Indonesia Society News: Social Issues & Education

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Jakarta Post
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Toxic forest fire pollution chokes children’s health

Nearly half of acute respiratory illness cases caused by wildfire in Sumatra and Kalimantan recorded in the past two months are children who are more vulnerable to wildfire haze because of their biological conditions.

17 hours ago
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Diaspora feel ‘left out’ of dual nationality proposal

Various officials have raised ideas to give dual citizenship for people with Indonesian descent with “exceptional talents”, but some Indonesian diaspora conveyed that such a scheme should also be opened regardless of potential contribution to the country. ...

1 day ago
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Fires in Indonesia burned over 1.9 million hectares through September: monitor

The figure, an area nearly 12 times larger than London, is a conservative estimate in part because haze has complicated satellite verification, said David Gaveau, founder of deforestation monitoring site Nusantara Atlas. ...

2 days ago

The Latest

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Wave of vigilante killings sparks calls for stronger law enforcement

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the recent rise in mob justice reflected the state's failure to provide adequate public security, urging police to step up crime prevention and public protection.

2 months ago
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Govt braces for peak El Niño as drought hits Java

The government is stepping up preparations for the peak of a strong El Niño this year, as drought continues to spread through parts of the country, including Central Java.

2 months ago
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Nearly 900 free meals kitchens shut under new chief’s overhaul

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has shut nearly 900 kitchens for the free nutritious meals program and dismissed hundreds of employees in its first sweeping governance overhaul under newly appointed agency head Sudaryono, amid declining public confidence in the program.

2 months ago
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Intern doctor’s death renews concerns over workload and supervision

Since the start of the year, at least eight deaths involving intern and resident doctors have been reported across Indonesia, raising concerns over the health risks and pressures faced by young medical professionals.

2 months ago
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Questions remain over Prabowo’s new university

President Prabowo Subianto has inaugurated the new governor and deputy governor for the newly formed University of the Republic of Indonesia (URI) despite a lack of clarity and information about the institution.

2 months ago
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Children’s Day spotlights protection flaws

National Children’s Day has renewed calls for stronger child protection, as rights advocates warn that existing systems have failed to keep pace with increasingly challenging forms of violence against children.

2 months ago
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Gen-Zers turn to AI for mental health support despite validity, privacy risks

Six of 10 surveyed Generation-Zers in Indonesia said they have used artificial intelligence platforms to confide about personal issues and discuss sensitive topics such as mental health, a recent survey has found.

2 months ago
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Outrage as trans women targeted in mob violence

A string of mob attacks targeting transgender women in Bogor, West Java, has sparked outrage among civil society groups, which blame a presidential regulation classifying LGBTQ culture as a national threat for justifying harassment and violence against the queer community.

3 months ago
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State schools see dwindling enrollment as academic year kicks off

As students return to school for the 2026/2027 academic year that started on July 13, state elementary schools in several regions have reported low enrollment. Some have enrolled as few as three new pupils, while others have no new pupils at all.

3 months ago
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Food prices climb as free meals resume nationwide

Food prices are climbing again as the government's free nutritious meal program resumes nationwide, squeezing household budgets and traders' profits alike, in what analysts say underscores long-standing structural weaknesses in Indonesia's food supply chain.

3 months ago
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Climate crisis may pose challenges to TB elimination

Poor environmental and social conditions may drive up TB transmission in high-burden Asian countries, while climate change-driven disasters can also potentially disrupt testing and treatment, health experts said.

3 months ago
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Ministry pushes to end open garbage dumping in landfills

Nearly 300 regional administrations have received administrative sanctions from the Environment Ministry for operating their landfills using an open dumping approach, leaving the garbage unprocessed.

3 months ago
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Stronger protection for vulnerable communities urged in climate policies

Despite supporting United Nations’ resolutions pertaining to state responsibility on climate change, Indonesia  has shown a weak commitment to protecting vulnerable communities in its existing and upcoming climate legislations, according to environmental groups.

3 months ago
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Hundreds still sheltering as fire blazes at Tangerang landfill

The local disaster agency reported at least 331 people suffered from acute respiratory infections following intense exposure to toxic fumes from waste burned in the past 10 days.

