria Chusna Farisa, Jakarta – The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) is urging police to release Jakarta State University (UNJ) lecturer and human rights activist Robertus Robet who has been indicted on charges of insulting the authorities or a public agency in Indonesia.

Fitria Chusna Farisa, Jakarta – Constitutional legal expert Bivitri Susanti from the Center of Law and Policy Studies (PSHK) says that the Information and Electronic Transaction Law (UU ITE) must be reviewed.

Imam Hamdi, Jakarta -- Activists who are part of Robertus Robet’s legal support team are urging National Police Chief (Kapolri) Tito Karnavian to release the Jakarta State University (UNJ) lecture who was arrested by police on Thursday March 7.

Oktaviani – The “sumpah pocong” challenge thrown up by Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs Wiranto to former Army Strategic Reserves Command (Green Berets) commander Major General Kivlan Zein is inappropriate.

Jakarta – Activists from the Solidarity Network for the Families of Victims (JSKK) held their 576th Kamisan (Thursday) action in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Thursday February 28.