Civil society advocates have called on Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders to address the issue of West Papua when they meet in Honiara this week.

An open letter said the region had issued several communiques about human rights abuses by Indonesia in the annexed territory, but a new approach was needed.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The director of the 2025 Pestapora Music Festival, Rizky Aulia or Kiki Ucup, has apologized and admitted that their team was negligent in partnering with PT Freeport Indonesia. "We are fully aware of our negligence in working with PT Freeport Indonesia," he said in a video posted on Instagram @pestapora on Saturday, September 6, 2025.

Dewi Rina Cahyani, Jakarta – A number of Indonesian citizens in London and Paris held a demonstration to express their concerns about the situation in their homeland. In London, around 250 Indonesian diaspora in the UK gathered in the city center on Friday, September 5, 2022. The demonstration took place from 14:30 to 17:00 BST at Russell Square Gardens, WC1B5EH.

The Solidarity Action Committee for Munir (KASUM) condemns the state's indifference to the arsenic poisoning of Munir Said Thalib. They have wasted years leading up to the 21st anniversary of the case on September 7.

Jakarta – The Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD) rejects the charges against activists who have been arrested for allegedly inciting students and children to take part in demonstration at the end of August.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – The Jakarta Metropolitan Police have responded to one of the 17+8 People's Demands, which calls for the release of demonstrators arrested during protests in the capital since August 25, 2025.

Jakarta – "What does TB stand for in Jl. TB Simatupang?" is a set-up for a variety of jokes that have been widely circulating on Jakartans' social media timelines in the past few months. More often than not, the joke will be accompanied by a short video of long columns of cars on the east-west corridor in South Jakarta.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) reported that ten demonstrators remain unaccounted for following recent protests.

"The total number of missing persons reported is ten," KontraS Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya said in a written statement on Friday, September 5, 2025.

Sukarjito, Jakarta – Indonesia experienced 4,071 earthquakes in August 2025, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

Of the total, 21 quakes had magnitudes above 5.0, while the remaining 4,050 were below that threshold. Most were minor and went unfelt by residents.

As Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders gather in Honiara for the 54th Leaders' Meeting, Pacific communities are demanding more than diplomatic platitudes – it's time for Forum Leaders to end the silence and act on the escalating humanitarian crisis unfolding in our region.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – Lieutenant General Deddy Suryadi, Commander of the Jakarta Military Regional Command (Pangdam Jaya), stated that the security situation in the capital is stable following a series of recent demonstrations.

Istiqomatul Hayati, Jakarta – Several bands have pulled out of Pestapora 2025 after learning that PT Freeport Indonesia was featured as a sponsor on the festival's opening day, Friday, September 5, 2025.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Deputy Minister of State Secretariat Juri Ardiantoro was brief when asked about the government's stance on the 17+8 people's demands. He confirmed that the government had received the public's aspirations, which consist of 17 short-term and 8 long-term demands.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The Financial Services Authority (OJK) reports a continued increase in public debt from the banking industry's buy now, pay later (BNPL) services. In July 2025, consumer pay-later debt in banks reached Rp24.05 trillion, up from Rp22.99 trillion the previous month.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) leadership has decided to scrap several benefits for its members following an internal meeting on Thursday, September 4, 2025. The decision includes ending the monthly housing allowance and imposing a moratorium on overseas trips.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – The Jakarta Metropolitan Police have intensified large-scale patrols following incidents of vandalism and unrest during protests that have taken place since August 25, 2025. The patrols are intended to restore public confidence and ensure safety across the capital.

On 3 September 2025, an indigenous Papuan named Vicktor Bernadus Deyal, 29, was arbitrarily arrested by police officers in front of the police station (Polsek) on Paradiso Road in the town of Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province. Initially suspected of being intoxicated, Mr Deyal was reportedly arrested and tortured inside a police truck for about three hours.

Caleb Fotheringham in Honiara and Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific presenter – Former New Caledonia President Louis Mapou says human rights and sovereignty are big issues facing not only Melanesia but the wider Pacific.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – A short video showing hundreds of uniformed employees of PT Gudang Garam Tbk shaking hands in an emotional atmosphere has gone viral on social media since Saturday afternoon, September 6, 2025. The video contains a written statement that reads, "PT Gudang Garam mass layoffs, the job market is not in good shape."

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – The East Java Regional Police have identified nine suspects in the arson attack on the Grahadi Building in Surabaya that occurred during protests at the end of August 2025.

Hendro D Situmorang, Jakarta – Jakarta police said Friday that the release of detained protesters linked to recent demonstrations cannot be carried out immediately, stressing that legal procedures must be followed.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) has scrapped a controversial housing allowance of Rp 50 million ($3,000) per lawmaker per month following a week of widespread demonstrations across the country.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR), Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, read out the results of the DPR's factional agreement in response to the 17+8 People's Demands. The DPR held an internal meeting on Thursday, September 4, to address several demands made to the institution.

Ian Wilson – The mass protests that erupted across Indonesia in late August – resulting in ten fatalities and extensive damage to government and public infrastructure – have prompted a familiar choreography of blame and securitised response.

