TheJakartaPost

Criminalizing creativity: A test for Indonesia’s creative economy vision

Indonesia’s ambitious vision for a trillion-rupiah creative economy is being strangled by a procurement system that still treats imagination like unskilled labor. The criminalization of videographer Amsal Sitepu exposes a dangerous value blind spot that must be fixed before the state’s bureaucracy bankrupts its own future.

1 hour ago

Reform, regret and the politics of reversal in Indonesia

In recent years, Indonesia has witnessed a series of policy reversals that, taken together, raise important questions about the consistency of its reform agenda.

2 hours ago

The Latest

Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesperson Maj. Gen. Aulia Dwi Nasrullah (center), accompanied by TNI Police Headquarters (Puspom) commander Maj. Gen. Yusri Nuryanto (left) and TNI legal division chief Rear Adm. Farid Ma'ruf (right), speaks to journalists on March 25, 2026, during a press briefing at the TNI's headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta. During the press briefing, Aulia announced the resignation of TNI Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) chief Lt. Gen. Yudi Abrimantyo amid the investigation into BAIS linked personnel for the acid attack against Andrie Yunus in Jakarta on March 12.

Opinion premium

Analysis: The shadow of the TNI power struggle behind the acid attack

Three weeks after the acid attack on Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Kontras) activist Andrie Yunus, investigators have yet to clearly identify who bears ultimate responsibility. What has drawn particular attention is the resignation of the chief of the Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS), framed by the Indonesian Military (TNI) as a form of institutional accountability. Yet, this raises the critical question of whether the move reflects genuine responsibility-taking by the state or signals deeper power struggles within the military.

2 hours ago

This aerial handout picture taken on December 22, 2024, and released on January 31, 2025, by Auriga Nusantara shows deforestation at an area on Gag Island in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua province.

Editorial premium

Alarming deforestation

Indonesia’s decade of conservation progress is under threat as ambitious state projects drive a staggering 66 percent surge in deforestation.

3 hours ago

Philippine senator Risa Hontiveros raises the national flag on Feb. 21, 2026, on Thitu Island in the South China Sea.

Academia

Trump’s blunder: Is the Philippines at China’s mercy?

The latest blunder of the Trump administration has essentially pushed key allies, including the Philippines, toward rethinking their relations with China, especially where energy is concerned.

21 hours ago

Participants march during a protest organized by the Indonesian Women's Alliance (API) on the 50th International Women's Day demanding labor rights, gender equality and protections, on March 8, 2025, in Jakarta.

Helping women progress in their professional careers

Real progress for women in Indonesia requires moving past ceremonial greetings and toward structural reforms that dismantle patriarchal barriers and unlock the full economic power of the female workforce.

22 hours ago

Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel carry the body of former defense minister Juwono Sudarsono on March 29, 2026, for burial at Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in South Jakarta. Juwono, who served in the United Indonesia Cabinet in Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's presidency, died at the age of 84 after undergoing treatment at Pondok Indah Hospital, West Jakarta.

Juwono Sudarsono and the unfinished task of civilian rule

Elections are not enough to uphold democracy and civilian supremacy; civilian authority must be sustained by competence, integrity and delivery.

23 hours ago

interview

German Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN Ralf Beste speaks on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, during the submission of his credentials as Ambassador to ASEAN to Secretary-General Dr. Kao Him Hourn.

premium

In turbulent times, shared interest can bridge value gaps: German envoy

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung gestures while speaking about his first year in office and developing the megalopolis on Jan. 20, 2026, during an interview with 'The Jakarta Post' at City Hall in Gambir, Central Jakarta.

premium

Jakartans must embrace global city status: Governor Pramono

Yahya Cholil Staquf, chairman of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), speaks during an interview on Jan. 29, 2026 with The Jakarta Post in Central Jakarta.

premium

NU must transform to navigate uncertain world order: Chairman Yahya

This aerial photo shows people climbing debris, on Dec. 9, 2025, to cross the river on a newly built bridge, connecting Aceh and North Sumatra province, after being destroyed by flash floods along Peusangan river in Bireuen district, Aceh.

premium

Coordinated response key to govt’s disaster handling

History in focus: Belgian historian David Van Reybrouck, author of Revolusi: Indonesia and the Making of the Modern World, poses for a post on his official social media account.

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‘Revolusi’ returns home: David Van Reybrouck on youth, memory and the spirit of Bandung

Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu'ti (right) talks with a student on the sidelines of the inauguration of an integrated school on Sept. 30 in Samarinda, East Kalimantan. The international-standard school integrates schools of three levels of education, namely SDN 28 state elementary school, SMPN 16 state junior high school and SMA Prestasi senior high school.

premium

Dignifying students key for Indonesia’s education: Education minister

Peace and reconciliation: Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf (eighth right) and Aceh wali nanggroe (traditional leader) Malik Mahmud (center) release doves with former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) officials and incumbent Aceh Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) officials during the 20th anniversary ceremony of the Aceh Peace Agreement in Banda Aceh, Aceh, on August 15, 2025,

premium

Discourse: Aceh people real heroes in 2005 peace deal

insight

Insight: The strategic role of PT SMI in fiscal policy and economic expansion

Indonesia’s future economic growth will not be determined solely by the size of government spending, but also by how effectively development financing is managed.

2 months ago

Insight: Rethinking work: Driving sustainable growth in the digital age

The digital age has redefined how we live, communicate and work, but perhaps nowhere is this shift more critical than in the field of medicine and public health. As healthcare systems integrate digital technologies, the traditional roles of medical professionals are being reshaped.

9 months ago

Insight: Innovations in managing and developing human capital

Over the past few years, the role of human resources (HR) has expanded far beyond administrative tasks. HR professionals today are expected to drive innovation, enhance the employee experience and align people strategies with business goals. With the help of technology, these responsibilities have become more manageable, and in many ways, more impactful.

9 months ago

Insight: AI and Efficiency: Sacrifices The Next Generation

Introduction: From One Disruption to Another

9 months ago

Insight: Securing a healthier future: The importance of Indonesia's plasma fractionation facility

The global health crisis brought on by COVID-19 tested healthcare systems worldwide, and Indonesia was no exception. As one of the world’s most populous nations, the nation faced immense challenges yet demonstrated resilience and adaptability in navigating the pandemic.

1 year ago