1) Indonesia on Watchlist as President Prabowo’s Government Crushes Civic Freedoms

 

2) Navy officer sentenced to 20 years for murdering woman in Sorong

3) Protesters demand life for police officers on trial for killing Tobias Silak  

4) Students disrupt cultural event saying it doesn't represent Papuan voices

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Human Rights Monitor

https://humanrightsmonitor.org/news/civicus-press-release/

CIVICUS PRESS RELEASE

Human Rights News / Indonesia / 31 July 2025 

1) Indonesia on Watchlist as President Prabowo’s Government Crushes Civic Freedoms

• Violent arrests and attacks on protesters by security forces
• Journalists and human rights defenders intimidated with surveillance and threats
• Quick expansion of repressive laws sidestepping democracy

Johannesburg, 30 July 2025 – Indonesia is added to CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist amid widespread state intimidation, legal manipulation, and violent crackdowns on dissent, pushing civic space to a precarious point. Nine months into President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, dozens of activists have been attacked, intimidated or arrested. Authorities have crushed protests with violence, harassed human rights groups and journalists, and introduced restrictive legal revisions.

The CIVICUS Monitor currently rates Indonesia as “obstructed”, indicating serious challenges to the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. Indonesia joins Kenya, El Salvador, Serbia, Turkey, and the United States on the latest Watchlist of countries where there has been a notable decline in the state of civic freedoms.

“Speaking out is becoming a dangerous act in Indonesia’s tightening environment,” said Josef Benedict, CIVICUS Monitor Asia researcher. “Anyone who criticises the government is being forced into silence through fear, violence, and intimidation.”

Silencing Human Rights Defenders and Stifling Protests

In the first six months of 2025, more than 100 human rights defenders have faced arrest, criminalisation, intimidation, or physical attacks, according to civil society. This includes land and environmental activists, student organisers, academics, labour advocates, and anti-corruption campaigners.

The crackdown is particularly evident at protests. In March, police and military units violently dispersed public demonstrations opposing military law revisions, which dramatically expanded military influence over civilian life and weakened oversight. Security forces assaulted several journalists covering the protests and forced them to erase footage of police violations.

During a peaceful protest on International Labor Day, police arrested 14 people, including paramedics, and physically assaulted 13 of them, resulting in serious injuries. No one was held accountable. Security forces also deployed tear gas and water cannons on demonstrators without provocation.

In Papua, police met student-led demonstrations in April with tear gas, arrests, and assaults. In May, police violently shut down a peaceful protest at Cenderawasih University (UNCEN) over rising tuition fees.

Authorities targeted the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), a leading human rights group, with sustained harassment and surveillance from March to May. Intimidation tactics included attempted break-ins at its Jakarta office, unknown vehicles loitering outside its premises, and calls flooding its lines including from a number allegedly linked to intelligence services.

Independent journalism faces growing hostility and intimidation too. One journalist from the critical Tempo outlet received a severed pig’s head in the mail, was doxxed, and her relatives received online harassment and threats. Parliament also introduced a new regulation in March requiring foreign journalists to obtain police clearance prior to reporting inside Indonesia.

“In Indonesia today, human rights defenders, protesters, and journalists are being treated like enemies of the state. Even paramedics at protests risk being beaten by security forces. This isn’t just a failure to protect people’s rights. It reinforces the climate of impunity in the country,” said Benedict. “This is how civic space, including press freedom and the right to protest, dies. Not in one dramatic moment, but in a hundred acts of intimidation and retaliation.”

Legal Revisions Undermine Accountability

Besides the military law revisions, legislative proposals for the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) and the National Police Law could further empower law enforcement agencies without strengthening accountability mechanisms or protecting victims’ rights.

Moreover, in June, the government entered a wiretapping agreement with four major telecommunications operators, dramatically increasing risks of mass surveillance and arbitrary data collection. Authorities also continue to wield the Electronic Information and Transactions Law to stifle online dissent.

“The pace and secrecy of these new repressive revisions show that Indonesia’s government is sidestepping democratic processes,” said Benedict. “These legal changes are designed to consolidate power, not safeguard citizens.”

The Prabowo government must stop targeting activists and hold those involved in attacks against them to account. It must ensure that legal revisions passed meet international laws and standards. The processes must be transparent and include participation of civil society.

