Indonesia: Suppression of protests and crackdown on activism in Papua persisted ahead of President Prabowo’s inauguration

In Indonesia, civic space remains rated as ‘obstructed’. Among the main concerns are the use of restrictive laws, including defamation provisions against human rights defenders and journalists as well as harassment and threats against them. The authorities have criminalised Papuan activists for their peaceful expression while protests across Indonesia have been met with arbitrary arrests and excessive force from the police.

On 20th October 2024, Prabowo Subianto who won the elections in February 2024 with nearly 60 percent of the vote, was sworn in as president of Indonesia, vowing to combat internal issues that plague the country, such as corruption, and to make it more self-sufficient. Seven of the eight parties in parliament have joined Prabowo's coalition, securing him a parliamentary majority. If Prabowo can reach a deal with the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) there would be no opposition parties in parliament, an unprecedented situation since Indonesia began holding direct presidential elections in 2004. Prabowo, a former military officer, was dishonourably discharged in 1998 for his involvement in the abduction of political opponents of former president Suharto, of whom 13 remain missing to this day, but he has never faced trial.

In the months leading up to the inauguration, the security forces arbitrarily arrested and used excessive force against those protesting amendments to a regional election law. The indigenous Sasak community in West Nusa Tenggara continue to face intimidation against protesting around a racetrack while police cracked down on a protest against land grabbing for a geothermal project in East Nusa Tenggara. Police also stifled protests across West Papua marking the New York Agreement. Papuan activists were shot at, faced intimidation for their advocacy as well as harassment and ill-treatment for their activism. Attacks and killing of journalists has persisted, including in Papua.

Peaceful Assembly

Arrests and unlawful use of force during protest against regional election law amendment

On 22nd August 2024, thousands of protesters, including university students, took to the streets of several major cities in Indonesia, including Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Makassar, protesting the House of Representatives’ plan to change the election law, or what is known as the #PeringatanDarurat protests.

Lawmakers were prepared to reverse a Constitutional Court order on candidate age restrictions. The amendments would have allowed outgoing President Joko Widodo’s youngest son to contest in a regional election, further enhancing the political influence of Widodo. This plan was halted following the protests.

More than 200 protesters, including minors, were arbitrarily arrested and detained in Jakarta without due process or any sufficient or credible evidence. Police attacked protests near the parliament in Jakarta with tear gas and water cannon. Reports and videos showed police physically assaulting protestors with batons and kicking them. Many suffered injuries and were hospitalised. Military personnel were also seen committing violence against protesters. Crackdowns on protests were also reported in other cities.

According to Amnesty International Indonesia, in Bandung, West Java Province, a video obtained by Amnesty showed police officers chasing after protesters, striking them with batons and stomping on their bodies. In Semarang, Central Java Province, at least 15 university students were brought to hospital suffering shortness of breath, nausea and sore eyes, while some even fainted, after the police used tear gas to disperse protesters.

Among those arrested were activists from civil society groups Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Jakarta and Lokataru. Reports show that lawyers were denied access and prevented from providing legal aid to the detained protesters. Some protesters were also doxed by the authorities.

The Journalists Safety Committee (KKJ) reports that journalists were also targeted. At least 11 journalists were intimidated, threatened, or suffered injuries.

A report from the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD) on 29th August 2024 found that police and military personnel (some without uniform) undertook arbitrary arrests outside parliament in Jakarta. The security forces attacked protesters using blunt weapons and tear gas and also kicked and hit them. At least 21 protesters suffered physical or psychological violence.

Indigenous community intimidated against protesting around Mandalika racetrack

The Indonesia authorities undertook a massive deployment of security forces around the Mandalika racing circuit in Lombok to ensure security around the MotoGP international motorcycle race event on 27th-29th September 2024. It was also done to prevent local community members from holding any protests that might be picked up by the international media arriving on the island.

Along with water cannon and bomb squad cars, armed security forces were on standby in security tents between residential areas and the Mandalika racetrack. According to Amnesty International Indonesia, the West Nusa Tenggara regional police deployed 2,736 police and military personnel. Security was also strengthened by 300 additional personnel from the police headquarters and the East Java Regional Police.

The police also issued a circular which prohibited the public from displaying banners or holding demonstrations during the MotoGP event.

The racetrack built on land taken by force from the indigenous Sasak communities is just one part of the development plan to turn Mandalika into a tourist resort. For years, the project has been mired in allegations of forced evictions, loss of livelihood, inadequate resettlement and compensation for the Sasak community. Some Sasak residents have been arrested for criticising the government.

In September 2024, UN experts warned that the Mandalika urban development and tourism project in Indonesia poses the risk of irreparable harm to Indigenous People’s rights.

