Indonesian politics

News analysis

Acid attack on activist becomes battleground in Indonesia’s military-police rivalry

Activists from the Advocacy Team for Democracy hold up posters in support of Mr Andrie Yunus, the victim of the acid attack, at a press conference in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on March 16.

Testing ideas, absorbing criticism: Prabowo defends policy decisions in 6-hour roundtable discussion

wyprabowo - Indonesian President Prabowo (left in light brown) holds a 6 1/2 hour discussion on March 17 on his policy agenda with experts and senior journalists in his private residence in Hambalang, West Java.

PHOTO CREDIT: @PRESIDENREPUBLIKINDONESIA/ INSTAGRAM

Indonesia arrests four military officers allegedly involved in acid attack on activist

Advocacy for Democracy Team (TAUD) members hold posters in solidarity with Andrie Yunus, an activist and deputy coordinator with Indonesia's rights group Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), who suffered burns to 24% of his face and arms from acid thrown by two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle on March 12, after a press conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, March 16, 2026. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

News analysis

‘Horrific’ attack on Indonesian rights defender a litmus test for Prabowo administration

Activists from the Advocacy Team for Democracy holding up posters in support of Mr Andrie Yunus, who was maimed in a March 12 acid attack, at a press conference in Jakarta on March 16.

South Sumatra faces backlash over plan to buy $37,000 pool tables for councillors

Responding to backlash, one politician said South Sumatra billiard athletes could train using the pool table at his official residence.

Indonesia pauses talks on Board of Peace amid Iran conflict

People in Indonesia take part in a protest outside the US Embassy, urging the Indonesian government to revoke its membership from the Board of Peace.

News analysis

Back in business: Indonesia’s suspended MPs return as if the protests never happened

ktparliament - Five Indonesian MPs face a parliamentary ethics council hearing on Nov 5, 2025, after making controversial comments that were deemed to play a part in sparking mass protests in August and September 2025.

PHOTO: INDONESIAN PARLIAMENT

Public spat between two Indonesia ministers raises questions about weak coordination

Indonesia Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa during the Indonesia Economic Summit in Jakarta on Feb 3.

Indonesian comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono summoned by police over Netflix show

Indonesian comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono, who became the first from Indonesia to air a special on Netflix, gestures as he talks to journalists after he summoned by police over what they called public complaints about the material he used in his stand-up act, at Jakarta regional police headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, February 6, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

Indonesia’s unlikely activists: How white-collar workers are finding their voice

Mr Efraim Leonard speaking at a community gathering where participants discuss socio-political issues in August 2024.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.