Deti Mega Purnamasari, Jakarta – Democracy in Indonesia has declined for the first time since the beginning of the reformasi era – the political reform process that began in 1998. The cause of the decline in democracy is of high levels of discrimination against minorities.

Felix Nathaniel – Social media has been abuzz after the TNI’s (Indonesian military) official Twitter account carried a cartoon about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) practices. The following day, the police (Polri) also spoke out on the issue saying that LGBT is a disease that requires early prevention.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) says that the deployment of the TNI (Indonesian military) and Polri (Indonesian police) personnel to help extinguish forest and land fires (Karhutla) fails to address the root cause of the problem.

Jakarta – The TNI’s (Indonesian military) information centre has verified that @Puspen_TNI uploaded a comic strip on its Twitter account explaining the risks of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) practices.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) says that 2,087 out of 4,258 hotspots recroded between January and July were located on concession land. Concession land is land for which the government has given land use rights or permits to companies or other agencies.

Danu Damarjati, Jakarta – TNI (Indonesian military) commander Air Martial Hadi Tjahjanto conveyed his hope for closer military ties with Australia at the annual 2019 Australia-Indonesia High Level Committee (Ausindo HLC) forum in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta.

Ichsan Emrald Alamsyah, Jakarta – Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister Mohamad Nasir says that it is acceptable to discuss ideas such as Marxism and an Islamic caliphate on campus as long as it is limited to academic study and under the guidance of a lecturer.

Ghinan Salman, Surabaya – The Kraksaan sectoral police in Probolinggo, East Java, have reportedly returned four books with communist themes to literacy activists that are part of the Vespa Literacy community.

Bangun Santoso – The seizure of books allegedly containing communist ideas belonging to the Vespa Literacy community by the Kraksaan sectoral police and Probolinggo regency TNI (Indonesian Military) on July 27 was an abuse of power and violated the law.

Jakarta – A number of activists from the Civil Society Coalition suspect that the selection of leadership candidates for the Corruption Eradication Commission (capim KPK) for 2019-2023 which is currently underway is being manipulated by the government.

Saiful Bahri I, Lhokseumawe – Female religious pupils (santriwati) from the An Islamic boarding school (pesantren) in Lhokseumawe, northern Aceh, are now required to wear the cadar (full length Islamic veil) in and around their new pesantren.

Ahmad Faisol, Probolinggo – Police arrested two literacy activists who had setup a free reading stall at the Kraksaan public square in Probolinggo regency, East Java, on Saturday July 27. The two youths were arrested for allegedly displaying books by former Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) leader DN Aidit.

Danu Damarjati, Jakarta – A survey has found that victims of sexual harassment range from women wearing revealing clothing to those that are modestly dressed, including 17 percent who were wearing the hijab (Islamic headscarf or veil).

Achmad Ali – A thanksgiving celebrating the 23rd anniversary (HUT) of the People’s Democratic Party (PRD) at the secretariat offices in the Bratang Gede area of the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya was closed down by Islamic and nationalist ormas (social or mass organisations) who oppose any and all activities by the PRD.

Irsyan Hasyim, Depok – The Depok City government along with the Depok Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) are discussing a draft regional regulation (raperda) against Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people. But the policy has attracted protests from a number of groups including human rights and health organisations.

Jakarta – A number of ormas (social or mass organisations) arrived at the People’s Democratic Party (PRD) offices in the Bratang Gede area of the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya on Monday July 22. Tension in and around the location were apparently unavoidable.

Supriyadi – The Depok municipal Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) has tabled a draft regional regulation (Raperda) against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT). Loosing Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto’s Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) is at the forefront of the anti-LGBT fight in Depok.

Jakarta – The Jakarta provincial government plans to plant and establish mother-in-law tongue (lidah mertua) gardens at the mayor’s office and local administrative offices to reduce pollution in Jakarta.

Irsyan Hasyim, Depok – The Depok Love Society has questioned the urgency of planned deliberations on an Anti-Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Draft Regional Regulation or Raperda Anti-LGBT by the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) which was proposed by the Depok municipal government (pemkot).

Rizal Bomantama, Jakarta – Indonesian Child Protection Agency (KPAI) Commissioner for Education Affairs, Retno Listyarti, has revealed that the cases of sexual violence in schools in 2019 were dominated by teachers and school principles.