Human Rights Watch (HRW) says that the growing number of people being jailed for sending WhatsApp messages critical of the government and private companies is having a a disastrous and chilling effect on free speech and the government should repeal criminal provisions that restrict peaceful free expression online.

Despite new mechanisms introduced to allow businesses to process permits for export and import activities under one roof, dwell times at the country’s ports remains stubbornly high – weighed down by corruption, red tape and overlapping regulations.

Indonesia is the world’s second-largest sugar importer behind China and imports have doubled over the last 10 years. Last year, less than half the sugar consumed in Indonesia was grown domestically.

With only a month to go before Indonesia holds simultaneous presidential and legislative elections, tens of thousands of people may not be able to vote.

A shift in control over land, minerals and other resources to regional governments as part of the regional autonomy process, along with the cost of campaign spending for regional legislative bodies reaching into the millions of dollars, has turned campaign finances into a potentially lucrative investment for corporations and local business.

With the General Election Commission (KPU) and political party factions in the House of Representatives only agreeing on KPU Regulation (PKPU) Number 3/2019 on Vote-Casting and Vote-Counting on January 10 the KPU is now scrambling to socialise the highly technical and complex regulation to the public.

Musicians have slammed a new draft law seeking to criminalise content deemed pornographic or blasphemous, saying it could potentially limit freedom of expression in Indonesia.

Sixteen political parties – including four new ones – and their legislative candidates (caleg) will be contesting the April 17 legislative elections vying for places in the House of Representatives (DPR), the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) and provincial and regional legislative councils (DPRD).

Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) chairperson Edy Rahmayadi resigned from his position over the weekend amid fresh allegations of match-fixing in the national league which for years has been dogged by a series of corruption scandals.

Amid a series of arrests of high-profile politicians in sting operations by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), many voters were eagerly awaiting the first live presidential debate scheduled for tomorrow evening between incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (left) and vice presidential running mate Ma’ruf Amin and rival Prabowo Subia

Human rights activists and civil society groups have few expectations that the first presidential debate scheduled for January 17 between incumbent President Joko Widodo and rival Prabowo Subianto will address human rights issues in any substantial way given that neither camp has shown any commitment to protecting civil and political rights or a

While some may be hoping that next year will see a “healthier” electoral rivalry between incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and presidential hopeful former General Prabowo Subianto, if last year is anything to go by, they have little reason to be optimistic.

With many senior government officials – including several members of President Joko Widodo’s so called “Working Cabinet” – totally preoccupied with getting themselves reelected in next year’s legislative elections, little attention is being paid to rising food prices, which place a massive financial burden on Indonesia’s poor.

According to a report by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) and Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) on its latest study on the public’s perception of corruption, 52 percent of respondents in 2018 agreed that corruption levels have increased in some way.

On November 19 a team from Wakatobi National Park found 5.9 kilograms of plastic garbage inside the stomach of a dead sperm whale that had beached on Kapota Island, Southeast Sulawesi.

Electoral observers say that one of the reasons that it will be difficult for the public to make educated choices in the 2019 elections will be because of the limited information available to voters on legislative candidate’s (caleg) profiles and backgrounds.

The Indonesian Medical Association has recommended a medical audit as an option to solve a perpetual deficit in the national health insurance scheme which is expected to reach over Rp 10 trillion this year.

President Joko Widodo (left) announced Saturday that all vehicles will be free to use the 5.4 kilometre Suramadu (Surabaya-Madura) toll bridge connecting the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya and Madura Island without charge claiming the move would help spur economic development on the island.

A polemic has erupted over the importation of rice verses self-sufficiency with supporters of presidential challenger Prabowo Subianto using the issue to attack incumbent President Joko Widodo.

While President Joko Widodo was applauded for his remarks at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) annual meeting in Bali after he compared the global economic situation to the TV series Game of Thrones, protesters outside the meeting venue received a far from warm welcome.