Publications
Evidence with a purpose.
Reports, policy briefs, press releases, books, and public commentary in one searchable archive.
Disasters and MBG food poisoning cases escalate as Indonesia cuts disaster agency budget by 75%: Constitutional Court must urgently review the 2026 State Budget Law
Disasters are intensifying across Indonesia, yet the 2026 budget for the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has been cut by 75.62% to just IDR 491 billion. This allocation amounts to only around 0.4% of the estimated IDR 123.1 trillion in economic and health losses caused by forest and land fires. At the same time, at least 50,000 people have reportedly been affected by suspected food poisoning linked to the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Programme. The resulting socioeconomic losses are e
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Indonesia–US trade agreement challenged in court, civil society coalition warns of risks to economic sovereignty
A civil society coalition consisting of CELIOS, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ), Solidaritas Perempuan, and supported by WALHI Nasional and Trend Asia has officially filed a lawsuit for Unlawful Government Act (Onrechtmatige Overheidsdaad) against the President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Jakarta Administrative Court (PTUN) on March 11, 2026. The lawsuit challenges the President’s decision to sign the Indonesia–United States Reciprocal Trade Agreement (The Agreement on Reciprocal Trade / ART) on February 19, 2026, without approval from the House of Representatives (DPR) and without meaningful public participation.
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Constitutional lawsuit on the governance of the Free Nutritious Meal Program in the state budget
Key Points of the Constitutional Challenge to the Governance of the Free Nutritious Meal Program in the State Budget We have submitted a Judicial Review of the State Budget Law (APBN Law) to examine the governance of the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG), which raises several serious concerns regarding the management of public finances. The main objections raised in this petition include the following: Abuse of authority in the management of public funds, as the MBG program was established w
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CELIOS files formal objection to the Indonesia–US Reciprocal Trade Agreement (ART)
The Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) has formally submitted Letter No. 039/CELIOS/II/2026 to the President of the Republic of Indonesia expressing its objection to the Agreement Between the United States of America and the Republic of Indonesia on Reciprocal Trade (ART). CELIOS considers the agreement far more than a standard trade deal. Its provisions affect trade, energy imports, mineral governance, digital regulation, data protection, taxation, industrial policy, and Indonesia’s
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CELIOS expert testimony at the PTUN: PLN’s 2025–2034 RUPTL burdens state finances
CELIOS Executive Director Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara provided expert testimony in Case Number 286/G/2025/PTUN.JKT concerning the review of PLN’s 2025–2034 RUPTL. In his testimony, Bhima highlighted the large share held by independent power producers (IPPs) in the RUPTL, accounting for 73% of total investment, and its impact on state finances, APBN subsidies and compensation, electricity supply reliability, and the public’s purchasing power. Data shows that PLN’s payments to IPPs—including for unused electricity—have reached hundreds of trillions of rupiah, potentially constituting state losses.
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Second Nationally Determined Contribution (SNDC): in pursuit of 8% economic growth, environmental protection and vulnerable groups are overlooked
Jakarta, October 24, 2025 — The government has just released the draft of the Second Nationally Determined Contribution (SNDC), which is planned for submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ahead of COP 30 this November in Brazil. During a public consultation session held by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, officials acknowledged that the delay in submitting the SNDC document was due to difficulties in aligning targets across sectors. In fact, unde
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Plan to modify World Heritage forest boundaries for geothermal: a new threat to forests, communities, and Indonesia’s reputation
Jakarta, 22 September 2025 – The government, through the Ministry of Forestry, plans to modify the boundary of the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (TRHS) via UNESCO, in order to build a 5 GW Geothermal Power Plant (PLTP) in Suoh and Sekincau, West Lampung. This move marks a major setback in tropical forest conservation efforts and undermines Indonesia’s environmental diplomacy reputation, particularly in the lead-up to COP30 in Brazil. UNESCO World Heritage Potential The 2.5 million-he
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Open letter to UN OHCHR: urgent call to monitor, investigate, and report the escalating crisis in Indonesia
The current situation in Indonesia reflects a serious decline in democracy and the protection of human rights. Repressive actions by state forces against peaceful demonstrations increasingly underscore a pattern of restrictions on civic freedoms, while reviving the specter of authoritarian practices from the past. Arbitrary arrests, violence by security forces, and the involvement of the military in civilian affairs are warning signs of the weakening of the rule of la
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Press release reset Indonesia’s economy
The current economic situation in recent weeks reflects the accumulation of persistent problems: inequality, unfair taxation, inefficient spending, and the government’s ballooning debt. Real and implementable solutions are urgently needed to address the challenges faced by Indonesia’s middle- and lower-income groups. CELIOS calls for a Reset of Indonesia’s Economy through eight key policy demands aimed at restoring public trust, strengthening the state budget (APBN), and protecting household pur
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CELIOS sends letter to UN over suspected irregularities in Indonesia’s economic growth data
The Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) has formally sent a letter to the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and the UN Statistical Commission, requesting an independent review of Indonesia’s Q2 2025 economic growth data released by Statistics Indonesia (BPS). CELIOS has highlighted a discrepancy between the official figures and real economic indicators. BPS reported growth of 5.12% (yoy), including manufacturing sector growth of 5.68%. However
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Press release: Public discussion — Echoes of the Bandung Conference: Reinventing South-South cooperation
Jakarta, Indonesia – March 20, 2025, marked 70 years since the Asia-Africa Conference was held in Bandung, Indonesia. To commemorate this historic event, which laid the foundation for South-South Cooperation, CELIOS organized a public discussion titled “Echoes of the Bandung Conference: Reinventing South-South Cooperation,” held on April 15, 2025. The event was attended by various parties, including academics, diplomats, and experts in international relations. Centered on the importance of South-S
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Press release: Economic impact of Lebaran 2025 softens — GDP contribution falls to Rp140.7 trillion, down 16.5% from last year
CELIOS: The 2025 Lebaran period generated Rp140.7 trillion in GDP, down 16.5% compared with 2024 Purchasing power remains weak; CELIOS: First-quarter 2025 economic growth will be at most 5.03 percent CELIOS: Ramadan and Lebaran consumption did little to support people’s purchasing power Jakarta, March 28, 2025. 2025 could be a challenging year for Indonesians amid considerable economic pressure. One reason is the still-massive number of layoffs (PHK) in the first two months
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