Covid-19 drugs are becoming scarce as Indonesia faces its second wave of Covid-19. Pharmaceutical companies reportedly halted distribution after the health ministry set the maximum retail price limits (HET) for Covid medicines. In several areas, traders and pharmacies are hoarding the drugs.

Investments in Indonesia’s special economic zones reached Rp50.3 trillion this year.

Investigators at government ministries and state institutions now have the authority to investigate money-laundering cases. The Constitutional Court granted the request for a material review of Article 74 of the Law on the Prevention and Eradication of Money Laundering, and cancelled the interpretation that only six institutions has the right to hunt down those committing that crime. This has the potential to return over tens of trillion of rupiah of state funds.

Young Indonesian weightlifters Windy Cantika Aisah and Rahmat Erwin Abdullah are successful in maintaining the country’s tradition of clinching Olympic medals. They are Indonesia’s hope for gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Right after his appointment as Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (Kadin) Chair, Arsjad Rasjid launched the ‘War against the Pandemic’ movement. Alongside the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police (Polri), he urged businesses to get involved seriously to fight the pandemic. Arsjad says Kadin is helping the government with vaccination and medical oxygen supply. But he dismisses the assertion that Kadin plans to sell vaccines through the Gotong Royong vaccination program.

There is no point in chasing economic growth by prioritizing prestigious projects when ultimately, the economy cannot move because it does not have enough vaccine coverage.

Cartoon: Yuyun Nurrachman

The environment and forestry ministry reprimands two NGOs which are working with Sebangau and Batang Gadis National Parks. They are suspected of trading carbon.

How to renew a citizen’s identity card that is lost with no residential registration data?

The Bukalapak initial public offering (IPO) is the beginning of a list of digital unicorns entering Indonesian Stock Exchange. Retail investors and public fund managers need to be cautious.

In Murakami’s story, the first question that arises is: are names personal possessions? Where do we get them from?

LEGAL aid workers (PBH) of the Padang Legal Aid Institute (LBH) stage a protest, demanding the repeal of the Mineral Mining Law, at the coal mining pit area in Talawi, Sawahlunto, West Sumatra, Thursday, July 29. The protest was held to support the judicial review of the Coal and Mineral Mining (Minerba) Law at the Constitutional Court requested by the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute Foundation (YLBHI), Mining and Advocacy Network (Jatam), Bandung LBH, Padang LBH, residents of Banyuwangi and residents of Bangka Belitung. The law is considered very damaging to the environment. Antara/Iggoy el Fitra

SOUTHEAST Asia has faced numerous human rights violations and abuses, ranging from the worst crimes against the Rohingya and other religious and ethnic minorities in Myanmar to extra-judicial killings in the Philippines under President Duterte’s administration. Many enforced disappearances have also occurred across the region, along with violence against human rights and democracy defenders, attacks on freedom of religion and belief, freedom of expression, and some other incidents. 

It does not mean the region has no institution that addresses human rights issues. Since 2009, member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have had the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights or AICHR. But critics said this body has been ineffective and ‌incapable of protecting human rights in the region. 

To commemorate the International Human Rights Day on December 10, TEMPO TALKS presents Yuyun Wahyuningrum, the representative of Indonesia to AICHR who will explain about human rights problems in the region and how her organization addresses the issue on TEMPO TALKS