The Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria, HRJN has expressed deep concern over the escalating human rights violations and digital repression in Indonesia, following a wave of nationwide protests that turned violent after the killing of a young protester.
On August 28, 2025, demonstrations erupted across Indonesia over economic inequality, parliamentary privileges, and police brutality.
Tensions intensified when 21-year-old motorcycle taxi driver, Affan Kurniawan, was killed after being run over by an armored Mobile Brigade (Brimob) vehicle near the country’s House of Representatives in Jakarta. The incident triggered even larger protests, met with a militarized response from security forces.
Citing reports from the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet), HRJN noted that democracy and digital rights in Indonesia have entered a “highly critical state,” with the government increasingly adopting authoritarian tactics.
Among the concerns raised were:
- Criminalization of dissent: Student activist Khariq Anhar, who ran the Instagram page Aliansi Mahasiswa Penggugat (AMP), has been arrested for sharing protest updates online and faces more than nine years in prison under the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law.
- Digital harassment: Civil society leaders have been subjected to hacking, doxxing, and harassment after their contact details were circulated online.
- Censorship and restrictions: TikTok suspended live streaming, while Meta and TikTok were pressured to remove posts documenting police brutality, under the guise of curbing “disinformation.”
- Propaganda campaigns: State-linked operations have allegedly portrayed protesters as “anarchists” to delegitimize their movement.
- Communication threats: Internet access is under pressure following power cuts in protest hotspots and the reported burning of an optical cable server in Jakarta.
HRJN described these measures as inconsistent with international human rights standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
In its statement, HRJN urged the Indonesian government to halt the use of excessive force, ensure accountability for unlawful killings, release detained activists, guarantee press freedom, and restore access to communication platforms.
The group also appealed to the international community particularly journalists’ networks, human rights bodies, and technology companies to monitor developments and support Indonesian civil society in defending democracy.
“Silencing voices through violence on the streets or online is never a solution,” HRJN declared. “We stand in unwavering solidarity with the people of Indonesia.”