Indonesia

Authorities blamed Papuan separatists for killing New Zealand pilot in Papua; authorities signed major defence deal with Australia.

Police accused separatists for killing New Zealand pilot in Central Papua province. Security forces reported that separatist fighters 5 Aug shot dead male pilot from New Zealand when his helicopter landed in Alama village, Mimika district, Central Papua province, while releasing all four Indigenous Papuan passengers on board the aircraft. Killing comes nearly 18 months after the abduction by separatists in Feb 2023 of another pilot from New Zealand, Philip Mehrtens, who remains captive.

President held celebrations in planned new capital, thousands protested revisions to electoral law. Outgoing President Joko Widodo 17 Aug celebrated country’s 79th Independence Day in planned new capital Nusantara, carved from East Kalimantan Province on Borneo Island, amid concerns about construction delays and funding gaps. Widodo 19 Aug reshuffled cabinet in surprising late-term move that analysts say would bolster incoming administration of Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, who won Feb’s presidential election, by positioning key allies to maintain continuity and counter opposition. Prabowo 19-20 Aug visited Australia on his first visit since Indonesia’s general election in Feb 2024. Thousands of people 22 Aug protested against proposed revisions of country’s electoral law to permit candidates under 30 years old to compete, clashing with police which arrested about 300 people; critics alleged that reform would boost Widodo’s efforts to further solidify power, for example by allowing his youngest son Kaesang Pangarep to run for provincial governor in Java’s local elections in Nov. Parliament same day decided not to proceed with proposed changes.

Authorities signed new Defence pact with Australia. Australia and Indonesia 29 Aug signed new defence deal, with provisions on “maritime security, counter terrorism, humanitarian and disaster relief, logistics support, education and training”, cementing closer ties between two countries.