Pacific Greetings,

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Statistics Indonesia (BPS) noted that Indonesia imported weapons worth US$65.04 million, or around Rp1.06 trillion (at an exchange rate of Rp16,400 per U.S. dollar) from January to July 2025.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The Jakarta Metro Police searched the personal residence of Lokataru Foundation Director Delpedro Marhaen, after the activist was named a suspect for allegedly inciting anarchic actions during protests.

Nearly a year into the regime of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, mass resistance has erupted again.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) notes that as many as 4,000 students have become victims of food poisoning from consuming free nutritious meals in the past eight months.

Jakarta – Since the outset, simple business calculations have shown that the Whoosh high-speed rail service will never break even, yet alone make a profit. Last year, with monthly revenues of Rp133 billion, Indonesian railroad company Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI), had to cover the operational costs of Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) and repay Rp179 billion of project debt.

Beijing – China and Indonesia should deepen all-around strategic collaboration and the synergy of development strategies, and drive ties to serve as a role model in regional and global settings, President Xi Jinping told visiting Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday.

Jakarta – The August 2025 public protests, marked by a palpable anti-elite sentiment and social class polarization, were not a spontaneous event. According to a new analysis from the Monash Data and Democracy Research Hub, this dynamic is the culmination of political and social frustrations that have been building since the 2024 election.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – JPMorgan Indonesia said the country's financial markets remain attractive to foreign investors despite recent protests, underscoring confidence in the government's ability to maintain stability and respond to public demands.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, announced that the government plans to revise Indonesia's general elections law. According to him, President Prabowo Subianto wants to reform the political system to allow for more open political participation for all citizens.

Beijing – Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Friday met with Maria Fernanda Lay, president of the National Parliament of Timor-Leste, who is in China for a visit and the commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Hundreds of students from Universitas Padjajaran (Unpad) gathered at the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Central Jakarta on Friday, September 5, 2025. Dressed in dark blue blazers, they walked from the TVRI building to the main gate of the DPR, arriving around 1:30 p.m. local time. They formed a letter "U" and sat cross-legged on the ground.

Jakarta – Protesters consisting of students, academics and civil society activists held a peaceful demonstration titled "The National People's Picnic" in front of the parliament building in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Friday September 5.

Adinda Jasmine, Jakarta – The Gerak Solidaritas Belanda or Dutch Solidarity Movement (GSB), a coalition of Indonesian citizens in the Netherlands under the umbrella of Aksi Kamisan Netherlands, held a solidarity walk to the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in The Hague on Thursday, September 4, 2025.

Jakarta – Student groups met two senior ministers late on Thursday to press their complaints after more than a week of sometimes violent protests over lawmakers' bonuses and police tactics used against demonstrators.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – The Jakarta Metro Police said the estimated losses suffered by the force due to a series of demonstrations in Jakarta stood at Rp180 billion. The public relations head at the Jakarta Metro Police, Grand Commissioner Ade Ary Syam Indradi, said the actual figure could exceed these estimated numbers.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Head of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Information Center, Brigadier General Freddy Ardianzah, confirmed that a member of the TNI's Strategic Intelligence Body (Bais TNI) was arrested by the Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob) of the Indonesian National Police during a mass protest in Pejompongan, West Jakarta.

Mass protests erupted in Indonesia on 25 August, as thousands gathered outside the Parliament in Jakarta to denounce a newly approved housing allowance for lawmakers worth nearly ten times the capital's minimum wage.

Lidia Pratama Febrian, Faieq Hidayat, Jakarta – The 876th Kamisan (Thursday) Action was held in front of the Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta on Thursday September 4. The action took up the theme "Remembering 21 Years of the Murder of Munir: Indonesia Emergency, Violence and Injustice".

Aristyo Darmawan – In August, Indonesia's largest maritime manufacturing company, the state-owned PT PAL, hosted a visit for US Congress Staffers from New York, California, South Carolina, West Virginia, Nevada, and Washington.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Andre Rosiade, a member of the Public Aspiration Body of the House of Representatives (DPR), said the institution still cannot guarantee that all public demands outlined in the 17+8 People's Demands movement will be fulfilled.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Indonesia's Financial Services Authority (OJK) has underscored the importance of expanding insurance coverage to include protection against riots and civil commotion.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – Siti Zuhro, a political researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), considered President Prabowo Subianto's statement on treason during the late August protests to be hasty. According to her, riots, despite resulting in casualties and damage, cannot automatically be categorized as an attempt to overthrow a legitimate government.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Members of the 17+8 People's Demands coalition are pressing the government to fulfill their demands with just one day left before the deadline. Influencer Fathia Izzati said the deadline would serve as a benchmark for the public to judge the government's commitment.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian government will provide financial assistance of Rp15 million for the families of deceased victims and Rp5 million for seriously injured victims of recent demonstrations, according to Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf

The aid will be distributed through the adaptive social assistance (bansos) program.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) has urged the Indonesian government to exercise caution in allocating the massive budget for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.

In the 2026 Draft State Revenue and Expenditure Budget, the MBG allocation reaches Rp335 trillion, nearly 10 percent of total state expenditure.