Human Rights Watch (HRW) recently issued a warning concerning a surge in threats targeting journalists and media outlets in Indonesia, which is believed to be detrimental to press freedom within the country. The organization has reported a pronounced rise in hostility towards media entities, correlated with proposed amendments to the National Armed Forces Act, Law No. 34/2004, that potentially strengthen military influence in civil affairs. These developments have sparked widespread concern, labeling Indonesia’s measures as antithetical to the core tenets of democracy and prompting significant public dissent.
The documented violence encompasses physical assaults, workplace harassment, and sophisticated online tactics such as doxxing, where private information is maliciously exposed. Notably, media entities like Tempo—known for its investigative journalism—have been subjected to egregious intimidation tactics, which include the delivery of animal carcasses, such as decapitated pigs’ heads and rats, evidently intended to instill fear. This has been underpinned by hacking attempts, like the distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks recently aimed at Tempo after it revealed details about political ties to online gambling operations. For more details on this, see the full report from JURIST.
Podcast host Hussein Abri Dongoran has also been reportedly targeted, experiencing two unsettling incidents that have not culminated in any significant official investigation outcomes. Furthermore, assertions from senior government figures accusing journalists of harboring foreign agendas are believed to exacerbate these attacks against media personnel. Leading human rights advocates have consequently underscored the necessity for the international community to press Indonesia to honor its commitment to freedom of expression, as outlined in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which the nation has ratified.
The situation raises concerns about the broader human rights landscape in Indonesia, particularly under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo. Observers are wary of a regression into authoritarian governance reminiscent of Indonesia’s past, further compounded by contentious policy reforms that propose expanding the military’s role in civilian domains. These developments have attracted criticism from global human rights defenders, who advocate for ongoing vigilance regarding Indonesia’s adherence to democratic processes.