[From and oped piece in Kompas.id by former National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) member and policy analyst Mimin Dwi Hartono titled "Independence and the fate of the indigenous communities in the IKN".]

Nila Ertina, Jakarta – The Indonesian Alliance of Independent Journalist (AJI) has condemned the intimidation of journalists covering the 79th Indonesian Independence Day celebrations at the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) on Saturday August 17.

Larius Kogoya, Sentani – Leading members of the West Papua Council of Churches (WPCC) consider the installation of banners celebrating the 79th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, which used the names of church figures and WPCC leaders, as a strategy by the state to cover up violence and silence of

Tanjung Pinang – Rempang Island residents in Galang subdistrict, Batam City, Riau Islands, again held a protest action rejecting their relocation to make way for the Rempang Eco City National Strategic Project (PSN) on Sunday afternoon, August 18.

Nabire – West Papua National Committee (KNPB) member Gerson Pigai says that 101 KNPB activists who took part in demonstrations and were arrested by the Nabire District Police (Polres) on Thursday morning, August 15, including three others who were arrested prior to this for handing out leaflets, have now all been release

Tanjungpinang – Rempang Island residents cannot forgive President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. This was in response to Widodo's state of the nation address at the annual session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Friday August 16.

Jakarta – The Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy has criticised President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's state of the nation address at the annual session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Friday morning, August 16.

Magang KJI, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid is questioning President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's apology during his state of the nation address at the annual session of the People's Consultative Assembly (

Activists from the West Papua National Committee or the KNPB returned to the streets for their 14th action on Thursday August 15, to commemorate the 1962 New York Agreement, the day when power over West Papua was transferred from the Netherlands to Indo

Jakarta – The East Kalimantan (Kaltim) Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) held an action in front of the Nusantara capital city (IKN) Authority offices in Balikpapan on Thursday August 15 ahead of the Republic of Indonesia's 79th Independence Day on August 17.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Activists from the 98 Resistance Forum have come together to voice their anxieties about the quality of democracy in the era of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Singgih Wiryono, Bagus Santosa, Jakarta – National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) Chairperson Andy Yentriyani says that as many as 34,682 women fell victim to acts of violence in 2024.

Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) is urging the Nabire District Police Chief (Kapolres) to release four KNPB activists who were arrested when they were handing out leaflets on Monday August 12 for a protest action on August 15 to commemorate the New York Agreement

Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Ihsanuddin, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has released findings showing that there are still many incidents of torture being committed by law enforcement institutions from the police to correctional institutions (Lapas).

Surabaya – Hundreds of students from the National Association of University Student Executive Bodies (BEM SI) held a protest action in front of the East Java (Jatim) Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) in the provincial capital of Surabaya on Monday August 12.

Jakarta – The Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy supports the removal of a recommendation from the Forum for Religious Harmony (FKUB) in order to establish a house of worship in Indonesia.

[From an oped piece in Kompas.id by Jember University lecturer Andang Subaharianto titled “Explaining Jokowi's Apology”.]

Jakarta – A Regional Representatives Council (DPD) member form Aceh, Sudirman Haji Uma, has written to Jakarta Metro Jaya Regional Police Chief (Kapolda) Inspector General Karyoto requesting that a transgender beauty contest held recently at a hotel in Central Jakarta be investigated.

Victor Yeimo – The killing of New Zealand helicopter pilot Glen Malcolm Conning in Alama Village, Mimika, Papua, on Monday August 5 brings back memories of the tragic story of this village in 1996.

Tria Sutrisna, Ihsanuddin, Jakarta – The families of activists abducted in 1997-98 are suffering from trauma after meeting with senior officials from president elect Prabowo Subianto's Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) on Sunday April 4.