Faisal Irfani

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake on Indonesia’s Flores island has killed at least 68 people and displaced about 5,000, while continuing aftershocks, landslides and damaged roads hinder rescue and aid deliveries. Hospitals and health centres have been destroyed or forced into makeshift tents, medical supplies are running low, and isolated communities face shortages of food, clean water and shelter. Survivors are sleeping outdoors or fleeing to higher ground, with local residents and medical workers criticising the slow arrival of government assistance. Rescue teams have begun reaching cut-off villages, but the scale of the disaster and damage to infrastructure remain unclear.

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake on Flores has killed at least 68 people, displaced about 5,000 and damaged more than 1,000 homes along with hospitals, schools and government offices. Continuing aftershocks, landslides, road blockages and power outages are isolating communities and disrupting the delivery of food, clean water, medicines and medical personnel. Hospitals and clinics are operating from tents, while doctors report dwindling supplies and overwhelming caseloads. Rescue teams have reached some previously isolated villages, but survivors remain outdoors or in the hills, with fears of starvation and further building collapses growing as the government response struggles to keep pace.

Residents of Rancapinang in Banten say the military took and cleared farmland they had managed for generations to build a new battalion headquarters. The Ministry of Defense says the 364-hectare area was legally obtained through a land-swap arrangement with PT Mandiri Nusa Graha Perkasa, while residents and LBH Jakarta dispute any sale, transfer, compensation or informed consent. The conflict has roots in military exercises and disputed documents dating back to the 1990s, followed by a 2012 use-right certificate issued to the ministry. Residents’ challenge at the Serang State Administrative Court was rejected because the court considered the underlying ownership question a civil dispute. The case reflects wider concerns about the government’s plan to build hundreds of territorial battalions, with rights groups reporting recurring military-related agrarian conflicts and experts warning that opaque land administration and limited community participation could produce further confrontations.

Three civilians in Yahukimo, Papua Highlands, were shot by the TPNPB after being accused of spying for Indonesia’s military; the group offered multiple allegations but no independently verifiable evidence, while the TNI said the victims were civilians and pursued the attackers. The incident reflects a recurring pattern in Papua in which both TPNPB and state forces target civilians suspected of collaborating with the opposing side. Drawing on conflict research and historical records, the report compares Papua with guerrilla wars in East Timor and Aceh, where civilians faced killings, forced mobilization, displacement and intimidation by both insurgents and security forces. Violence in Papua has intensified since 2018, with civilians forming a large share of the dead and tens of thousands displaced. Researchers and civil society advocates argue that continued militarization, limited political space, restricted information and resource interests are preventing a negotiated settlement. They call for sustained humanitarian access, independent dialogue and investigations into abuses by all parties.

The National Library of Indonesia faces nearly a 50 percent budget cut for 2026, reducing support for book distribution, community libraries, mobile library services, and librarian training. Regional libraries in areas such as Nusa Tenggara Timur, Jawa Tengah, and Surakarta report halted book acquisitions, diminished mobile services, and difficulties maintaining literacy programs. Community-run libraries also lose access to vital book grants, worsening disparities in access to reading materials. Experts warn the cuts undermine national literacy goals and widen regional inequalities, especially as the government prioritizes large expenditures on other programs. Stakeholders urge the central government to recognize literacy infrastructure as essential for developing human capital.

Four palm oil farmers in North Sumatra were assaulted by security personnel from PT Agrinas Palma Nusantara, with one victim, Luis David Hutabarat, killed. Survivor testimonies describe torture and threats by security officers, including an active-duty soldier. Civil society groups report longstanding land conflicts tied to unequal land ownership, corporate dominance and ineffective state mechanisms. Previous violent incidents in multiple provinces illustrate recurring patterns of abuse involving police and military forces. Despite some perpetrators surrendering, others remain at large. Advocates urge transparent legal proceedings, including trying military suspects in civilian courts. Experts warn that government plans for plantation expansion and military involvement in the sector may intensify violence and structural marginalization of local communities.