Police crackdown on protest against land grab for geothermal project

On 2nd October 2024, police cracked down on indigenous villagers during a demonstration against a planned geothermal project in East Nusa Tenggara province. The Poco Leok residents in Manggarai Regency were protesting officials measuring their ancestral lands to be acquired for a power project led by the state-owned electricity company, PT PLN.

Four residents were reportedly beaten up and arrested by the police as well as Herry Kabut, editor-in-chief of local media outlet Floresa. One of the arrested villagers reportedly sustained serious injuries and was hospitalised. Kabut suffered bruises on his head and neck when he was forcibly pulled to a police car. All those arrested were released after being held in a police vehicle for four hours.

The Poco Leok geothermal project is an expansion of the Ulumbu Geothermal Power Plant, which is located about three kilometres west of Poco Leok and has been operational since 2012. The government and the company have stepped up efforts to undertake land measurements and set up drilling points for the project. However, only three villages have agreed while 11 villages continue to oppose the acquisition of their ancestral lands.

Climate march disrupted by a mob

A climate march in the capital Jakarta was forcibly disbanded by a mob.

On 27th September 2024, dozens of activists hit the streets of Jakarta to raise awareness about the urgency of climate change and to demand more climate action as part of the Global Climate Strike.

However, before the protesters started marching, they were disrupted by an unknown group of people. The mob reportedly delivered a speech praising President Joko Widodo’s administration. As the protesters started their march toward downtown Jakarta, they were met by more aggressive intimidation from the mob. Several of them forcibly confiscated protest items such as posters, banners and loudspeakers. Despite the disruption, the protesters attempted to continue marching. However, the intimidation persisted for the protest to disperse, and one protester was physically assaulted.

Police who were present at the march failed to intervene to protect the protesters. Instead, the police asked the protesters to disperse, stating they were not able to handle the situation.

Civil society groups condemned the police inaction and warned that such an incident reflects a growing threat to democracy. Activists noted a growing trend of public discussions and peaceful assemblies being disrupted by unidentified groups or state forces in Indonesia, particularly when they address sensitive or controversial topics.

Police crackdown on protests across West Papua marking the New York Agreement

Gatherings in West Papua to mark an agreement were stifled by the police, with arrests and excessive force.

Every year, West Papuans come together to protest against the New York Agreement of 1962 between Indonesia and the Netherlands on the UN-led referendum on the future of West Papua which eventually paved the way for Indonesia’s annexation of the region.

The demonstrations were led by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), a Papuan civil resistance movement demanding the repetition of an independence referendum in West Papua through peaceful action.

According to the Human Rights Monitor, on 15th August 2024, police used force to disperse peaceful protests in the towns of Nabire, Wamena and Sentani, as well as in Jayapura City. An estimated 222 protesters were arrested and 41 injured as police forces dispersed the crowd with batons, teargas and rubber bullets. Many wounded protesters sustained head injuries. Police also blocked demonstrations in Timika and Manokwari.

Association

Shooting of human rights defender in West Papua

Yan Christian Warinussy, a senior lawyer and human rights activist in Papua, was shot by an unidentified person in Manokwari, West Papua province on 17th July 2024.

According to Amnesty International, the shooting occurred after Warinussy had just withdrawn money from an ATM kiosk on the roadside. Prior to this he had attended a corruption trial involving some local state auditors at the Manokwari anti-corruption court.

He was then taken to hospital to get medical treatment where staff found a black tin pellet that dropped to the floor while Warinussy was undressing for his medical examination. The attending doctor said Warinussy had been spared any serious injury, and determined that the pellet likely hit a rib without deeply penetrating his body. Local police said they were investigating and attempting to find the suspected shooter. However, more than three months on there has still been no accountability for the attack and Warinussy is still seeking justice.

Warinussy is known as a lawyer and human rights defender in Papua because of his dedication to advocating for the rights of the Papuan people. He leads the Research Institute for Legal Aid Assessment and Development (LP3BH) in Manokwari.

Intimidation of Papuan activists following international advocacy

Lamberti Faan, a Papuan human rights defender and internally displaced woman from the Maybrat Regency, Papua Barat Daya Province, and her relatives have been subjected to intimidation following her testimony at the 56th Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in June 2024.

According to the Human Rights Monitor, since delivering her statement, Faan and her family have experienced harassment and threats, creating a climate of fear and insecurity. This intimidation includes constant surveillance, direct threats, and attempts to gather personal information, affecting not only Faan but also her relatives in Sorong and Maybrat.

