Publications
Evidence with a purpose.
Reports, policy briefs, press releases, books, and public commentary in one searchable archive.
Survey: A Scorecard on Two Years of the Prabowo–Gibran Government
Two years is enough time for a government to demonstrate its performance. The honeymoon is over, and the promises Prabowo-Gibran once shouted from campaign stages must now face the prices of basic necessities, jobs, and the public’s pocketbooks. This study is, in essence, a reflection of the public’s demands: what has been delivered, what was merely a promise, who has benefited the most, and what the impact has been on society. This question should really be raised in parliament. Bu
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High potential, low prosperity: structural and regulatory gaps in rural renewable energy transition
Indonesia’s renewable energy transition is leaving rural communities behind. A new study by CELIOS finds that despite Indonesia’s enormous renewable energy potential, structural inequality, weak regulation, and extractive economic dependence continue to hinder equitable energy access in villages. The report documents several alarming trends between 2021–2024. Household solar adoption declined by 26.3%, biogas utilization dropped by 19.8%, and community-scale micro-hydro development fell by 10.1%
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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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Amicus curiae by CELIOS – Administrative Court of Kupang
The Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) has submitted an amicus curiae brief in Case Number 26/G/TF/PTUN.KPG on behalf of Agustinus Tuju, an Indigenous community leader from Poco Leok, in a case concerning opposition to the geothermal development project against the Regent of Manggarai before the Administrative Court of Kupang. This legal opinion is presented to strengthen the protection of constitutional rights, particularly the freedom of peaceful expression and the rights of Indigenous communities
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Urgent call for a new model for business, human rights, and environmental assessment
Sustainability instruments in Indonesia—such as PROPER, PRISMA, Norma 100, TKBI, and LKPM—remain fragmented, voluntary, lack field verification, and do not disclose results to the public. As a result, companies can engage in partial compliance without addressing real human rights and environmental harms on the ground. The CELIOS & PUSHAM UII study reveals that: 4 out of 5 national instruments are voluntary and unverified. Major conflicts in the LQ45 energy sector include environmental polluti
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Survey: Prabowo–Gibran’s 1-Year Performance Report Card
One Year of Prabowo–Gibran: A Failing Grade from the Public CELIOS has released the results of its One-Year Performance Evaluation of the Prabowo–Gibran Government, assessing program achievements, leadership, budget governance, policy communication, and law enforcement. The evaluation was conducted through a panel survey of 120 journalists from 60 national media outlets and a public survey of 1,338 respondents across Indonesia. The results show failing grades in nearly every sector. Prabowo Subianto scored 3 out of 10, Gibran
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IEU-CEPA: transition toward an anti-deforestation and low-carbon regime
The signing of the Indonesia–European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) on September 23, 2025, marks a strategic milestone for Indonesia’s non-oil and gas exports to access the European market starting in 2027. However, beyond its economic prospects, this agreement also signifies the beginning of a new phase of regulatory and governance reform. Under the agreement, Indonesia must align its domestic policies with two major EU frameworks: the EU Deforestation Regulation
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Expert testimony by CELIOS in the formal review process of Law Number 1 of 2025 on State-Owned Enterprises, which regulates the Sovereign Wealth Fund Danantara
On July 16, 2025, CELIOS was officially invited by the Constitutional Court to provide expert testimony at the judicial review hearing of Law No. 1 of 2025 on the Third Amendment to the Law on State-Owned Enterprises. Representing CELIOS, Executive Director Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara presented an economic perspective that questioned the transparency of the legislative process and highlighted the systemic risks arising from the law’s implementation. In his testimony, Bhima stressed
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Tax justice awaits Constitutional Court ruling, expert calls for VAT cut to boost economy
Jakarta, July 9, 2025 — The Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) was formally invited to present expert testimony at the Constitutional Court hearing on the judicial review of Law No. 7 of 2021 on Value-Added Tax (VAT). CELIOS was represented by Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara, Economist and Executive Director, and Media Wahyudi Askar, Director of Public Policy. The hearing focused on the implications of Articles 4 and 7 of the Law on the Harmonization of Tax Regulations (UU HPP), particularly regarding the policy
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Indonesia's accession to the OECD: a recommendation to improve the Indonesian regulatory and institutional framework in the energy and environmental sector
Indonesia’s efforts to join the OECD offer a strategic opportunity to align environmental and energy governance with international standards. This collaborative report by CELIOS and ICEL highlights several regulatory gaps that hinder a just and sustainable transition, particularly in environmental assessments, energy pricing, transparency, governance, and climate finance. The report’s findings show that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process remains e
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Assessment of the moratorium on mining licenses in Java
Java, Indonesia’s most densely populated island, has long borne the brunt of unchecked extractive activities. Mining, particularly for cement production, has pushed the island beyond its ecological carrying capacity—damaging landscapes, threatening hydrological systems, and undermining the livelihoods of nearby communities. What is often called “development” is instead driving an ecological crisis with long-term economic and social consequences. Through this assessment, CELIOS emphasizes
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Village heads’ legal vulnerabilities in the Red-White Village Cooperative
On 18 June 2025, CELIOS released a critical report titled “Squeeze the Red-White Village: Legal Risks Await Village Heads.” The report exposes legal flaws, corruption risks, and the potential for political mobilization in the Merah Putih Village Cooperative (Kopdes MP) program, initiated by the central government through Presidential Instruction No. 9/2025. CELIOS asserts that the establishment of Kopdes MP has no valid legal basis, resting solely on a presidential instruction and interministerial circulars—two instruments that do not have the authority to...
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