Audrey Santoso, Jakarta – A group of people who were part of a Defend the Tauhid [Oneness of God] action at the Poso regency House of Representatives (DPRD) in Central Sulawesi have taken down the red-and-white national flag and replaced it with a black flag bearing the kalimat tauhid (the Islamic creed).

Ardian Fanani, Banyuwangi – The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) says that the reason it opposes the Gandrung Sewu Dance Festival in Banyuwangi, East Java, is because of the string of recent disasters that have hit Indonesia.

Arief Ikhsanudin, Jakarta – The Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) says that Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan is still carrying out forced evictions one year after his campaign promise not to do so. The evictions were carried out by force without prior consultation with communities.

Andhika Prasetia, Jakarta – Presidential Staff deputy head Ali Mochtar Ngabalin has rebuked Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) deputy chairperson Fadli Zon over the posting of a video insinuating that the government is actually the banned Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

Elza Astari Retaduari, Jakarta – The youngest son of former president Suharto and Working Party (Partai Berkarya) chairperson Hutomo Mandala Putra (Tommy Soeharto) has joined the Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno election campaign team referred to as the National Winning Board.

Agus Setyadi, Aceh – Bireuen regent Saifannur has issued a new regulation on the “standardisation” of coffee shops, cafes and restaurants in the regency in accordance with Sharia law.

Angling Adhitya Purbaya, Semarang – Seven environmental activists have been put behind bars for fighting against pollution caused the company PT Rayon Utama Makmur (RUM) in Sukoharjo, Central Java.

An appeal against the sentences is still underway on the grounds that the judges [failed] to heed the facts in reaching the verdict.

Audrey Santoso, Jakarta – There seems to be no end of surprises when it comes to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Pebriansyah Ariefana – Tambaksari police have revealed that police and military officers raided a Papuan student dormitory in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya on July 6 because the students were allegedly planning to screen the film Bloody Biak.

Danu Damarjati, Jakarta – The police have issued an investigation termination warrant (SP3) on the pornography chat case involving Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Habib Rizieq Shihab.

Prabowo Subianto’s Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) has guaranteed that Shihab can return to Indonesia safely.

Andhika Prasetia, Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) met with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo today. During the meeting, Widodo asked for input related to the formation of a National Reconciliation Council (DKN) to resolve past human rights cases.

Tsarina Maharani, Jakarta – National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) chairperson Ahmad Taufan Damanik hopes that past cases of gross human rights violations will be soon be investigated by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO).

Samsudhuha Wildansyah, Jakarta – The government is planning to form a National Reconciliation Council (DKN). Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs, Wiranto, has already invited a number of national figures to meet and discuss the DKN’s mission.

Ardian Fanani, Banyuwangi – Two rogue members of the Banyuwangi Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), Naufal Baderi and Basuki Rahmat, have been detained by airport security police for allegedly joking about a bomb in another passenger’s bag.

Usman Hadi, Yogyakarta – Hundreds of home workers from the Yogyakarta Employees People’s Alliance (ARPY) in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta held a commemoration of Labour Day or May Day at which they demanded welfare improvements for home workers.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bagus Prihantoro Nugroho, Jakarta – The author of the novel Ghost Fleet, Peter Warren Singer, has uploaded a photo of Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) chairperson Prabowo Subianto on his Twitter account.