In a separate case, Tineke Rumkabu who participated in the 53rd session of the Permanent People’s Tribunal (PPT) in London via Zoom in late June 2024, also faced intimidation. During this session, she testified about state violence in West Papua during the New Order period (1965-1998) and the situation of internally displaced people. Following her testimony, she and her family experienced a series of acts of intimidation. This included repeated visits by police officers and anonymous text messages and phone calls from an unknown number. Cars were also persistently parked outside Rumkabu’s house, creating a climate of fear and insecurity.

Harassment and ill-treatment of Papuan activists

There were other reports by the Human Rights Monitor of activists facing harassment, arrest and ill-treatment in recent months.

On 12th August 2024, police arbitrarily detained and ill-treated four Papuan activists of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in the town of Nabire, Papua Tengah Province. The incident occurred at the Karang Tumaritis Market where the activists were distributing leaflets for a demonstration on 15th August 2024.

The following day, at least 50 KNPB members were arbitrarily arrested and detained by the Jayapura District Police and taken to Doyo Baru Police Station. The activists had been at the old market in Sentani to distribute leaflets. Police also reportedly seized their motorcycles. They were released four hours later after lawyers from the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) came to the police station to provide legal support.

On 29th September 2024, five students, all members of the ‘West Papuan Student Solidarity’, faced harassment after registering a peaceful assembly to commemorate the Rome Agreement of 30th September 1962 in Nabire. When they arrived at the Nabire District Police Headquarters to pick up a letter the students were forcibly detained and questioned at the criminal investigation unit. Their interrogation was carried out without a lawyer. Police also reportedly threatened to report the students’ involvement in the protest to their university principal, demanding an expulsion from the university. The students were released on 30th September 2024.

Supreme court upholds acquittal of human rights defenders

On 24th September 2024, the Indonesian Supreme Court upheld the acquittal of human rights defenders Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti.

As previously documented, the human rights defenders were prosecuted for defamation and were acquitted by the East Jakarta District Court in January 2024. The defamation charges, under Article 27(3) and Article 45 of the Electronic Information and Transaction Law (EIT Law) and Article 310(1) and 311 of the Penal Code, were in response to a YouTube talk show discussing a civil society investigative report alleging links of Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment and several other authorities to gold mining activities in the Blok Wabu area in the Intan Jaya district of Papua. In August 2021, Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan filed a police report against Fatia and Haris.

Fatia is the former coordinator of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and Haris is the Executive Director of the Lokataru Foundation.

Expression

Attacks and killing of journalists

Journalists in Indonesia remain at risk of intimidation and attacks.

On 27th June 2024, there was a deadly arson attack against journalist Rico Sempurna Pasaribu, 47, of the Medan-based Tribata TV and three members of his family in the small town of Kabanjahe. According to Human Rights Watch, prior to the attack, Tribata TV had published on its website Pasaribu’s story about a gambling site belonging to an army officer. While the story did not have a byline, Pasaribu posted a link on his Facebook page stating that the gambling was controlled by an army officer he named. After the report was published, the soldier allegedly threatened Pasaribu, and asked Tribata TV’s chief editor to take down the report. Three men have been arrested.

On 6th August 2024, the car of Hussein Abri Dongoran, journalist for Tempo Media Group and host of the YouTube political podcast "Bocor Alus Politik," was vandalised in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. Hussein was returning home at night after meeting a source at Senayan City Mall when he heard a loud noise from behind his car. Although he suspected someone had hit his car, he saw no vehicles in his rearview mirror and kept on driving. Later he found his car's rear window had cracked. Tempo Editor-in-Chief Setri Yasra stated that the incident does not appear to be a robbery attempt, raising concerns about potential intimidation against Hussein for his journalistic activities.

Ongoing targeting of journalist and media outlet in Papua

There was an attack on the editorial office of Papua-based media outlet Jubi on 16th October 2024. According to RNZ, Molotov cocktails were thrown at the office in Jayapura, damaging two vehicles. Witnesses said that assailants had passed by the Jubi premises several times on the previous evening, stopping to observe the office, before departing and returning at 3:15am to throw two objects.

Jubi is owned by prominent journalist Victor Mambor, who has faced persistent threats and attacks for his work. Tabloid Jubi and its website are known for consistently presenting the public with reports on human rights violations in Papua.

In September 2019, Victor Mambor was intimidated and harassed online for reporting on the internet blackout in Papua and protests. In April 2021, Victor Mambor’s car, which was parked in a road near his home in the Papuan capital of Jayapura, was vandalised by unknown individuals. He has also faced doxxing and threats. His Twitter account was hacked and deleted in 2022 after he posted a video showing Indonesian security forces allegedly abusing a disabled civilian. In January 2023, an improvised explosive device was detonated outside his house. CCTV camera footage showed a motorcycle passing by the house, moments before the blast.