Jakarta – September 2019, and Veronica Koman was enjoying her final days in Australia. Her studies at the Australian National University were almost over and all that was left was to wait for graduation day.

Medan – Scores of students from the Papuan Student Association (IMP) in Medan, North Sumatra, held a protest action in front of the North Sumatra University (USU) Rectorate Bureau Building on Tuesday February 2 protesting racism allegedly committed by USU Professor Yusuf Leonard Henuk.

Achmad Nasrudin Yahya, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition is concerned that the newly established national defense reserve component (komcad) will be used to control domestic security threats.

Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – Researcher Zaenur Rohman from the Gajah Mada University's (UGM) Anti-Corruption Study Centre says that the trend by the Supreme Court of cutting sentences at the judicial review level could eliminate the deterrent effect for corruption convicts.

Padang – Tan Malaka's heirs want the historical struggle of one of the Indonesian Republic's initiators to be included in school history lessons. They are making this request of the government as one way for the nation's next generation to know the role that Tan Malaka played in the national independence struggle.

Haris Prabowo – The total number of people who used their right to vote in the December 9 election of regional heads was low in several parts of the country. In the context of Indonesian politics, those who do not vote – regardless of the motivation and reasons – can be classified as golongan putih or golput.

Jakarta – The deliberation of the Draft Law on the Eradication of Sexual Violence (RUU PKS) is still the subject of a polemic. Some parties, including for example the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) believe the law will be able to push down the level of sexual violence and protect victims.

Achmad Nasrudin Yahya, Jakarta – The Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) has highlighted the weakness of the legal framework for women who fall victim to violence.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) officially appointed its new leadership board for the period 2020-2025 during its 10th National Conference which was held in Jakarta on November 25-27.

Semarang – Frans Josua Napitu, a Semarang State University (Unnes) student who reported the university's rector to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has challenged the campus administration to an academic debate over accusation that he is involved with the Free Papua Movement (OPM).

Sania Mashabi, Jakarta – The Institute of Research, Education and Information of Social and Economic Affairs (LP3ES) says that democracy in Indonesia is experiencing a retreat, which had already been predicted by the LP3ES in its democratic outlook report in late 2019.

Achmad Zulfikar Fazli, Jakarta – The Jakarta Islamic State University Social and Islamic Studies Centre (PPIM UIN) has released the results of the latest research on religious trends on social media.

Devina Halim, Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) is calling on President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to order Attorney General ST Burhanuddin to fully resolve the Semanggi I and II tragedies through the mechanism of a human rights court.

Jakarta – The Papua regional police managed to arrest 13 people protesting against Special Autonomy in the vicinity of the Cenderawasih University (Uncen), Papua, and in several other areas on October 27. The demonstrators however were released after being questioned at the Abepura sectoral police headquarters.

Jakarta – A series of demonstrations around the country against the recently enacted Omnibus Law on Job Creation took place on Tuesday October 20 to coincide with the first year of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's second term.

Jakarta – Trade unions and social organisations again held protest actions against the Omnibus Law on Job Creation on Monday October 12.

Protests against the law have been taking place since October 6 with workers and students not slackening the wave of protests despite the repressive actions of police last week.

Haryanti Puspa Sari, Jakarta – Defense Minister and Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) Chairperson Prabowo Subianto says that many of the protesters involved in actions opposing the recently enacted Omnibus Law on Job Creation over the last few days have yet to actually read the law and have influenced by hoaxes.

Dipo Negoro and Leon Kastayudha – The Draft Omnibus Law on Job Creation was finally enacted into law by the House of Representatives (DPR) on October 5.

Jakarta – Protests against the Omnibus Law on Job Creation have spread to almost all parts of the country since it was passed into law during a House of Representatives (DPR) plenary session on Monday October 5.

Jakarta – Protests against the Omnibus Law on Job Creation have again heated up in several parts of country on Thursday October 8. Actions at regional administrative centres have been joined by thousands of people from university and high-school students to workers.