Amnesty says Indonesia suppresses free speech with crackdowns on public protests

Apnews - Apr 29th, 2025
Open on Apnews

Amnesty International has issued a strong critique of Indonesia's government, accusing it of suppressing free speech by cracking down on public protests, targeting journalists and rights activists, and using spyware against dissidents. The report highlights incidents where public protests, notably against proposed changes to the election law, were met with excessive force, leading to arbitrary arrests and injuries. The parliament eventually withdrew the controversial bill due to widespread criticism. Additionally, the report details numerous cases of assaults and threats against media workers and human rights activists in 2024, emphasizing the government's failure to implement the Personal Data Protection Law.

The implications of these findings are significant as they suggest a persistent pattern of human rights violations in Indonesia, particularly under the administration of President Prabowo Subianto. Amnesty International Indonesia's Executive Director, Usman Hamid, expressed concerns about the country's trajectory towards an 'epidemic of human rights violations' if authoritarian practices continue unchecked. The Jakarta-based Institute for Criminal Justice Reform echoed these concerns, stressing the need for criminal code reforms to prevent arbitrary arrests and torture. The situation highlights the ongoing struggle for human rights and justice in Indonesia, with calls for the government to prioritize human rights in both domestic and international policies.

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RATING

6.6
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a compelling overview of human rights issues in Indonesia, drawing heavily on Amnesty International's findings. It effectively highlights significant concerns such as the suppression of protests and targeting of journalists, making it relevant and timely. However, the story would benefit from greater balance and transparency, particularly by including responses from the Indonesian government and more detailed sourcing. The presence of technical ad code disrupts readability, which could be improved for better engagement. Overall, the article serves as an important piece on human rights but requires additional perspectives and clearer sourcing to enhance its impact and credibility.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story presents several factual claims that align with Amnesty International's general reports on Indonesia, such as the suppression of free speech and the use of excessive force against protesters. These claims are consistent with Amnesty's documented issues in Indonesia over the years. However, the story lacks specific evidence or references to the actual 2024 report, which makes it difficult to verify the precise figures mentioned, such as the number of arrests and injuries during protests. Additionally, the claim about continued spyware use post-law enactment needs more concrete evidence, such as technical reports or government admissions, to be fully verifiable. The story accurately reflects broader trends, but some specific claims require further substantiation.

6
Balance

The story predominantly features Amnesty International's perspective, which highlights human rights abuses in Indonesia. While it provides a critical view of the Indonesian government's actions, it does not offer a response or perspective from the government itself, which could have provided a more balanced view. The inclusion of comments from the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform adds some diversity of opinion, but the overall narrative leans heavily towards Amnesty's findings without presenting counterarguments or additional context from other stakeholders.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, with a logical flow from one point to the next. It effectively communicates the main issues raised by Amnesty International, such as the suppression of protests and the targeting of journalists. However, the inclusion of technical ad code within the text disrupts readability and could confuse readers. Removing such distractions would improve clarity and ensure the focus remains on the content.

8
Source quality

The article relies on Amnesty International, a well-respected human rights organization, as its primary source. This lends credibility to the claims made, as Amnesty is known for its rigorous research and reporting standards. However, the article could benefit from including additional sources, such as statements from the Indonesian government, to provide a more comprehensive view. The lack of direct quotes or data from the 2024 report itself slightly diminishes the reliability of the specific details mentioned.

5
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in terms of how it obtained its information, as it does not cite specific sections of Amnesty's report or provide links to the original document. This makes it difficult for readers to verify the claims independently. The story also does not disclose any potential biases or limitations in Amnesty's reporting, which could affect the interpretation of the findings. Greater transparency in sourcing and methodology would enhance the article's credibility.

Sources

  1. https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/asia-and-the-pacific/south-east-asia-and-the-pacific/indonesia/
  2. https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa21/7407/2023/en/
  3. https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/indonesia/
  4. https://www.amnesty.id/kabar-terbaru/siaran-pers/indonesia-new-president-must-ensure-accountability-for-human-rights-violations/10/2024/
  5. https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ASA2176202024ENGLISH.pdf