A police officer listens to phone conversations in this undated illustration of a police wiretapping cartoon. `

Beyond elite conflicts: How state surveillance swept up lives

A massive wiretapping scandal targeting over 6,000 people, ranging from politicians to activists, reveals that Indonesia’s surveillance apparatus isn't just guarding the state. It's systematically dismantling democracy from the shadows.

42 minutes ago

Opinion premium

Analysis: We have not seen the full political fallout of the police scandal

The detention of former National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo on allegations of illegal wiretapping has become one of the most consequential political scandals in recent Indonesian history. Yet the country has probably not seen its full fallout. If anything, the affair is only beginning to reveal how deeply police power penetrated the political system and how weak oversight and accountability have become.

49 minutes ago

Editorial premium

The path to a law-abiding nation

Will Indonesia become a society governed by the rule of law or a country coopted by the interests of its ambitious leaders? It is high time for President Prabowo Subianto and lawmakers to decide.

1 hour ago

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Currency integrity: A vendor and customer complete a cash transaction on Nov. 2, 2026 at the Johar traditional market in Semarang, Central Java.

Academia premium

At 80, the rupiah needs credibility, not ceremony

As the rupiah touches record lows and the IDX alters its core index to stem market turbulence, Currency Day is more than an anniversary. Eighty years in, the real test is whether the institutions backing the rupiah can still command market trust.

1 day ago

President Prabowo Subianto gestures inside the House of Representatives building, while Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka looks on near him, on the day the President was set to deliver his speech on economic policies and the 2027 fiscal plan in Jakarta on May 20, 2026.

Academia premium

Rivalries, reckonings on the Orient Express of Indonesian politics

Nobody was murdered, but Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka finds himself trapped on a speeding political train where shifting allies, bitter family legacies, and unsettled rivalries make everyone a suspect.

1 day ago

Unifying flag: A protestor holds a flag bearing the Straw Hat Pirates’ Jolly Roger from the Japanese manga and anime series One Piece during a demonstration on Jakarta’s thoroughfare Jl. MH Thamrin on Oct. 28, 2026.

Academia premium

Wiretapping scandal: Who else lives in the house of glass?

When the state's surveillance machine is turned against the ruling elite, state power is mobilized overnight, whereas the crises choking ordinary citizens are left to burn for months.

1 day ago

Black sky: Thick clouds cover residential areas and high-rise buildings on Jan. 23, 2026, in Jakarta.

Opinion premium

Analysis: Indonesia’s GDP ranking masks deeper economic weaknesses

Indonesia’s economy has faced considerable turbulence during President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, making its latest international economic ranking a welcome headline for the government. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Indonesia remains one of the world’s largest economies when measured by gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP). The government has celebrated this position as evidence of the country’s economic strength and wealth, while acknowledging persistent inequality. Yet, while the ranking reflects Indonesia’s economic scale, interpreting it as a sign of broad-based prosperity risks obscuring deeper structural weaknesses.

2 days ago

Regional sit-down: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (right) and National Security Council head Mohsen Rezaei (left) meet with Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud on Oct. 26, 2026 during four-way talks in Tehran that also involved the Pakistan army chief and Turkey's intelligence chief.

Academia premium

insight

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

insight

Insight: Understanding sovereign wealth funds and their application in Indonesia

Toward the end of 2020, amid a world grappling with unprecedented challenges, Indonesia took a bold step in securing its economic future: establishing its first sovereign wealth fund (SWF), the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA).

2 years ago