Andita Rahma, Jakarta – The deputy chairperson of the House of Representatives’ (DPR) Commission I, Golkar Party politician Satya Widya Yudha, supports a plan by the National Police (Polri) to monitor chats on WhatsApp message groups. This, he said, will be done to prevent the spread of fake news.

Ayu Cipta, Tangerang – A photograph of a public notice stating the shariah (Islamic Law) principles applied by the Tangerang Public Hospital has gone viral on social media.

Andi Saputra, Jakarta – Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and running mate Sandiaga Uno are challenging the results of the 2019 presidential election which was won by incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and running mate Ma’ruf Amin.

Jakarta – A joint investigation of the May 2019 affair in Jakarta has found alleged human rights (HAM) violations against journalists, medical teams, local people and protesters in the police’s handling of the May 22 actions. In addition to this, there were also legal and procedural misconduct in dealing with the protests.

Danu Damarjati, Jakarta – Following the riots that took place in Jakarta on May 22, the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) and 15 LBH branches across Indonesia are calling on the political elite to stop triggering conflicts.

Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) is calling on the political elite from the presidential election campaign teams of Joko Widodo-Ma’ruf Amin (TKN) and Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno (BPN) to take responsibility for the riots in Jakarta on May 22.

Fabian Januarius Kuwado, Jakarta – The Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) Directorate General of Immigration has confirmed that presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto briefly visited Brunei Darussalam on Thursday May 16.

Theresia Felisiani, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Wiranto has guaranteed that any legal measures taken by the government based on recommendations by the recently formed legal assistance team will be clear and measured.

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

Klojen (Surya Malang) – Journalists in the East Java city of Malang held a peaceful action at the Freedom Square to commemorate International Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3. This year’s action was different from those held in previous years.

Eva Mazrieva, Washington DC – In mid-April Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released its annual report and world press freedom index. Surprisingly, Indonesia was still in 124th place meaning press freedom has stagnated and there has been absolutely no progress since 2018.

Walda Marison, Jakarta – A number of journalist organisations from the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) held a demonstration to commemorate International Labour Day in Jakarta on May 1.

Hendra Cipta, Pontianak – The mayor of the West Kalimantan city of Pontianak, Edi Rusdi Kamtono, has issued a circular banning the screening of the film Memories of My Body (Kucumbu Tubuh Indahku) at the Ahmad Yani Mega Mall Cinema in Pontianak.

Chitra Paramaesti, Jakarta – The director of the film Memories of My Body (Kucumbu Tubuh Indahku), Garin Nugroho, has spoken out about an on-line petition rejecting his film which is currently being shown on the big screen.

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.

On the afternoon of March 23 around 70 people from various different organisations which are part of the People United Front (FPR) and the Anti-Militarism Students Against Military Operations in Nduga held a protest action in the Simpang Lima district of the East Java provincial capital of Semarang.

Prayugo Utomo – The fate of the North Sumatra University (USU) Student Press Institute’s Voice of USU (Suara USU) is on the “horns of a dilemma”.

Luqman Hakim, Yogyakarta – Women activists from a number of different groups in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta are urging the House of Representatives (DPR) to immediately ratify the Draft Law on the Elimination of Sexual Violence (RUU PKS) as a comprehensive mechanism to deal with sexual violence against women.