Amnesty International (Autor): „The State of the World's Human Rights; Indonesia 2025“, Dokument #2139324

Background

President Prabowo Subianto’s first year in power was characterized by repression of dissent and expansion of military powers. Throughout the year, massive protests were held across the country as people expressed concern about budget reductions linked to austerity measures, rising living costs and the continuation of substantial benefits provided to lawmakers. In March, the government passed revisions to the military law, expanding the military’s role by redefining the responsibilities of the armed forces to include economic and social functions, thereby increasing their power over civilian matters.

Freedom of expression and assembly

In February, a band called Sukatani, from Purbalingga in Central Java, removed their song “Bayar bayar bayar” (“Pay pay pay”) from streaming platforms. After removing the song, which satirized police corruption, they also publicly apologized to the national police.¹ In an official statement, they revealed they had faced intimidation and pressure from authorities since July 2024, including their vocalist losing her teaching position at an Islamic elementary school. Following public criticism, an investigation was launched by the Professional and Security Division of the National Police into the actions of the Cyber Directorate of Central Java Regional Police, but ultimately it found no breach of protocol.

Ahead of Independence Day on 17 August, numerous people in Indonesia raised pirate flags, inspired by the anime One Piece, as a symbol of defiance and anger towards the government. These acts quickly went viral on social media. In response, authorities targeted several individuals, conducting raids in multiple cities to confiscate One Piece flags from homes and cars, and remove related murals. Several officials, including the coordinating minister for political and security affairs, condemned the flags and labelled them as disrespectful of Independence Day and the national flag. The government threatened legal action against those participating in the trend, raising further concerns about freedom of expression.²

Unlawful use of force

On 14 April, members of the Federal Republic of West Papua (NFRPB) visited several government offices in the province of West Papua to deliver two letters offering a solution for peace in West Papua. The delivery of the letters was filmed and broadcast, capturing some people shouting “Free Papua”. On 5 May, Sorong City Police arrested and charged four people associated with the NFRPB with treason under the Criminal Code. The four were later transferred to Makassar District Court, allegedly for security reasons. In response, on 27 August, protests erupted in Sorong and Manokwari, the capital cities of Southwest Papua and West Papua respectively. The police used excessive force to quell the protests, arbitrarily arresting 23 people, firing live rounds and tear gas. One person was severely injured when tear gas was used in Sorong and one person was killed in Manokwari. Those arrested were freed without charge in September.³

Protesters, students and media workers were subjected to arbitrary arrest, intimidation and violence by police in widespread demonstrations throughout the country. Between May and July, state forces used excessive force, physical violence, abductions and ill-treatment against Labour Day protesters in several cities. On 1 May, police officers fired water cannons to disperse peaceful protesters, and physically assaulted others, pushing, beating and kicking them. Journalists were blocked from entering the parliament complex in the capital, Jakarta. They were searched and forced to delete their footage. The police arbitrarily arrested at least 24 individuals in Jakarta, Bandung, the capital city of West Java, and Semarang, the capital city of Central Java province. Those arrested were later accused of allegedly “obstructing the work of law enforcement”. At year’s end, 14 of the 24 individuals arrested were still awaiting hearings in Jakarta. District courts in two other cities ruled that the remaining 10 defendants violated the Criminal Code.

On 30 July, four masked men abducted a volunteer paramedic at dawn in Depok, a city in West Java. They covered his head and forced him into a car, and tortured and interrogated him about the May Day protest for nearly one hour. The perpetrators showed him photos of at least 40 alleged protesters and pressured him to identify the networks behind the action. They confiscated his identity card and burned his skin with a cigarette. He was later abandoned on the street, injured and traumatized.⁴

Between 25 August and 1 September, thousands of protesters took to the streets in at least 15 provinces across Indonesia, criticizing the high allowances provided to members of the House of Representatives and demanding reform. On 28 August, public anger intensified when an armoured vehicle from the national police’s mobile brigade drove into a crowded area, killing a motorcycle delivery driver. Throughout the protests, police officers repeatedly used excessive force. As part of the crackdown, dispersals were facilitated by the disproportionate use of tear gas and water cannons and other forms of intimidation. Security forces arrested more than 4,000 people. They assaulted more than 900, beating some and wounding others with rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons. At least 10 people died. At the end of the year, only the death of the motorcycle driver was under investigation.⁵

