Waves of mass protests have swept across Indonesia over the past two months. In February, protesters from Papua to Sumatra rallied to protest President Prabowo Subianto’s free meal program and “efficiency” measures, demanded affordable education and protection of academic freedom, and called on the government to listen to “the people”Continue Reading
The recent establishment of Danantara, Indonesia’s new sovereign wealth fund, has generated significant public interest but also a degree of concern. Such reactions are understandable in a country with Indonesia’s complex political and economic landscape, where large-scale institutional innovations often provoke skepticism and uncertainty. However, it is important to recognizeContinue Reading
In early 2025, Indonesia enacted amendments to its National Armed Forces Law that expanded the domestic and bureaucratic roles of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), raising alarm among civil society actors, scholars, and democracy advocates. At first glance, the move appears technical – a response to evolving security challenges suchContinue Reading
Every Thursday evening, a group of activists assembles in front of the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia’s congested capital city. They wear matching black t-shirts and carry signs demanding accountability for a legacy of military-led human rights abuses. Some appeal for information about the fate and whereabouts of 17 studentsContinue Reading
Last week, Indonesia’s parliament passed a series of controversial amendments to its Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Law, which currently only awaits President Prabowo Subianto’s signature before coming into effect. In addition to allowing the appointment of sitting military officers in a wider array of civilian agencies, the revised lawContinue Reading
The Indonesian rupiah yesterday fell to its lowest level since the Asian financial crisis of 1998, reflecting concerns about the government’s fiscal trajectory and the uncertainties about incoming U.S. tariffs. According to The Jakarta Post, the rupiah momentarily fell to around 16,654 against the U.S. dollar, its weakest since JuneContinue Reading
JAKARTA: Activists have called for press freedom to be protected in Indonesia and demanded an investigation after a magazine critical of the government was sent a pig’s head and decapitated rats. Weekly magazine Tempo, a top Indonesian publication since the 1970s, has been critical of the policies of President Prabowo Subianto,Continue Reading
Unlike President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Indonesia’s new president, Prabowo Subianto, has yet to introduce a coherent national maritime strategy. In fact, following his inauguration in October, Prabowo began his administration by dissolving one of Jokowi’s main maritime legacies: the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment (Marves). Established during Jokowi’sContinue Reading
Indonesia’s parliament today passed a suite of controversial amendments to the country’s military law, which human rights groups say will likely remove hard-won checks on the power of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). The changes to the 2004 Indonesian Military (TNI) Law expand the government’s ability to appoint servingContinue Reading
Indonesia’s finance minister has been forced to deny rumors of her imminent resignation, after the country’s stock exchange yesterday fell to its lowest point in years. Speaking at what Reuters described as a “hurriedly called press conference” yesterday afternoon, Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that she remained in her post andContinue Reading
