Medan – Dozens of students from the North Sumatra Student Alliance held a demonstration at the North Sumatra (Sumut) Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building on Monday December 30. They were protesting the increase in value added tax (VAT) to 12 percent that will come into force on January 1, 2025.

Fika Nurul Ulya, Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has stated that Indonesia needs to increase palm oil plantations without fear of being accused of endangering forests and causing deforestation.

Wahyu Prakoso, Esposin, Solo – Students who are members of the Greater Solo Student Executive Council (BEM) Alliance and civil society activists held a demonstration in the Gladak area of Solo, Central Java, on Saturday afternoon December 28 to reject the planned value added tax (VAT) increase.

Jakarta – Scores of protesters from the Populist National Association of Student Executive Councils (BEM SI Kerakyatan) held a demonstration in the Horse Statue area of Central Jakarta on Thursday afternoon, December 26, to oppose the planned increase in value added tax (VAT) to 12 percent.

Makassar – Students from the Makassar State University (UNM) held a protest action rejecting the Prabowo Subianto administration's plan to increase the value added tax (VAT) rate to 12 percent by blocking the road in front of the university campus.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has stated that the shooting of two civilians by para-military police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officers in Dekai, Yahukimo regency, last August, was a human rights violation.

Haryanti Puspa Sari, Bagus Santosa, Jakarta – Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) General Chairperson Muhammad Isnur has emphasised that granting amnesty or abolition to corruptors on the condition that that they compensate for state losses is contrary to the principles of justic

Haryanti Puspa Sari, Icha Rastika, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid regrets the postponement of Yos Suprapto's painting exhibition at the National Gallery of Indonesia.

Agung Sandy Lesmana, Fakhri Fuadi Muflih – A solo painting exhibition by artist Yos Suprapto at the National Gallery (Galnas) in Jakarta has been cancelled. The exhibition titled Revival: Land for Food Sovereignty was supposed to open on Thursday December 19, but was banned by the gallery.

Novianti Setuningsih, Jakarta – Gajah Mada University (UGM) Anti-Corruption Study Centre (Pukat) researcher Zaenur Rohman says that efforts to eradicate corruption require strengthening law enforcement rather than providing an opportunity for perpetrators of co