Pradito Rida Pertana, Bantul – Taking place at the offices of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta, a group of activists have declared that they will golput – or abstain from voting – in the 2019 presidential election.

The following is a statement by the Yogyakarta International Women’s Day (IWD) Committee on the University of North Sumatra’s (USU) censoring of the Suara USU (Voice of USU) student press.

Dwi Andayani, Jakarta – The country’s peak Islamic body the Indonesia Ulama Council (MUI) has declared that taking a position of golput – to abstain from voting – in the elections is haram (forbidden under the Islamic law).

On the afternoon of Monday March 18, scores of people from various different groups held a protest action at the Yogyakarta Monument in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta.

Agus Bebeng, Bandung – Commemorating the Global Day of Solidarity with Venezuela, a group of protesters from the Solidarity Committee for Venezuela (KSV) held a protest action in West Java provincial capital of Bandung on the afternoon of Monday March 18.

Ahmad Fauzan, Bandung – Scores of youth activists from the Solidarity Committee for Venezuela (KSV) held a protest action in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung on Monday March 19 to express the solidarity of Bandung youth with the economic crisis being suffered by the people of Venezuela.

Luqman Hakim, Yogyakarta – Women activists from a number of different groups in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta are urging the House of Representatives (DPR) to immediately ratify the Draft Law on the Elimination of Sexual Violence (RUU PKS) as a comprehensive mechanism to deal with sexual violence against women.

Purwokerto – The Banyumas People’s Struggle Front (FPR) held a protest action in the Central Java city of Purwokerto to commemorate International Women’s Day which falls today, Friday March 8. Around 50 people took part in action which was held in front of the Purwokerto square.

Luqman Hakim, Yogyakarta – An alliance of women’s groups in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta held a peaceful action at the zero kilometre point in front of the central post office on Friday March 8 to commemorate International Women’s Day (IWD) 2019.

In the framework of commemorating International Women’s Day (IWD) which falls on March 8 each year, the Lampung Women’s March held a creative action parade today in the North Sumatra city of Lampung.

Juli Hantoro, Jakarta – The director of the Jakarta Alimat Network (Indonesian Family Justice Movement), Maria Ulfah Anshor, says that opposition to the Draft Law on the Elimination of Sexual Violence (RUU PKS) is ridden with the politicisation of religion to take advantage of the momentum of the elections.

Resza Mustafa, Semarang – A Kamisan (Thursday) action was held by 32 activist and students from several different groups in front of the University of Diponegoro Statue in the Central Java provincial capital of Semarang on Thursday February 28.

On February 20 the International Women’s Day Joint Committee alliance held an action at the Gajah Mada University (UGM) in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta. The action was launched in response to developments in a case of sexual violence against a female UGM student known as Agni by fellow student HS in 2017.

Jakarta – The Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) and the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) say that the West Papuan people will not take part in the 2019 presidential and legislative elections.

Mela Arnani – Every year February 9 is commemorated as National Press Day which, it is hoped, will be an impetus to improve press freedom in Indonesia.

Usman Hadi, Yogyakarta – Advocates and the legal team supporting a Gajah Mada University (UGM) student who was the victim of rape during a student community placement program (KKN) on Seram Island have objected to the use of the term “peaceful resolution” in an agreement reached between the perpetrator and the victim facilitated by the UGM unive

Jakarta – Indonesian Institute for Science (LIPI) researcher Amin Mudzakir has revealed that that based on the results of a LIPI survey in 2018, there are three regions where there is a high-level of acceptance of fake news or hoaxes.

Jakarta – Commemorating 90 years since the first Women’s Congress in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on December 22, 1928, activists have highlighted the problems facing women workers.

Jakarta – A joint unit of TNI (Indonesian military) and police intercepted scores of activists from the Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua (FRI-WP), the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) and the Papuan Central Highlands Indonesian Student Association (AMPTPI) at the North entrance to the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on Wednesda

Arnold Belau, Jayapura – As many as 96 activists from the Indonesian People’s Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) in Ternate, North Maluku, were arrested after police forcibly broke up a rally in front of the Barito Market.