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Hello reader,

All eyes are on Pati regency today, as thousands showed up in protest against Regent Sudewo over an extremely unpopular official policy.

Things have sadly turned violent, with early reports of possible deaths and injuries. Meanwhile, the wheels are in motion to impeach Sudewo.

Let’s hope everybody in Pati will be okay.

Cheers,

Andra

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Law/Politics

• Thousands of residents gathered at the town square in Pati, Central Java today to protest a 250% hike in rural and urban land and building taxes (PBB-P2), demanding the resignation of Regent Sudewo despite the policy’s repeal on August 8. Organized by the United Pati People’s Alliance, protesters accused Sudewo of breaking campaign promises and opposed certain infrastructure projects. The rally turned tense when crowds broke through the regent’s office gates, prompting police to use water cannons and tear gas, injuring several, including women and children. Later in the day, local officials reported at least two deaths, including one journalist, though their identities have not been confirmed as of this publication. Sudewo, for his part, appeared atop an armored vehicle to apologize and pledge improvements, while Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi had earlier urged him to meet the crowd; police deployed 2,684 officers, claiming professional and humane conduct.

• Pati’s Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) held an unscheduled plenary session today, agreeing unanimously to form a special committee to launch a right of inquiry aimed at impeaching Sudewo. All parties, including Sudewo’s own Gerindra, backed the move, citing public anger and injuries from recent unrest. The decision came just hours after a massive protest outside the regent’s office turned violent.

• Vice President Gibran Rakabuming visited former Vice President and retired general Try Sutrisno at his Jakarta residence today, where they exchanged greetings warmly, discussed leadership experiences, national unity, and the importance of education and health development. Gibran also invited Try to attend the 80th Independence Day ceremony at the Presidential Palace. The meeting drew attention given past tensions, as Try was among senior retired military and police officers in a forum that called for Gibran’s removal, opposing government policies on the new capital, foreign labor, and corruption-linked ministers, while also questioning the Constitutional Court ruling that allowed Gibran to run in 2024.

• Dea Permata Karisma (27) from Purwakarta, West Java was found dead in her home yesterday, with multiple stab wounds and heavy bleeding, after months of receiving death threats via WhatsApp that she had reported to local authorities with no follow-up. Her parents said the perpetrator had once broken into the house but fled when confronted by their domestic helper. On the day of the incident, Dea was last seen by a neighbor around 11am, shortly before the helper discovered her body and alerted residents. Police are now investigating and will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

• The Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) in Musi Banyuasin, South Sumatra has condemned an act of violence against nephrology specialist Dr. Syahpri Putra Wangsa at Sekayu Regional General Hospital (RSUD), calling it a serious threat to medical workers’ safety. The incident, which went viral on social media, shows a patient’s family berating Dr. Syahpri during a ward visit, forcing him to remove his mask, and accusing him of delaying treatment for their elderly mother in a VIP room. IDI Muba chair Ichsan Nur Hamdan urged all hospitals to improve security so medical staff can work safely, warning that threats and violence undermine public trust in healthcare. The association also called on the public to respect doctors and refrain from intimidation or assault.

Business/Economy

• Bank Indonesia (BI) clarified that the Payment ID system, rumored to launch on August 17, is still in sandbox trials, mainly for non-cash social aid distribution in Banyuwangi, East Java this September. BI stressed that the system’s rollout requires time, regulation drafting, and multi-party coordination, with a focus on transaction security and consumer protection. Payment ID will assign every Indonesian a unique 9-character alphanumeric payment identifier, derived from encrypted NIK or NPWP, to monitor transactions, enhance financial inclusion, and support policy-making. BI assured it will operate within public policy scope, never intruding on private spaces, and will only access payment history with the owner’s consent per the Personal Data Protection Law.

• Indonesia’s rice milling industry is experiencing widespread temporary shutdowns amid a rice market scandal over substandard and mislabeled premium rice, causing trillions in losses. Police have named directors of two companies as suspects, with two more under investigation. The Indonesian Rice Millers and Entrepreneurs Association (Perpadi) said mills of all sizes are halting operations due to fluctuating production, high raw rice prices, low supply, regulatory uncertainty, and a highest retail price (HET) that no longer covers costs. Many, especially in Java, have stopped processing to avoid rule violations. The National Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded 169,789 rice mills in 2020, mostly small-scale, but Perpadi estimates numbers have since fallen at least 10%, with small mills hit hardest.

• Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Indonesia’s 2026 social protection budget will rise sharply, covering cash aid, MSME support, free healthcare, and education. The exact figure will be announced by President Prabowo Subianto when presenting the 2026 State Budget bill to parliament on Friday. This year, central government spending directly benefiting lower-income groups is IDR 1,333 trillion, with next year’s amount set to be higher. Tax-funded programs include the Family Hope Program for 10 million households, food aid for 18 million households, subsidized financing for MSMEs, free medical services, and upgrades to health infrastructure such as clinics and regional hospitals. Education support includes “people’s schools” for poor children, including scavengers’ children. Sri Mulyani called this a redistribution of state resources to vulnerable groups. The 2026 draft budget sets national spending at IDR 3,800–3,820 trillion, up from an estimated IDR 3,527.5 trillion in 2025.

Everything Else

• Indonesia will see extreme rain in many regions through the weekend, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) warns. Heavy downpours have hit since early August, going up to 254.7 mm/day in West Java, while also affecting West Kalimantan, Central Papua, Jakarta, Banten, and more. BMKG cites a mix of factors: Madden-Julian Oscillation, atmospheric waves, tropical cyclone seeds 90S and 96W, cyclonic circulation, wind convergence, and a negative Indian Ocean Dipole bringing moist air. From Monday to Wednesday, heavy rain with lightning and strong winds occurred across much of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua. Rain will ease Thursday to Saturday, except in Bengkulu, East Kalimantan, and Highland Papua. Strong winds may also cause high waves in parts of Aceh, Banten, Bali, Maluku, Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and South Papua.