Human Rights Watch

WORLD REPORT 2025 Our Annual Review Of Human Rights Around The Globe

Full Report

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Country Report Indonesia Events of 2024

Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo, a former Army general, won the presidential election in February 2024. Prabowo was implicated in grave rights violations while he was in military service that had led to his dismissal. His running mate, Gibran Raka, is the eldest son of outgoing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

In August, street protests erupted in at least 16 cities in Indonesia, including the capital, Jakarta, after Jokowi’s ruling coalition attempted to tamper with the election law to allow candidates below age 30 to run for office in local elections. The protesters accused the government of nepotism because there was only one candidate under 30: Kaesang Pangareb, Jokowi’s youngest son. Earlier, Jokowi had helped Gibran Raka to become Prabowo’s running mate.

Civil and political rights declined in Indonesia in the past decade under the Jokowi administration. The government’s policies undermined free elections, weakened legislative checks on executive powers, and led to an increase in corruption, including in the management of natural resources. The armed forces interfered in civilian affairs.

Indonesia’s parliament passed a new criminal code in December 2022, containing provisions that seriously violate international human rights law and standards.

Indonesian authorities committed or condoned numerous human rights abuses involving discrimination on religious, ethnic, social, gender, and sexual orientation grounds.

West Papua

Military and police committed abuses with impunity in West Papua. Despite pledges by Jokowi, authorities restricted access to the media, international diplomats, and human rights monitors.

Authorities failed to address longstanding racial discrimination against Indigenous Papuans despite protests across 33 cities in 2019, after an attack on Papuan university students by security forces in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second largest city. This includes denial of their rights to health, livelihood, and education.

While at least 245 people were convicted for participating in protests, including 109 for treason, they were given much shorter prison terms due to international and domestic pressure. Most had been released by 2024 because they had already served much of their term in pre-trial detention. Three fishermen from Manokwari, who were convicted of treason for unfurling the Morning Star and holding a protest prayer meeting in October 2022, were released in September.

After the Indonesian parliament enacted a controversial law in 2022, splitting the territory of two provinces—Papua and West Papua—into six new provinces, the authorities continued to encourage and subsidize thousands of non-Papuan settler families—pendatang in Indonesian—to relocate to West Papua, often driving out Indigenous Papuans and grabbing their land for mining and oil palm plantations.

A video posted in March on social media showed three Indonesian soldiers brutally beating Definus Kogoya, a young Papuan man, whose hands were tied behind him and who had been placed inside a drum filled with water, taunting him with racial slurs. While the army apologized and promised an investigation, there have been no prosecutions.

The fighting between pro-independence Papuan insurgents and the Indonesian security forces contributed to the deteriorating human rights situation in West Papua. The insurgents are implicated in the killings of migrants and foreign workers. They held a New Zealand pilot, Philip Mehrtens, hostage between February 2023 and September 2024, releasing him after 594 days on “humanitarian grounds.”

Freedom of Religion and Belief

Several laws such as the 1965 blasphemy law, blasphemy provisions in the 2022 criminal code, and the 2006 religious harmony regulation placed religious minorities at risk. While these rules seemed to be neutral on paper, they were enforced mostly “to protect Islam.”

The 2006 regulation continued to empower religious majorities to veto activities by minority religions including Christians, Shia Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Confucians or to stop them from constructing houses of worship. Smaller minorities, including Ahmadiyah, Bah’ai, and Indigenous faiths, continue to face even harsher treatment.

Indonesian authorities did too little to stop Islamic groups attacking or harassing religious minorities or to hold those responsible to account. For instance, in March, dozens of Muslim extremists attacked a religious service held by a Christian group in Tangerang, claiming it had “no permit” to conduct services.

In September, Pope Francis visited Jakarta as part of a 12-day tour of the Asia-Pacific region. He visited the Istiqlal grand mosque and met the grand imam, signing a declaration of interfaith friendship.

In a step forward for freedom of religion and belief in Indonesia, in January, citizens from smaller religious groups were permitted to change the religious identity on their identity cards, with the introduction of a new category, kepercayaan (belief), alongside the six recognized religions.

Women’s and Girls’ Rights

Local authorities continued to enforce 73 mandatory hijab regulations since they were first introduced in West Sumatra in 2001, with sanctions ranging from verbal warnings, expulsion from school or work, to jail terms of up to three months. Many girls and women who refused to comply with the rules, including non-Muslims, faced expulsion or pressure to withdraw from school. In several cases, female civil servants, including teachers and university lecturers, lost their jobs or had to resign for refusing to comply with the rules.

