Indra Komara, Jakarta – Air force chief of staff (KSAU) Air Martial Yuyu Sutisna has attended the Avalon Air Show in Melbourne, Australia. During a break in the visit, Sutisna met with the Commander General of the US 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Major General Thomas D Weidley.

Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) senior researcher Siti Zuhro has spoken out about the plan for active TNI (Indonesian military) officers to be placed in strategic posts in ministries and government institutions.

Jakarta – Military observer Khairul Fahmi from the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISESS) says that the plan to place active TNI (Indonesian military) officers in strategic positions in ministries and government institutions goes against the mandate of reformasi.

Gita Irawan, Jakarta – Army Chief of Staff (Kasad) General Andika Perkasa and Australian Defense Force chief General Angus John Campbell have agreed to further increase military cooperation between the two countries.

Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan expects that active TNI (Indonesian military) and Polri (National Police) officers will maintain their neutrality if they hold posts in government.

Evarianus Supar, Timika – A sole judge at the Timika District Court in West Papua, Saiful Amam, has rejected a pre-trail suit by three West Papuan National Committee (KNPB) activists against National Police Chief (Kapolri) Tito Karnavian, Papua Police Chief (Kapolda) Inspector General Martuani Sormin and Mimika District Police Chief (Kapolres) A

Chen Toisuta, Ambon – Scores of student from the Student Struggle Centre for National Liberation (Pembebasan) and the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) have called on the public not to vote or golput in the legislative and presidential elections (pemilu) on April 17.

Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition has launched a petition opposing the revival of the TNI’s (Indonesian military) dual socio-political function (dwi-fungsi ABRI).

Jakarta – House of Representatives (DPR) Commission III member Arsul Sani says that the government’s planned revisions to the 2009 Narcotics Law could open the way for the involvement of TNI (Indonesian military) personnel in combating the drug trade.

Adhi Indra Prasetya, Jakarta – After recently obtaining support from the United Jakarta Senior High School Alumni, incumbent presidential candidate President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has now received support from retired TNI (Indonesian military) and Polri (national police) officers.

Jakarta – Supreme assembly member and deputy chairperson of Tommy Suharto’s Working Party, retired Major General Muchdi Purwopranjono has decided to support the presidential ticket of incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and running mate Amin Ma’ruf.

Mela Arnani – Every year February 9 is commemorated as National Press Day which, it is hoped, will be an impetus to improve press freedom in Indonesia.

Jakarta – Indonesian military (TNI) chief Air Martial Hadi Tjahjanto says that the TNI is revising Law Number 34/2004 on the TNI (UU TNI) so that middle- and high-ranking military officers can serve in government ministries and state institutions.

Jakarta – The construction of a bridge on the Trans Papua road in Nduga, West Papua, will be finished by the army (TNI AD). The construction of the bridge was postponed following the December 2 fatal shooting of construction workers by the West Papua National Liberation Army.

Heru, Dian, Astri, Hermawan, Rei, Jakarta – Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu supports the proposal by Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo to conduct nationwide raids on communist books. Ryacudu claims that the raids are to prevent retaliation by Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) members who want revenge for the 1965 affair.

Taufiq Siddiq, Jakarta – Book traders operating at Blok M Square in Jakarta say that raids on books containing banned ideas will be pointless because the works are a product of ideas. “So, people can just reprint and circulate them again, said Block M book trader Alil on Thursday January 24.

Taufiq Siddiq, Jakarta – Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo is proposing that massive raids be carried out to hunt down books which contain communist teachings and banned ideologies. The proposal was made after the seizure of hundreds of books around the country allegedly containing “banned ideas”.

Gibran Maulana Ibrahim, Jakarta – Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo has spoken out about hundreds of books on communism that were seized last year in Kediri, East Java. According to Prasetyo, more raids need to be carried out if indeed these books contain communist teachings.

Fadiyah Alaidrus – Padang Mayor Mahyeldi Ansharullah views Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people as a sickness that is caused by the environment and economic factors.

Rizal Bomantama, Jakarta – Indonesian military (TNI) commander Air Martial Hadi Tjahjanto says that the TNI’s new Special Operational Command (Koopsus) will be involved in combating terrorism and play a direct role in surveillance and close-quarter observation.