3) Academics Warn of Remilitarization in Indonesia Under Prabowo
4) Govt assures Papuan aspirations included in Human Rights Law revision
5) Govt lists more schools in Teluk Bintuni to receive revitalization aid
3) Academics Warn of Remilitarization in Indonesia Under Prabowo
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hundreds of academics, activists, civil society organization activists, and communities consolidated at the University Club of Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on Saturday, May 30, 2026. The forum took place to respond to the strengthening of the military as part of the decline of the democracy of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's government.
Remilitarization became one of the topics discussed in the consolidation titled Republic Conference Strengthening Civil Society Pillar of the Republic. In addition to the strengthening of militarism, they discussed various crucial issues including economic inequality, crisis of representation and democracy, weakening of social base, and legal and institutional crises.
The consolidation, which lasted for one day, involved several speakers, including Jaleswari Pramodhawardani, Yanuar Nugroho, Zainal Arifin Mochtar, Arie Sujito, Alissa Wahid, Bhima Yudistira, Candra Hamzah, Titi Anggraini, Andi Wijayanto, Leo Kleden, Baiquni, Gita Wirjawan, Komaruddin Hidayat, Komaruddin Hidayat. Also present at the meeting was the founder of Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) Saiful Mujani.
UGM Sociologist, Arie Sujito, said that the meeting was an accumulation of academic and activist anxieties due to the economic and political crises. The consolidation became an alternative movement to oversee the democratic process, an idea that emerged due to shared concerns. "Let's not allow democracy to further deteriorate. Academics, activists, organization activists, and critical journalists need to continue to consolidate," said Arie.
Arie mentioned that in the three decades since the reform began, democratization has experienced inevitable pressures and fluctuations. Indonesia faces far more complex, fluid, and often silent challenges within formal legal corridors.
According to Arie, Indonesia also faces democratic regression or the decline of democracy according to political scientists' findings. This is marked by various practices of terror reproducing neo-authoritarianism.
He highlighted remilitarization as a crucial factor causing the weakening of democracy. The military enters through various government agendas through a number of top-down programs, charitable or voluntary activities, and various strategies to subdue the elite, middle, and lower classes. "This is a form of regression of the reform agenda and threatens democracy," he said.
Head of the Indonesia 2045 Laboratory Jaleswari Pramodhawardani stated that militarization hinders Indonesia from building institutions. The Indonesian National Military (TNI) is now in the public sphere in a subtle way through presidential regulations and instructions.
Jaleswari gave examples of the presence of combat battalions and territorial construction battalions that deviate from the constitutional mandate, namely the TNI as a defense force. "The TNI is currently encroaching into civilian areas," said the former Deputy V for Politics, Law, Defense, Security, and Human Rights at the Presidential Staff Office.
4) Govt assures Papuan aspirations included in Human Rights Law revision
- May 31, 2026 15:11 GMT+700
In a statement in Jakarta on Sunday, Mugiyanto said the government is targeting the revision of the law to be deliberated and passed in 2026, as the bill has already been included in the National Legislation Program.
During a public consultation on the revision bill in Jayapura, Papua, on Saturday (May 30), Mugiyanto stated that the amendment is necessary to adapt to changing times, including safeguarding the right to privacy, digital rights, and various emerging issues arising from technological advancements.
He explained that the current Law Number 39 of 1999 on Human Rights was drafted during Indonesia's democratic transition and primarily focuses on human rights institutions.
Therefore, the government is pushing for the revision so the law can serve as a legal umbrella that bolsters the national human rights protection ecosystem.
He affirmed that the various inputs provided by the Papuan people during the public consultation would be taken into consideration when drafting the final revision, even though not all technical matters can be accommodated within a general piece of legislation.
During Saturday's forum, representatives of the Papuan people highlighted several key issues, including indigenous land rights, the political participation of indigenous communities, welfare disparities, the protection of women and children, and the impacts of illegal mining operations.
A community leader from the Elseng tribe noted that the success of human rights protection is measured not by the number of regulations issued, but by the extent to which justice and community rights are tangibly felt.
Several participants also proposed strengthening the role of national human rights institutions, increasing the representation of eastern Indonesia communities in national commissions, forming regional technical implementation units in new provinces, and ensuring the transparency of special autonomy funds for women's and families' empowerment.
On the same occasion, Human Rights Minister’s Expert Staff for Bureaucratic Reform and Legislation, Rumadi Ahmad, emphasized that the revision must be drafted comprehensively to produce robust legal norms capable of addressing contemporary human rights issues.
Some contemporary human rights issues currently deliberated include personal data protection, the impact of artificial intelligence, and strengthening the independence of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).
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Translator: Devi Nindy, Raka Adji
Editor: Primayanti
5) Govt lists more schools in Teluk Bintuni to receive revitalization aid
- May 31, 2026 15:50 GMT+700
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu'ti stated that the government's attention to education in Teluk Bintuni continues to be improved through a significant increase in aid allocation in 2026.
"There has been a significant increase in funding for the 2026 revitalization. Currently, cooperation agreements are in place for 25 educational units with a total budget of more than Rp20.7 billion,” Mu'ti said in his statement on Sunday.
He emphasized that school revitalization is not just about physical development but also part of the State's efforts to provide equity and educational services to areas with the greatest access challenges.
He said that all development will continue to be implemented through self-management mechanisms as part of President Prabowo Subianto's directives to ensure more effective, targeted development, while involving the local community in the process.
Teluk Bintuni Regent Yohanis Manibuy welcomed the school revitalization program as a clear demonstration of the central government's commitment to the future of human resources in West Papua.
"This revitalization program has been instrumental in creating a safer, more comfortable and more suitable learning environment for our children. We hope this revitalization support continues so all children in Teluk Bintuni can enjoy a quality learning environment," Yohanes noted.
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Translator: Hana Dewi Kinarina Kaban, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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