Indigenous Peoples’ rights

In South Papua, the Merauke Food Estate project adversely affected more than 40,000 Indigenous persons. Launched by the central government in October 2024 as a national strategic project to increase food resilience, land permits were issued to corporations without obtaining free, prior, and informed consent. The project threatened Indigenous livelihoods, contributing to malnutrition among women and children. Authorities harassed and intimidated those opposing the project. On 17 March, more than 250 Indigenous and local community members affected by the projects gathered for a meeting called “Solidarity Consolidation for Merauke”. The gathering rejected the project due to a lack of meaningful consultation and a proper environmental impact assessment, expressing concern about the destruction of sacred customary forests. On 6 October, four people vandalized the home and car of Indigenous activist, Vincen, whose family refused to sell their land. It was not clear whether the perpetrators were affiliated with any of the corporations involved in the project. At year’s end, the police were still investigating the incident.

In East Halmahera, a regency of North Maluku province, Indigenous People in Maba Sangaji village faced severe environmental degradation of their lands since nickel mining operations began in 2024. In response, the community protested against mining activities and demanded an immediate halt to operations.

In May, police charged 11 Indigenous persons from Maba Sangaji with obstructing mining activities. The clampdown started on 18 May after 27 residents held a traditional ritual in protest. Police accused the residents of “thuggery” and carrying sharp weapons, and arrested the entire group. During interrogation, the residents were denied access to lawyers, one person was beaten and two were coerced into signing documents without proper explanation. They were also subjected to forced urine tests not covered by police procedures. The following day, 16 residents were released while 11 remained detained until October, when they were sentenced to prison terms of five months and eight days by the Soasio District Court.⁶ By the year’s end, all those detained had been released.

Freedom of religion and belief

In June, members of the Indonesian Ahmadiyah Congregation (JAI), an Islamic minority community, faced discrimination and intimidation in Banjar, a city in West Java province, and Manado, the capital city of North Sulawesi province. On 5 June, Banjar city officials visited a JAI place of worship and warned members not to conduct religious activities, saying they would return to “sterilize” JAI activities from the area. In Manado, on 2 June, the State Islamic Institute (IAIN) cancelled a scheduled book discussion about the Ahmadiyah community. The event was cancelled after the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) of Manado city and North Sulawesi province sent a letter to the office of the president of IAIN Manado, saying that the activity should not proceed. The letter cited a Joint Ministerial Decree and an MUI fatwa declaring that the Ahmadiyah were heretical.⁷

The authorities failed to adequately protect religious groups from violence and harassment. On 27 June, local residents attacked a Christian youth retreat in Tangkil village, in Sukabumi regency in West Java, after a video circulated alleging protestant worship at a private villa. Before an official notice could be issued for lack of a permit for religious activities, residents broke into the property, vandalizing and breaking windows and furniture, and removed a Christian cross. Participants, including children and teenagers, were intimidated and expelled. Local authorities later justified the residents’ actions, citing the absence of a “worship permit”. Police arrested seven individuals suspected of vandalizing, but the Ministry of Human Rights initially requested their release – a request that was later withdrawn.⁸

On 27 July, a group of individuals attacked worship and religious education activities at a prayer house belonging to the Anugerah Padang congregation of the Indonesian Christian Congregation Church in the Koto Tangah district of the city of Padang. The group broke up the gathering and damaged the building and its facilities. Media reported that two children, aged eight and 11, sustained injuries from beatings and thrown objects. In addition to broken windows, the attack resulted in damage to furniture, electronic equipment and the disruption of electricity to the prayer house. Police arrested nine individuals suspected of vandalizing and charged them with acts of vandalism under Article 170 and property damage under Article 406 of the Criminal Code.⁹

Right to a healthy environment

In May, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources launched Indonesia’s 10-year power grid plan, setting out a continued reliance on fossil fuels and a reduced commitment to a renewable energy transition. The plan was projected to increase the fossil fuel contribution to electricity generation by 16.6 gigawatts from coal and gas power plants.

The plan also removed the coal power plant retirement plan, previously outlined to be in operation from 2021 to 2030. This meant there was no phase-out plan for the period 2026-2034. The new grid plan decreased renewable energy share from 20.9 to 17 gigawatts of renewable energy sources, 22.7% below Indonesia’s pledge under the multilateral Just Energy Transition Partnership in 2023.

The State of the World's Human Rights; Indonesia 2025