Indonesia
Thursday 19.5.2022 Indonesia - Latest Developments -
Indonesian authorities criminalise activists, violently suppress protests around Papua
In the last few months, human rights defenders have been arrested, criminalised and threatened, especially those speaking up on violations in the Papuan region. Those who organised or have been involved in protests against the creation of new provinces in Papua have also been arrested and ill-treated and some have faced excessive or deadly force from the security forces. Farmers and activists in Wadas were arrested for opposing a mining project. The press freedom ranking for Indonesia has dropped and digital repression continues to be reported. Read more
Wednesday 26.1.2022 Indonesia - Latest Developments -
Ongoing harassment, threats and criminalisation of activists and journalists in Indonesia
In recent months, the authorities have been harassing human rights defenders Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar, while human rights defender Veronica Koman and her family were threatened. Papuan activists were arbitrarily arrested in early December 2021, with eight facing treason charges for raising the Morning Star flag - a banned symbol of Papuan independence - while excessive force was reported against a student in Tangerang. The authorities withdrew a complaint against two Greenpeace Indonesia activists following public criticism, while two police officers were convicted for assaulting a journalist.
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Tuesday 21.9.2021 Indonesia - Latest Developments -
Human rights defenders, critics targeted in Indonesia while protests on Papua repressed
In recent months, activists have been targeted for comments they made during an online talk or for reporting on corruption. An academic has been jailed for defamation while street artists are being silenced for a mural and graffiti critical of the state. A West Papuan activist facing trial has been hospitalised while there has been a lack of accountability for excessive force and other violations by the security forces during several protests related to Papua. Read more
Thursday 10.6.2021 Indonesia - Latest Developments -
Activists at risk as repression in Papua escalates while Indonesia imposes further net restrictions
Over the last few months, activists from Papua have been arrested and charged for their activism. Those protesting against government policies, including students, have faced harassment, detention and even attacks from non-state actors with impunity. The internet has been disrupted in Papua and journalists have been targeted. Internet laws have been used to silence criticism of authorities in Papua. The authorities are bringing in new internet regulations which poses serious risks to privacy, freedom of speech and access to information. Read more
Monday 1.2.2021 Indonesia - Latest Developments -
Critical voices silenced, impunity for excessive force and unlawful killings in Indonesia
In recent months, police have arrested, charged and convicted individuals for their social media posts, while a journalist was assaulted by the military. Political activists in Maluku and Papua have also been jailed for their peaceful activism. There has continued to be a lack of accountability for police violence during the mass protests against the job creation bill while reports of torture and unlawful killings continued to be reported. Read more
Monday 12.10.2020 Indonesia - Latest Developments -
Arbitrary arrests, excessive force, attacks on media in mass protests in Indonesia against jobs law
As workers and students rallied across Indonesia against a controversial job creation law, civil society groups have documented arbitrary arrests, excessive use force against protesters and journalists and inhuman and degrading treatment against protesters while detained Read more
Monday 10.8.2020 Indonesia - Latest Developments -
Papuan activists prosecuted while critics face judicial harassment and digital attacks
Attacks on civic freedoms has persisted around the pandemic in Indonesia with the arrests and prosecution of political activists, particularly those from Papua and Maluku, for their peaceful political activism. According to human rights groups, more than 50 political prisoners remain in detention in Indonesia and activists have called for them to be released to minimise the risk of infection with COVID-19. Activists and government critics have also faced digital attacks, smear campaigns and surveillance. Land and environmental activists have also been targeted with one death in custody reported. Read more
Thursday 16.4.2020 Indonesia - Latest Developments -
Protests in Indonesia against weakening of labour laws as activists and critics are silenced
There have been mass protests in recent months against proposed new laws that could weaken labour and environmental rights in Indonesia. Scores of Papuan activists are facing trial for their activism while the national human rights body has finally issued a report on the 2014 killing of four Papuan students involved in a protest. Defamation laws are being used to silence critics of the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, while human rights defenders are facing threats and arrests Read more
Thursday 21.11.2019 Indonesia - Latest Developments -
Lack of accountability for police violence, attacks on journalists and activists in Indonesia
In the last few months, mass protests by students were met with excessive use of force and firearms by the police with impunity. Further, activists peacefully protesting on West Papua are facing “rebellion” charges while two journalists and an environmental activist have died. Police have also attacked journalists covering a protest while the authorities continue to pursue a human rights lawyer for her activism on West Papua. Read more
Wednesday 11.9.2019 Indonesia - Latest Developments -
West Papuan protests met with internet shutdown, arrests of activists and excessive force
For the last few weeks West Papuans have been protesting attacks against Papuan students in Surabaya and racial insults hurled against them. In response the authorities shut down the internet in many parts of the Papuan region, arrested political activists and used excessive force against protesters with some killed or injured Read more
