The Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria (HRJN) has raised alarm over what it described as escalating human rights abuses and digital repression in Indonesia, following widespread protests that erupted across the country on 28 August 2025.
The demonstrations, sparked by public outrage over economic inequality, parliamentary privileges, and police brutality, intensified after the death of 21-year-old motorcycle taxi driver, Affan Kurniawan. He was run over and killed by an armoured Mobile Brigade (Brimob) vehicle during a protest near Indonesia’s House of Representatives in Jakarta. The incident has triggered nationwide outrage and larger protests.
According to the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet), democracy and digital rights in Indonesia are now in a critical state as authorities adopt increasingly militarised and authoritarian tactics. SAFEnet documented several troubling developments, including:
The arrest of student activist Khariq Anhar, who managed the Instagram account Aliansi Mahasiswa Penggugat (AMP). He faces up to nine years in prison under the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law for sharing protest information online.
Circulation of civil society actors’ WhatsApp numbers, falsely presented as belonging to lawmakers, exposes them to harassment, spam, hacking, and doxxing.
Suspension of TikTok’s live-streaming feature and pressure on Meta and TikTok to remove content documenting police brutality, under the pretext of preventing “disinformation” and “incitement to violence.”
Evidence of state-sponsored propaganda portraying protesters as “anarchists” to delegitimise their movement.
Power outages in protest zones and the reported burning of an optical cable server in Jakarta, raising fears of deliberate internet disruptions.
HRJN, in its reaction, said the Indonesian government’s measures violate international human rights standards, particularly provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) guaranteeing legality, necessity, and proportionality in state actions.
The group condemned what it called “militarised tactics and digital repression” that threaten democracy and press freedom in Indonesia.
It called on Indonesian authorities to end the use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators, ensure accountability for unlawful killings, including that of Kurniawan, release detained student activist Khariq Anhar, and drop politically motivated charges under the ITE Law.
HRJN also urged the government to guarantee press freedom, stop disinformation campaigns, and restore access to communication infrastructure.
The Nigerian rights journalists’ body further appealed to the international community—including human rights organisations, technology companies, and media networks—to closely monitor the situation and support Indonesian civil society in defending democratic values.
“Silencing voices, whether on the streets or online, is never a solution,” HRJN said.