The new criminal code maintains criminalization of abortion with exceptions, and now criminalizes distributing information about contraceptives to children, and providing information about obtaining an abortion to anyone.

Restrictions on Civil Society and Media

In June, a journalist who had exposed an army officer for allegedly backing online gambling was killed in a deadly arson attack. Rico Sempurna Pasaribu, 47, of the Medan-based Tribata TV, and three members of his family were found dead inside their small wooden house in Kabanjahe. Media organizations said they feared a cover-up in the investigations.

In March, Indonesian authorities signed an agreement ending the requirement that defamation disputes with student media should be referred to the police or public prosecutors. Instead, the national Press Council will now mediate all defamation disputes involving student journalists and publications.

Disability Rights

People with real or perceived psychosocial disabilities continued to be shackled—chained or locked in confined spaces—due to stigma, as well as inadequate support and mental health services. The 2024 US State Department annual human rights report stated that the Indonesian government prioritized eliminating the practice of shackling. The number of people living in chains was approximately 4,300.

Full Report

Cases / Indonesia, West Papua / 20 December 2024 

A shooting incident involving the Indonesian military (TNI) occurred in Dogiyai Regency, Central Papua (Papua tengah) Province, on 16 December 2024, leaving three civilians injured. The incident began around 10:00 AM following a traffic accident and subsequent confrontation.

According to local residents’ reports, the sequence of events unfolded as follows:

The incident was triggered by a collision between a vehicle reportedly belonging to security personnel and a motorcyclist in the Dogomo area of Nabire SPC. Although the motorcyclist was conscious after the accident, local residents were dissatisfied with the driver’s response and demanded accountability.

The situation escalated when the driver fled to a nearby military command post seeking refuge from angry residents. In response to residents throwing objects at the location where the driver was sheltering, military personnel reportedly responded by firing live ammunition, resulting in injuries to three civilians – two men and one woman.

The victims have been identified as:

• Agustinus Kotouki from Digikebo Village, South Kamu District, who sustained a gunshot wound to the back of his thigh
• Alo Mote from Puweta I Village, South Kamu District, who suffered severe blunt force trauma to the front of his head and upper spine
• Agustina Adii from Puweta I Village, South Kamu District, who sustained head injuries from blunt force trauma

All three victims are currently receiving medical treatment at Paniai Hospital in Madi, where doctors performed procedures to remove bullet projectiles. Their conditions are reported to be improving.

Local residents have strongly condemned what they describe as excessive use of force by security personnel in handling the situation. The incident has added to ongoing concerns about human rights violations against civilians in Papua.

The reports are based on accounts from local residents and human rights defenders (HRDs). The incident has highlighted tensions between security forces and civilians in the region, with residents calling for accountability and appropriate action regarding the use of force in civilian areas.

December 13, 2024 22:14 GMT+700 Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Prabowo Subianto has decided to grant amnesty to several prisoners involved in narcotics to Papua-related cases, Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas has informed.

“The President will grant amnesty to several prisoners who we are currently assessing with the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections,” he said at a press conference at the Presidential Palace on Friday.

The grant of amnesty is meant to reduce overcapacity at correctional institutions and is based on humanitarian considerations, he added.

According to Agtas, amnesty will be given to prisoners who suffer from long-term illnesses, such as HIV/AIDS, and those with mental disorders.

Several people imprisoned in cases connected to the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE), including those convicted of insulting the head of state, will also be given amnesty, he added.

In addition, prisoners linked to cases in Papua, who were not involved in armed action, will also receive the amnesty.

The minister said that the idea is a part of reconciliation efforts in Papua. A total of 18 prisoners involved in Papua-related cases will get amnesty.

“The cases are mostly activist and (form of) expression. This is part of our efforts to make reconciliation efforts with friends in Papua. This demonstrates a good faith to make Papua more peaceful,” he added.

Furthermore, prisoners involved in narcotics cases will also be given amnesty by the President.

“Prisoners in drug cases who should receive rehabilitation will also be given amnesty. However, the exact number will be conveyed after we conduct a further assessment,” he said.

Agtas added that based on data from the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, there are around 44 thousand prisoners who meet the criteria for amnesty.

He informed that President Prabowo has approved the amnesty. Furthermore, the amnesty proposal will be submitted to the House of Representatives (DPR) for consideration.

“We will ask the DPR to consider this proposal. We will wait after we officially submit it to the House for their consideration,” the minister added. 

