Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto admitted to being addicted to consuming news. During a statement released by the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday night, March 19, 2026, the Chair of the Gerindra Party referred to himself as a "news junkie."

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – The Metro Jaya Police have addressed the discrepancies in the initials of the perpetrators behind the acid attack on Andrie Yunus, the Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), between the police version and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI).

Antara, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto convened a select group of journalists, observers, and experts at his private residence in Hambalang, Bogor Regency, West Java, to deliberate on current affairs and the trajectory of domestic strategic policies.

Iqro Rinaldi, Jakarta – Ramadan is more than an annual ritual marked by empty plates from dawn to dusk. For Muslims, fasting carries a layered meaning, spiritual discipline, social reflection and even physical renewal.

Calvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesia is considering imposing a windfall profit tax on coal producers as part of a broader strategy to keep the state budget deficit below the legal ceiling of 3% of gross domestic product, a senior minister said on Thursday.

Sopian Hadi, Denpasar – Muslims in Denpasar, Bali performed Maghrib and Isha prayers on Thursday evening without loudspeakers and with limited lighting, in observance of the Hindu Day of Silence, Nyepi.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto has vowed a thorough investigation into the acid attack on activist Andrie Yunus of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), instructing authorities to uncover the masterminds behind the assault.

Between 12 December 2025 and February 2026, a series of incidents of alleged shooting, vandalism, robbery, intimidation and continued harassment were reported at the home of Rev. Victor Kobak in Jalan Gunung, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan province. Rev Kobak leads the Evanhastia congregation, belonging to the Evangelical Church in Indonesia (GIDI).

Jakarta – The Indonesian Military Police Headquarters (Puspom TNI) has announced the arrest of four suspected perpetrators of last week's acid attack on human rights advocate Andrie Yunus of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras).

All four are reportedly members of the TNI's Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS).

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – Chairperson of the National Council of SETARA Institute, Hendardi, assesses that the Indonesian Military (TNI) has sabotaged law enforcement in the acid attack on activist Andrie Yunus. He mentioned that case developments presented by the TNI have confused the public.

East Kalimantan, Indonesia – Indonesia's Supreme Court has ordered the government to release environmental impact assessments for two projects at the country's new capital city, handing civil society groups a rare transparency victory.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Andrie Yunus' legal representatives from the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD) have spoken out regarding the arrest of four active members of the Strategic Intelligence Agency of the Indonesian National Army (BAIS TNI). These individuals are suspected of being involved in the acid attack against the Deputy Coordinator of KontraS.

Dian Rahma Fika Alnina, Jakarta – Social media activist, Palti Hutabarat, received a threat in the form of a dog's head sent by an unknown person to the yard of her parents' house in Namo Rambe District, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia, on Wednesday morning, March 18, 2026.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto has condemned the acid attack on human rights activist Andrie Yunus, calling the assault "atrocious terrorism."

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The Indonesian House of Representatives Commission III (DPR) will supervise and monitor the legal process in the case of the attack against Andrie Yunus, the Deputy Coordinator of KontraS. The legislators are committed to promptly forming a working committee (panja) as a form of oversight.

Between 1 March 2026, joint Indonesian military and police forces conducted raids in the districts Fef and Bamus Bama, Tambrauw Regency, South West Papua province. Security force personnel reportedly detained at least 12 villagers without warrants.

Philip Jacobson, Jakarta – Environmental experts and activists have slammed plans for carbon and tourism projects in an Indonesian park that's home to critically endangered tigers, rhinos and elephants.

Philip Jacobson, Jakarta – A new report by Mongabay and independent journalism organization Bellingcat has uncovered several Facebook groups selling protected species in Indonesia, one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Jakarta Metro Police disclosed several key findings regarding the perpetrators behind the acid attack on Andrie Yunus, the Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS).

Theressia Sunday Silalahi, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto hosted former president Megawati Soekarnoputri at the State Palace on Thursday in an unannounced meeting, with no official agenda disclosed.

The talks were held behind closed doors and off-limits to the media. Megawati departed the palace shortly after midday without issuing a public statement.

Alfitria Nefi Pratiwi, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries has recorded a decline in the volume of fishery exports due to the conflict between the United States-Israel and Iran that erupted around late February 2026.

The headquarters of the Papuan movement organisation West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in Jayapura, Papua Province, were attacked by a drone in the early hours of 16 March 2026 at approximately 04:16 am. The drone reportedly dropped an explosive device which detonated in the office courtyard whilst several KNPB members and officials were asleep inside the building.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Iran is now accepting financial donations from generous Indonesians to rebuild the country as the US-Israeli military campaign against Tehran marked its third week with no clear end in sight.

The government bond market is showing signs of decline. The weakening investor demand is apparent in the lack of interest in the Retail Government Bond Series ORI029, the government's first security bond in 2026. Of the indicative target of Rp25 trillion, only 58 percent, or around Rp14.44 trillion was raised.

Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) central management has stated that the terror attack that occurred at the KNPB central secretariat in Kampwolker, Waena, Jayapura city, Papua, was part of a widespread pattern of intimidation against activists and civil liberties.

Ni Made Tasyarani, Jakarta – International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank's private sector arm, has urged Indonesia to prioritize the growth of more productive, higher-value businesses through regulatory reforms.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military Police Center has confirmed that the acid attack case involving Kontras Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus will be handled through the military justice system. TNI Military Police Commander Major General Yusri Nuryanto said the decision is in line with Law No. 3 of 2025 on the Indonesian Military (TNI).

Shela Octavia, Nawir Arsyad Akbar, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition is calling for the four soldiers suspected of throwing acid on human rights activist Andrie Yunus to be prosecuted in a general court, not a military court.

Karina Tehusijarana, Jakarta – A brutal acid attack on a high-profile Indonesian human rights activist has raised the spectre of past attacks against activists, and put pressure on law enforcement to bring those responsible to justice.

Charlotte Setijadi and Ivan Franceschini (The Conversation) – In the first two weeks of March, two young Indonesian women died alone in a hospital in Phnom Penh.

The first, who officials have identified as 22-year-old Susi Yanti Sinaga died following a critical illness, despite having no prior health conditions.

Calvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Around 1.2 million vehicles have departed Jakarta ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, according to toll road operator Jasa Marga.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The United States government has launched a Section 301 investigation into trade practices across 16 economies, including Indonesia, over allegations of industrial overcapacity and unfair trade measures. The move has drawn attention after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a retaliatory tariff policy.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – A group of prominent Indonesian public figures has urged President Prabowo Subianto to establish an independent joint fact-finding team to investigate the acid attack on Andrie Yunus, deputy coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS).

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – Andrie Yunus, the Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), was targeted in a harrowing acid attack in Central Jakarta on Thursday night, March 12, 2026. He is a human rights defender widely recognized for his advocacy within the security sector and for civil liberties.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa signaled openness to austerity measures, saying he would not object if ministers' salaries were cut as the government weighs fiscal tightening amid escalating global uncertainty.

Rizal Harahap, Jakarta – Thick smoke from widespread forest fires in Riau has disrupted the Idul Fitri mudik (exodus), reducing visibility to just 10 meters on key roads and raising safety concerns among travelers.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's push for aggressive budget efficiency risks backfiring on growth if executed indiscriminately, as economists warn that cutting spending too deeply could weaken one of the economy's main drivers.

Antara, Jakarta – The surge in measles cases across Indonesia throughout 2025 and early 2026 has raised alarms over severe complications in children. Beyond its typical symptoms, the disease carries the potential to trigger life-threatening conditions, including pneumonia, acute dehydration, and encephalitis.

On 12 March 2026, Mr Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), was attacked with acid by unidentified perpetrators whilst riding a motorcycle on Jalan Salemba I – Talang, Central Jakarta. The attack caused serious injuries affecting various body parts, including his face, eyes, chest, and hands.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto said he wants optimistic people in his administration and has no place for pessimism in his inner circle, as he explained why he chose Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa to replace Sri Mulyani Indrawati as finance minister.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia has denied forced labor allegations as the US launched an unfair trade probe into Southeast Asia's biggest economy in a bid to construct a new tariff assault.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – The government will temporarily halt the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program during the 2026 Eid holiday, with distribution set to stop after March 17 before resuming at the end of the month.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura – The Central Board of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) says that the bomb attack on their office is part of a widespread campaign of intimidation.

The KNPB central office in Kampwolker Waena, Yabansai Village, Heram district, Jayapura City, Papua, was terrorised by an explosion suspected to be a bomb early on Monday March 16.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The legal team representing Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of KontraS, is urging police to expedite the investigation into the acid attack he suffered on Thursday, March 12, 2026.

Joko Widodo, who was President of Indonesia from 2014 to 2024, seems determined to retain his political sway. For the seventh president, 10 years at the pinnacle of power is seemingly not enough. As has often been the case, he has forgotten his own pledge to return to being an "ordinary citizen" after leaving office.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stated that the option to temporarily relax the state budget deficit or APBN limit is possible if the world crude oil prices surge in the long run due to escalating conflicts in the West Asian region. However, the Head of State emphasized that expanding the deficit is a last resort.

Divya Kariza, Jakarta – The government has inked a memorandum of cooperation with Japan to strengthen their partnership in the critical minerals supply chain and to develop nuclear energy technologies.

Johnny Johan Sompotan, Jakarta – Indonesia's Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) has revoked the distribution permits of eight cosmetic products found to be promoted with misleading and indecent claims, following intensified surveillance in the second half of 2025.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) has confirmed that Andrie Yunus, Deputy Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), is in stable condition following a targeted acid attack last week.

Jayapura – The Papuan Law Enforcement and Human Rights Coalition is urging the president of the Republic of Indonesia to immediately order security forces to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the terror attack against human rights defender Andrie Yunus.