Mukhlis Dinillah, Bandung – Padjadjaran University (Unpad) students are protesting the use of Mobile Brigade (Brimob) paramilitary police as security on campus. The students say that their presence threatens the democratic freedom of Unpad students.

Moh Nadlir, Jakarta – The Labour Movement for the People (Gebrak) will call for the formation of a political alternative at May Day demonstrations or the commemoration of International Labour Day on May 1.

Jakarta – House of Representatives (DPR) deputy speaker Fadli Zon from Prabowo Subianto’s Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) has initiated a right of inquiry special committee into the issue of foreign workers in Indonesia.

Political observers say that if President Widodo (left) and his likely contender in the 2019 presidential election, former general Prabowo Subianto (right), try to use the same old strategies they did in 2014, it will only alienate votes.

The People’s Movement Conference (Konferensi Gerakan Rakyat) which was held over two days on April 19-20 at the Hotel 678 Cawang in Jakarta, was a historical milestone in carving out a new hope for the emergence of a united movement comprising all elements of the people.

Sign reads ‘Out of Sight brand Adulterated Liquor’

In what is believed to be the worst-ever mass fatality caused by alcohol poisoning in a country where drinkers regularly die from consuming bootleg alcohol, 82 people have died and 100 are in a critical condition in hospital after drinking moonshine.

Jacket reads ‘Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Prisoner’

Denpasar – The Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) has again spoken out against the PT Freeport Indonesia gold-and-copper mine in West Papua.

Jayapura – Five activists from the Independent Student Forum (FIM) who were involved in a solidarity action to collect to funds for victims of an earthquake in Papua New Guinea were reportedly arrested by police in Jayapura on Thursday April 5.

Jerome Wirawan – The case of the alleged abduction of 1,300 people in Mimika, West Papua last year is apparently not over yet. This week, as many as three people were shot dead by the TNI (Indonesian military) in an incident that the TNI claims was a shootout with an armed group.

Mother: Hey kid, eat the dead worms, lots of protein... so they’re safe...

The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) says that at least 27 brands of canned fish being sold on the market have been found to be contaminated with threadworms.

Prima Gumilang, Jakarta – As many as 44 members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) and several other organisations were arrested on Wednesday April 4 and are now being detained at the Jayapura municipal police headquarters (Mapolres).

Ternate – The Sula Islands regency government in North Maluku has banned the leftist Student Struggle Centre for National Liberation (Pembebasan) from conducting organisational activities in any form whatsoever within the legal jurisdiction of Sula regency.

Political observer Faisal Basri has criticised the use of state foreign debt which according to the government narrative is being used to spur infrastructure development.

Yet according to the data he has gathered, most of the government’s foreign debt is being spent on the civil service.

Dinda Purnamasari – On April 2, the website muslimbersatu.info published an article titled Polling Google: 86% don’t agree with Jokowi for 2nd term.

Marlinda Oktavia Erwanti, Jakarta – Indo Barometer Executive Director M Qodari says that Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) chairperson Prabowo Subianto is pursuing the same electoral strategy as Donald Trump used in the US presidential election.

Lalu Rahadian – Only days are left before simultaneous regional elections begin. The candidates taking part in the competition are using a variety of means to attract public attention in the hope of being chosen at the ballot box.

Dwi Andayani, Jakarta – The Indonesian Workers Trade Union Confederation (KSPI) will announce its choice for presidential candidate (capres) on May Day. A number of names such as President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) chairperson Prabowo Subianto are still being considered.

From an op-ed piece titled Corruption Haunts Regional Elections.

Vote-buying – the practice of handing out cash or goods in an effort to influence votes – remains pervasive and largely acceptable in Indonesia.

Tsarina Maharani, Jakarta – The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has ordered the withdrawal of several brands of canned mackerel because they contain tapeworms.

Health Minister Nila F Moeloek however says that the tapeworms are not a big problem for the human body as long as they are cooked properly.