3 months ago
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Anti-LGBTQ regulation fuels fears of criminalization

A presidential regulation classifying "LGBTQ culture” as a nonmilitary threat has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups, who warn it could provide legal and political justification for further criminalizing the vulnerable minority, while lawmakers and religious groups defend the policy as necessary to “safeguard” national resilience.

3 months ago
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‘Izin’ and ‘Siap!’: Military lingo creeps into civilian life

The use of military-related language such as ‘siap!’ (ready) among civilians in formal and casual settings has been common at a time when the military is expanding its role into civilian affairs across the country.

3 months ago
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Drought tightens grip across Indonesia

More regions across Indonesia are facing worsening water shortages as the El Niño-driven dry season intensifies, with authorities warning that prolonged below-normal rainfall could deepen the crisis in the coming months.

3 months ago
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Deforestation still haunts Indonesia’s national parks

The most protected conservation areas in Indonesia face dangers that threaten their tree cover.

3 months ago
Society

Forests, people sacrificed in Sebangau

How a national park in Central Kalimantan vanishes in plain sight  

3 months ago
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Critics slam Prabowo’s praise for TNI, police role in food drive

President Prabowo Subianto’s crediting of military and police for roles in the food sector may undermine food sufficiency goals and civilian authority, critics say.

3 months ago
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Tourism, climate puts Raja Ampat's ‘walking shark’ under pressure

The shallow coastal waters of the Raja Ampat archipelago in Southwest Papua are home to the population of the shark (Hemiscyllium freycineti), one of 10 known “walking shark” species discovered worldwide, six of which are mainly found in eastern Indonesian waters.

3 months ago
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Indonesia on alert after Australia bird flu detection

The detection of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus in wild birds on mainland Australia has raised concerns across the Asia-Pacific, with experts urging Indonesia to strengthen surveillance and biosecurity to prevent cross-border transmission.

3 months ago
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Graft probe offers hope for better immigration system, mixed-marriage families say

As investigations continue into an alleged extortion case involving former deputy immigration minister Silmy Karim, mixed-marriage families expressed hopes for real improvement in Indonesia’s immigration system.

3 months ago
Society

Indonesia can offer experience in growth, environment: Senior UN official

Indonesia’s experience offers important lessons on the value of partnership, innovation and long-term investment, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific at the UN Development Program (UNDP) Kanni Wignaraja said.

3 months ago
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Bandung abuse case reignites concerns over violence against women

The discovery of a West Java woman in critical condition after years of alleged confinement and abuse has sparked public outrage and renewed calls for stronger protections against gender-based violence.

3 months ago
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High transboundary haze risk puts Indonesian policy to test: Report

A Singapore-based think-tank assessing transboundary haze from forest fires issued a rare “code red” warning on Wednesday, flagging a risk for severe regional haze between August and September and urging Indonesia to step up mitigation efforts ahead of the warming El Nino weather phenomenon.

3 months ago
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Children in pro-free meals rally sparks exploitation concerns

The involvement of elementary school students in a rally supporting President Prabowo Subianto’s free nutritious meal program in Batam, Riau Islands, has prompted criticism from child protection advocates and education observers, who say the mobilization risks exploiting minors.

3 months ago
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Four Malaysians arrested over alleged abuse of Indonesian domestic workers

YY's complaint was followed by the emergence of a video that allegedly documented the abuse. Malaysian police said the footage, recorded on July 26 last year, showed a man and a woman repeatedly punching and slapping a domestic worker while another man and a woman verbally abused her.

4 months ago
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Rights groups oppose calls to criminalize LGBTQ people

Civil society groups have condemned growing calls from religious leaders and lawmakers to criminalize LGBTQ people and advocacy, warning that such proposals would violate fundamental rights and further marginalize an already vulnerable minority.

4 months ago
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Beneficiaries willing to forgo free meals to improve quality

As controversy and pressure mount over President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free nutritious meal program, some beneficiaries say they are willing to forgo the assistance intended to combat stunting if it allows the government to address the initiative’s shortcomings, even as operators and other stakeholders voice concerns over its continuity.

4 months ago

Today's ePost

Thu, October 22, 2026

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