Jakarta – "Dark Indonesia" (Indonesia Gelap) student actions have again hit the streets on Thursday February 20 in a number of regions around the country after the first, second and third day of demonstrations on Monday February 17, Tuesday February 18 and Wednesday February 19.
Dark Indonesia actions were held yesterday in Palembang (South Sumatra), Medan (North Sumatra), Jakarta, Yogyakarta (Central Java) and Mataram (West Nusa Tenggara).
Jayapura – Student Executive Boards (BEM) from a number of campuses in Jayapura, including the Jayapura University of Science and Technology (USTJ), the Cenderawasih University (Uncen) and the Papua Muhammadiyah University, held a "Dark Indonesia" demonstration on the grounds of the USTJ campus in Abepura, Jayapura city, Papua province on Thursday February 20.
At least 50 students took part in the action. They unfurled banners and held up a number of posters while others took turns in giving speeches at the free speech forum to voice their demands and criticisms of the central government's policies.
Yogyakarta – Protesters from the Jogja Calling Alliance taking part in a protest action titled #Withthepeople (#Bersamarakyat) in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta highlighted the song "Pay Pay Pay" (Bayar Bayar Bayar) by the punk band Sukatani which has recently been withdrawn from all streaming services.
Speaking through a loudspeaker from the command vehicle, one of the participants at the action said that Sukatani had become a victim of repression of freedom of expression and art. Allegations of repression surfaced after Sukatani band members publicly announced the withdrawal of the song "Pay Pay Pay" from all music platforms and made an apology to the National Police.
Solo – Hundreds of students held a "Dark Indonesia" (Indonesia Gelap) action in front of the Solo city Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) offices on Wednesday February 19. During the rally, they blockaded Jalan Adi Sucipto which is one of the main thoroughfares in the Central Java city.
The action began at around 3 pm with hundreds of students from various different universities in greater Solo still protesting despite being drenched by rain. During the first hour of the action demonstrators continued to arrive until they filled Jalan Adi Sucipto, the main road access from the Adi Soemarmo Airport to the city of Solo.
Calls for revisions to the government regulation on protocol have gained traction following a video that went viral recently on social media involving a traffic patrol officer escorting an official black government vehicle with the number plates RI 36 on Jenderal Sudirman in Jakarta.
Amnesty International Indonesia is pushing for reform of the military justice system and a thorough evaluation of the use of firearms by members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) following the fatal shooting of a car rental business owner last week by members of the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL).
Jakarta – The number of citizens who did not use their right to vote, or golput, in the 2024 simultaneous regional elections was quite high. In several regions, the number of votes garnered by the winning tickets was far below the golput figure.
As of December 14, the Constitutional Court (MK) has received 283 regional election (Pilkada) dispute cases. This number is expected to rise as the registration period for election disputes remains open until December 18.
The election monitoring group the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem) says it uncovered serious allegations of widespread money politics during the campaign and cooling off period prior to the November 27 election of regional heads (Pilkada) in North Sumatra, Central Java and Jakarta.
Jakarta – The inauguration of Deddy Corbuzier to the Defence Ministry as a special staff member for social and public communications adds to the long list of celebrities in government.
The polemic about writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer has only wasted energy. Now is the time to respect him in a place that is fitting.
Jakarta – Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) has criticised the appointment of active TNI (Indonesian Military) officer Major General Novi Helmy Prasetya as the president director of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog).
Hilmar Farid – History, literature, and imagination come together in the life and works of Pramoedya Ananta Toer. He not only wrote literature, but also explored history and used words to revive the past that was deliberately deleted.
Jakarta – The government plans to provide pardons or amnesty for around 44 thousand prisoners. One of the categories of prisoners who will receive amnesty are political prisoners related to Papua.
The momentum of commemorating the 100th anniversary of Pramoedya Ananta Toer today, February 6, 2025, must be a momentum to ensure that the state no longer imprisons citizens simply for producing works or speaking out peacefully as Pram once experienced.
