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 T
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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 expected to be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ahead of COP 30 in Brazil this November. During a public consultation session held by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, officials acknowledged that delays in submitting the SNDC document were due to difficulties in aligning targets across sectors. In fact, unde
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