Amnesty International: The Space for Civil Liberties is Worrying, Human Rights Conditions Are Weakening

Amnesty noted that human rights conditions were weakening. This marked 95 attacks on human rights defenders in 2023 and 268 victims.

Residents from Nagari Air Bangis in West Pasaman, along with students, staged a protest in front of the Governor's office in Padang, West Sumatra on Monday (31/7/2023).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The large number of cases of violations of human rights or HAM for expression makes the space for civil liberties increasingly narrow. People who expressed their opinions peacefully were met with violence by the security forces. The government is expected to immediately take policies referring to human rights principles.

The year 2023 indicates a bleak situation for human rights in Indonesia. This is evident in the increasingly limited freedom to assemble and express oneself. In addition, cases of extrajudicial killings, torture, and various inhumane treatments still occur, as well as the narrowness of economic, social, and cultural rights.

Deputy Director of Amnesty International Indonesia Wirya Adiwena said that there was a deterioration in the human rights situation globally, including in Indonesia. In Indonesia, Amnesty highlights civil freedom, expression and opinion.

"We are very concerned about the narrowing of civil liberties in Indonesia. The community seems to have no space to express their opinions peacefully," said Wirya after the launch of Amnesty International's annual report in Jakarta on Wednesday (24/4/2024).

Also read: Unresolved Past Human Rights Violations

Apart from Wirya, the speakers for this activity were members of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), Anis Hidayah; Chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, Muhamad Isnur; lecturer in Constitutional Law at the University of Indonesia, Titi Anggraini; and Bentala People's Heritage researcher, Ambrosius Begint.

We are very concerned about the narrowing space for civil liberties in Indonesia. The community now seems to have no room to express their opinions peacefully.

KOMPAS/PRAYOGI DWI SULISTYO

(From left to right) Universitas Indonesia's Constitutional Law lecturer Titi Anggraini, Chairman of Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation Muhamad Isnur, Deputy Director of Amnesty International Indonesia Wirya Adiwena, and researcher from Pusaka Bentala Rakyat Ambrosius Mulait were speakers at the launch of Amnesty International's annual report, held in Jakarta on Wednesday (24/4/2024).

The narrowing of civil liberties is evident from the arrest of 18 people who were staying at Masjid Raya Sumatera Barat during a protest against the plan to build an oil refinery and petrochemical plant in Nagari Air Bangis, Sumatera Barat, in August 2023.

In the same month and year, security forces arrested seven people and used tear gas to disperse protesters in the city of Bandung, West Java, who were protesting the planned eviction of around 300 residents living in Dago Elos. Some were reported injured as a result of excessive force used by the police.

Wirya stated that the protest was carried out peacefully by the residents. They were protesting against excessive development, but instead were met with violence by security forces.

One of them, incidents of arbitrary detention and torture in the context of military operations in Nduga Regency.

Apart from these two incidents, the authorities also prosecuted people who exercised their right to freedom of expression, such as those who called for the independence of Papua. Three Papuan activists were imprisoned throughout 2023 for expressing their opinions. Apart from that, there were 26 cases of extrajudicial killings by security forces in Papua with 58 victims.

Inhumane treatment

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

Women carried banners rejecting the relocation related to Rempang Eco City while Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia visited Tanjung Banun village in Rempang Island, Batam City, Riau Islands on Friday (October 6, 2023). According to the plan, in Tanjung Banun, the government will build houses for residents in five villages affected by the development of an integrated industrial area.

Violations of economic, social, and cultural rights are evident in the government's failure to engage in dialogue and conduct a thorough review process for the Rempang Eco City project in the Riau Islands. This project relocates 7,500 residents from 16 villages. Security forces responded to protesters' protests with water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets. 20 protesters were injured in the incident.

Amnesty reports that there were 95 attacks against human rights defenders in Indonesia in 2023, with a total of 268 victims. This number of victims is the highest since 2019. The figure has risen by 63 percent compared to the previous year, which had 168 victims.

Wirya said that human rights violations against civil liberties will not only occur in 2023. In the previous year, several peaceful protests were carried out by civil society, such as those related to the Job Creation Law (UU) or omnibus law and the Draft Law. (RUU) The Criminal Code (KUHP) was also responded to with excessive violence by the security forces.

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has received and processed 73 complaints regarding freedom of expression and opinion during the period of January 2020 to February 2024.

Anis Hidayah revealed that the National Commission on Human Rights has received and processed complaints related to freedom of expression and opinion, as many as 73 complaints during the period from January 2020 to February 2024. One of the cases that receives special attention from Anis is the seven-month prison sentence against environmental activist Daniel Frits Maurits Tangkilisan, who protested against the pollution of shrimp farm waste in Karimunjawa, Jepara, Central Java.

Out of the 73 reports, there were 11 reports related to alleged violations of Law Number 19 of 2016 concerning Changes to Law Number 11 of 2008 regarding Electronic Information and Transactions. In addition, there were criminalization cases due to defamation charges, including those related to criticisms of the civil servant recruitment system in Aceh, Surabaya (East Java), and several other regions.

The Indonesian government should view human rights as the identity of the nation, not as part of an effort to seek international spotlight. Every stage, from planning, policy-making, budgeting, to the creation of laws, policies, and regulations, should refer to human rights principles.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Anis Hidayah

Also read: Indonesian Human Rights and Democracy are considered still stagnant, requiring new commitments and breakthroughs

Muhamad Isnur stated that the Indonesian Government should view human rights as the nation's identity, rather than as a means to seek international attention. Every stage, from planning, policy-making, budget allocation, to the creation of laws, policies, and regulations, should refer to human rights principles.

Ambrosius Mulait revealed that the government prioritizes a development approach in Papua that is protected by the military. On the other hand, the community that owns the land is not free to engage in activities. He hopes that the government will explain the status of Papua's region. If Papua becomes a military operation area, the community will seek a safe place when conflict occurs. This is aimed at stopping civilians from becoming victims.