Human rights groups have called for further reform on the draconian cyberlaw often used to silence freedom of speech, following a much-celebrated Constitutional Court ruling this week that bans the government and companies from filing defamation reports against its critics.

Amnesty International annual human rights report raises a red flag on a decline in freedom of expression and the press as well as an increase in oppression by security forces against government critics, sounding an alarm against the rise of authoritarianism in Indonesia.

Human rights activists have said the Electronic Information and Transaction Law is a threat to freedom of speech in the country and that the government has used it to criminalise its critics. 

Six months after stepping down from the nation’s top post, former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has been the target of a barrage of lawsuits, which analysts say underscores the accumulated disapproval over his presidency.

In a statement published on Tuesday, Hasan said that he tendered his resignation on April 21 to both State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

A proposal to reinstate Surakarta’s special designation status has resurfaced, potentially paving the way for the hometown of former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to be separated from Central Java, long considered a stronghold of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

The Higher Education, Science and Technology Ministry has downplayed public concerns that the Indonesian Military’s (TNI) involvement in university teaching could stifle academic freedom and student expression.

During a hearing for a case involving Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto, a phone call recording revealed that a party politician said the order to bribe former General Elections Commission (KPU) came from “ibu” (madam).

Many viewers have dismissed Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s discussion of youth’s crucial role in realizing the Indonesia Emas (Golden Indonesia) 2045 vision on his YouTube channel @GibranTV, his first monologue video since taking office, as overly flowery and lacking in substance.

President Prabowo Subianto has cautiously responded to a set of demands from a group of retired Indonesian Military (TNI) officers, who called for the removal of ministers linked to his predecessor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and the replacement of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, eldest son of the former president.

Petitions challenging the results of the 2024 regional election revotes may signal incompetence by poll bodies in organizing the election reruns, election observers have argued.

President Prabowo Subianto is considering tapping into more members of his inner circle to use as spokespeople to work alongside State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, who has already begun assuming the role of presidential spokesman, marking a shift in how the administration handles public messaging.

The House of Representatives Commission III overseeing legal affairs are focusing on finishing the deliberation of Criminal Law Procedures Code (KUHAP) by the end of this year, before moving on to other law revisions, including those governing the Attorney General’s Office and the National Police.

The Surakarta District Court has scheduled the first hearings for both lawsuits on April 24, 2025 at 10 a.m.

A proposal for the government to name late president Soeharto as a national hero has been met with stiff opposition from rights activists, who fear it would exacerbate a culture of impunity and eventually absolve the authoritarian leader of his alleged corruption and rights violations.

President Prabowo Subianto has called on his ministers to maintain unity in his administration amid speculations of divided loyalties among some cabinet members and the lingering influence of his predecessor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, the father of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Legal experts say the government’s policies aiming to improve judges’ welfare in a bid to curb corruption in judicial bodies will not work without stronger internal and external oversight of Indonesian judges.

The presence of Indonesian Military (TNI) members at two university student gatherings last week has further raised concerns about the growing threat to academic and civic freedom in the country.

President Prabowo Subianto faces pressure to assert his leadership amid concerns over the persisting influence of his predecessor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, whose son and cabinet loyalists have carved for themselves a niche in the new government.

The process to purchase 24 new F-15EX fighter jets produced by United States manufacturer Boeing is expected to take between six to seven years, according to the Defense Ministry, which is waiting for an approval from the Finance Ministry to go ahead with the deal.

Defense publication Janes reported that Russia sought Indonesia’s permission to put several of its long-range aircraft at an Indonesian Air Force base in Papua, but reports on the proposal were immediately dismissed by the Indonesian government.

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi is appointed as the new presidential spokesperson as President Prabowo Subianto looks to improve his administration’s public communication.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) may push back its upcoming congress, raising speculations over possible internal discord over the future position of the only de facto opposition party toward the administration of President Prabowo Subianto.

Wilmar Group legal officer Muhammad Syafei allegedly provided the Rp 60 billion (US$3.56 million) that was later used to bribe the judges and a court clerk in exchange for the acquittal of three companies in a corruption case pertaining to crude palm oil (CPO) exports.

Former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has appointed a team of legal counsels to challenge a lawsuit accusing him of falsifying his high school and university diplomas, a rumor which has been circulating since as early as 2022.

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has arrested three judges on suspicion of taking bribes in exchange for acquitting three major palm oil groups from corruption charges last month, expanding their investigation following the arrest of a court official over the weekend for the same allegation.

Members of the ruling Onward Indonesia Coalition (KIM) have dismissed concerns of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s lingering influence over the administration of Prabowo Subianto after some incumbent ministers called the former president their boss.

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) arrested over the weekend four suspects, including a district court head and a clerk, for alleged bribery in the acquittal of three companies for corruption involving crude palm oil exports a month ago.

A group of civic organizations has blasted the ongoing legislation of the revised KUHAP Law as lacking transparency and sidelining public participation in a rushed process, a trifecta of criticisms leveled at lawmakers that have become all too common, including the recent revision of the TNI Law that led to nationwide protests in March.

The Bareskrim says no evidence has been found to indicate that the illegal structure has incurred losses to the state, but that the National Police’s new antigraft corps is looking into possible corruption involving two Kohod village officials who are embroiled in a separate case of document fraud.