Indonesia: Human Rights Challenges, Political Policing, and Civic Space Restrictions

Photo: Indonesia - Luigi Guarino

Indonesia — Southeast Asia's largest democracy and third-largest democracy globally — faces growing democratic backsliding characterised by the politicisation of security forces, restrictions on civic space in Papua, the criminalisation of religious minorities and LGBT individuals under colonial-era blasphemy laws and regional ordinances, and the weaponisation of defamation and electronic information laws against journalists and government critics.[1] While Indonesia maintains formal democratic institutions, patterns of impunity for security force abuses, particularly in Papua and West Papua provinces, have continued across successive governments.[2]

Papua and West Papua: Systematic Repression

Indonesia's Papua and West Papua provinces — incorporated in 1969 through a deeply contested "Act of Free Choice" involving only 1,025 hand-picked representatives — have been the site of persistent security force abuses, enforced disappearances, and suppression of political expression for decades.[3] Access by foreign journalists and human rights monitors is restricted, limiting documentation. Security forces — TNI (military) and Polri (police) — have conducted operations resulting in civilian casualties, extrajudicial killings, and displacement of communities. Flying the Morning Star independence flag is treated as a criminal act. Over 60 Papuans are held as political prisoners for peaceful advocacy.

Religious Minorities and Blasphemy Law

Indonesia's 1965 Blasphemy Law criminalises religious interpretations deemed "deviant" from the six officially recognised religions, carrying penalties of up to five years imprisonment.[4] Ahmadiyya Muslims face the most systematic persecution — their places of worship have been attacked and sealed by mobs with police complicity; they are prohibited from proselytising and face threats of prosecution for practising their faith. Shia Muslims face similar mob violence with state impunity. Atheists and agnostics who express their views publicly have been prosecuted under the blasphemy law and ITE Law. In Aceh province, Sharia courts impose corporal punishment — public flogging — for extramarital relations, gambling, and same-sex conduct.

Electronic Information Law and Press Freedom

Indonesia's ITE Law — widely referred to as the "rubber law" for its flexible interpretation — has been used to prosecute individuals for online posts deemed defamatory, offensive, or threatening, with penalties of up to six years imprisonment.[5] Journalists, activists, academics, and ordinary citizens who have criticised public officials, military officers, or businesses online have been prosecuted. The law creates pervasive self-censorship across Indonesian media and social media. Promised reforms have not eliminated the law's most problematic provisions.

Activists and Papuan claimants affected by political policing can obtain evidence on civic space restrictions and return risk through our Indonesia country expert witness reports.