Friday, 13 Dec 2024  10:23 PM MYT

https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2024/12/13/indonesia-to-pardon-tens-of-thousands-including-papua-activists

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto will pardon tens of thousands of prisoners ranging from activists convicted of defamation to those jailed in the easternmost province of Papua for criticising the government, a minister said on Friday (Dec 13).

Law minister Supratman Andi Agtas said some 44,000 prisoners nationwide might get an amnesty on humanitarian grounds and to help relieve the country’s overcrowded jails.

The number is equivalent to around 30 per cent of all prisoners in the Southeast Asian country, Andi said.

The prisoners to be pardoned include people convicted in defamation and hate speech cases, including those who defamed the president under Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transaction Law, Andi added.

Around 18 activists jailed for exercising their freedom of expression to criticise the authorities or staging protests in Papua will be among those freed, said Andi.

“This is part of the effort to reconcile with our friends in Papua. The government has the good intention to make Papua more peaceful,” he said.

Papua came under Indonesian rule in 1969 after a controversial United Nations-backed referendum that many Papuans say did not reflect the will of local people.

Discussions of Papuan independence is a sensitive issue for Indonesia’s government, which has long insisted that the plebiscite was legitimate.

Others set to be freed include those convicted of drug offences who are not dealers as well as prisoners with chronic diseases such as HIV.

The government is now finalising the plan, including drawing up lists of prisoner names. It will also discuss the plan with the parliament.

Prabowo also suggested that those who are pardoned and are still of a productive age should get involved in his programme to achieve food self sufficiency or becomes part of the military reserve force, said Andi.

Prisons in Indonesia are notoriously overcrowded, with experts saying this is partly due to an emphasis on incarceration rather than rehabilitation of people convicted of drug-related offences under the country’s strict narcotics laws. – Reuters

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By APR editor – 

November 14, 2024

Asia Pacific Report

An exiled West Papuan leader has called on supporters globally to show their support by raising the Morning Star flag — banned by Indonesia — on December 1.

“Whether in your house, your workplace, the beach, the mountains or anywhere else, please raise our flag and send us a picture,” said United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) interim president Benny Wenda.

“By doing so, you give West Papuans strength and courage and show us we are not alone.”

The plea came in response to a dramatic step-up in military reinforcements for the Melanesian region by new President Prabowo Subianto, who was inaugurated last month, in an apparent signal for a new crackdown on colonised Papuans.

January 1 almost 63 years ago was when the Morning Star flag of independence was flown for the first time in the former Dutch colony. However, Indonesia took over in a so-called “Act of Free Choice” that has been widely condemned as a sham.

“The situation in occupied West Papua is on a knife edge,” said the UK-based Wenda in a statement on the ULMWP website.

He added that President Prabowo had announced the return of a “genocidal transmigration settlement policy”.

Indigenous people a minority
“From the 1970s, transmigration brought hundreds of thousands of Javanese settlers into West Papua, ultimately making the Indigenous people a minority in our own land,” Wenda said.

“At the same time, Prabowo [is sending] thousands of soldiers to Merauke to safeguard the destruction of our ancestral forest for a set of gigantic ecocidal developments.

“Five million hectares of Papuan forest are set to be ripped down for sugarcane and rice plantations.

“West Papuans are resisting Prabowo’s plan to wipe us out, but we need all our supporters to stand beside us as we battle this terrifying new threat.”

The Morning Star is illegal in West Papua and frequently protesters who have breached this law have faced heavy jail sentences.

“If we raise [the flag], paint it on our faces, draw it on a banner, or even wear its colours on a bracelet, we can face up to 15 or 20 years in prison.

“This is why we need people to fly the flag for us. As ever, we will be proudly flying the Morning Star above Oxford Town Hall. But we want to see our supporters hold flag raisings everywhere — on every continent.

‘Inhabiting our struggle’
“Whenever you raise the flag, you are inhabiting the spirit of our struggle.”

Wenda appealed to everyone in West Papua — “whether you are in the cities, the villages, or living as a refugee or fighter in the bush” — to make December 1 a day of prayer and reflection on the struggle.

“We remember our ancestors and those who have been killed by the Indonesian coloniser, and strengthen our resolve to carry on fighting for Merdeka — our independence.”

Wenda said the peaceful struggle was making “great strides forward” with a constitution, a cabinet operating on the ground, and a provisional government with a people’s mandate.

“We know that one day soon the Morning Star will fly freely in our West Papuan homeland,” he said.

“But for now, West Papuans risk arrest and imprisonment if we wave our national flag. We need our supporters around the world to fly it for us, as we look forward to a Free West Papua.”

• Wenda appealed to people to send their flag-raising pictures to: office@freewestpapua.org

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