Jakarta – The Indonesian police plan to conduct cyber patrols of WhatsApp groups. The patrols will be done by means of investigating information on hoaxes being spread through WhatsApp groups based on complaints from the public.

Abba Gabrillin, Jakarta – A survey by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) has found that there has been a declining trend in democratic reforms, particularly following the May 21 and 22 post-election riots in Jakarta.

Jakarta – A number of parties have protested over statements quoted by the loosing Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno presidential ticket in a legal challenge against the presidential election (pilpres) result with the Constitutional Court (MK).

Jakarta – The current religious discourse among student groups at a number of state tertiary institutions (PTN) is largely dominated by Islamic study groups (tarbiyah) and former members of the radical Islamic organisation Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) which after being banned by the government has transformed itself into a tarbiyah act

Christoforus Ristianto, Jakarta – Data and facts had little effect on voting patterns in the 2019 presidential election. According to Indikator Politik Indonesia Executive Director Burhanudin Muhtadi it was identity politics using a strategy of post-truth which was actually more effective.

Jakarta – The Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno election ticket rejects the results of the 2019 presidential election (pilpres), but accepts the results of the legislative elections (pileg). They claim however that this does not conflict with the election law and proving allegations of fraud will be done separately.

Jakarta -- Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo has denied accusations that law enforcement officials are using the makar (treason, sedition, subversion, rebellion) article like a “fire sale” (obral). Prasetyo believes that the use of the makar article in several recent cases are in accordance with the facts.

Jakarta – Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Chairperson Asfinawati believes that the legal aid team formed by the Coordinating Ministry for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs (Kemenko Polhukam) will accelerate the use of the maker (treason, subversion, sedition) articles in future prosecutions.

Theresia Felisiani, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia has joined the debate on the formation of the national legal team by Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs (Kemenko Polhukam) Wiranto.

Dewi Nurita, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) is urging Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs (Kemenko Polhukam) Wiranto to cancel the formation of a legal team tasked with monitoring the remarks, actions and thoughts of certain figures who are allegedly threatening state sec

Jakarta – The KUHP National Reform Alliance is demanding that the government and the House of Representatives not rush to ratify the Draft Criminal Code (RKUHP) at the next sitting of the parliament which is planned to be held on May 8.

Nur Azizah Rizki Astuti, Jakarta – The Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) held its commemoration of International Labour Day or May Day 2019 at the Senayan Indoor Tennis Centre in Jakarta.

Bandar Lampung – Commemorating International Labour Day or May Day, around 600 workers from various different trade unions took to the streets of Bandar Lampung in South Sumatra on Wednesday May 1.

The workers concentrated at three points in the city: the Adipura Monument, Saburai Enggal Park and the Korpri North Teluk Betung Park.

Stepanus Purba, Medan – Hundreds of workers held a protest action in front of the North Sumatra (Sumut) governor’s office in Medan on Wednesday May 1.

Wahyu Setiawan Nugroho, Yogyakarta – At least three different groups of demonstrators joined the commemoration of International Labour Day in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta, which was centred along the Malioboro shopping district and the zero kilometre point at the central post office.

Friski Riana, Jakarta – The Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) will not join other workers rallying in Jakarta during the commemoration of May Day or International Labour Day on May 1.

Manda Firmansyah – The 2019 Jakarta Women’s March, which was held on Saturday April 27, began at the Sari Pan Pasific Hotel in Central Jakarta and ended with a rally at the Aspiration Park at the National Monument. The march around the city centre began at 8 am and made 10 demands.

Denisa Tristianty, Jakarta – Hundreds of Indonesian women, who took part in the 2019 Women’s March in Jakarta, began the action by gathering at the Sari Pan Pasific Hotel on Jl. Thamrin in Central Jakarta on the morning of Saturday April 27.

Lampung Geh, Bandar Lampung – There has been support and opposition in the aftermath of the short story titled When Everyone Refuses My Presence Near Her (Ketika Semua Menolak Kehadiranku di Dekatnya), which was published on the Suara USU

The following is a statement by the Yogyakarta International Women’s Day (IWD) Committee on the University of North Sumatra’s (USU) censoring of the Suara USU (Voice of USU) student press.