“Adding Indonesia to the CIVICUS Monitor watchlist reflects warnings civil society groups in Indonesia have been flagging on dwindling civic freedoms since Prabowo took office. The international community must call out these blatant violations, demand progress on civic freedoms, and stand in solidarity with civil society,” said Nadine Sherani from KontraS.

The CIVICUS Monitor highlights countries with notable declines in civic freedoms, based on analysis from research partners, grassroots activists, and human rights defenders. CIVICUS Monitor currently rates Indonesia’s civic space as “obstructed”, indicating serious challenges to the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association

NOTES TO THE EDITOR:

On Indonesia’s civic space rating of Obstructed:

This rating is typically given to countries where civic space is heavily contested by power holders, who impose a combination of legal and practical constraints on the full enjoyment of fundamental rights (see full description of ratings). See Frequently Asked Questions about the Watchlist here.

There are a total of 35 countries in the world with this rating (see all).

About the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist:

The new watchlist is released by the CIVICUS Monitor, an online platform that tracks the latest developments to civic freedoms, including the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly, across 198 countries and territories.

The ratings are categorised as either ‘closed,’ ‘repressed,’ ‘obstructed,’ ‘narrowed’ or ‘open,’ based on a methodology that combines several data sources on the freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression.

Over twenty organisations collaborate to provide an evidence base for action to improve civic space on all continents.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: media@civicus.org

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Human Rights Monitor

https://humanrightsmonitor.org/news/navy-officer-sentenced-to-20-years-for-murder-of-woman-in-sorong/

2) Navy officer sentenced to 20 years for murdering woman in Sorong

Human Rights News / Indonesia, West Papua / 31 July 2025 

On 3 July 2025, the Military Court III-19 Jayapura found Navy Officer Agung Suyono guilty (see photo on top: source: Suara Papua) of murdering Mrs Kesya Irene Yola Lestaluhu at the Saoka Beach, Sorong, Papua Barat Daya Province on 12 January 2025. The defendant was sentenced to 20 years in prison and dismissed without honors (PTDH) from military service. The verdict was confirmed by Colonel (Navy) Ajik Sismianto, Head of the Public Relations Department of the Third Fleet Command in Sorong.

The court proceedings began with the first hearing on 23 June 2025, which included the reading of the indictment and examination of witnesses. During the trial proceedings, the defendant admitted to the crimes he committed against the victim. The Military Prosecutor’s Office also mandated that the defendant serve his entire sentence in a correctional facility, as mandated by applicable laws and regulations.

The 20-year prison sentence and dismissal without honors represent a significant step towards accountability in West Papua, where most human rights violations committed by military members have never been followed up with a legal process. The judicial process for this case continues, with the defendant still having the opportunity to appeal against the verdict.

Background

The case stems from the murder of Mrs Kesya Irene Yola Lestaluhu, a 20-year-old woman, who was found murdered on Saoka Beach, Sorong, on 12 January 2025. The victim’s body was discovered with 32 stab wounds, highlighting the extreme brutality of the crime.

According to the investigation, the perpetrator confessed to stabbing the victim multiple times after engaging in sexual intercourse. The murder occurred after the two met at a nightclub in Sorong in the early hours of 12 January 2025.

Following the arrest, Navy Officer Agung Suyono was charged under Article 340 of the Military Criminal Code for premeditated murder, which carries the possibility of life imprisonment or the death penalty. A reconstruction of the crime was conducted at the Naval Base XIV Sorong on 20 January 2025, with 22 scenes reenacted to clarify every stage of the tragic incident.

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https://www.indoleft.org/news/2025-07-29/protesters-demand-life-for-police-officers-on-trial-for-killing-tobias-silak.html

3) Protesters demand life for police officers on trial for killing Tobias Silak  

Suara Papua – July 29, 2025

Jayapura – Dozens of protester from the Justice Front for Tobias Silak, consisting of the Cipayung Youth and Social Organisation (OKP Cipayung), movement activists, community members and the victim's family, held a long-march starting at 8.40 am from the Cross Tower to the Wamena District Court building while giving speeches and shouting for justice for the late Tobias Silak.

The action was held to support the trial hearing the case of the shooting of Tobias Silak and Naro Dapla on August 20, 2024, which was held on Monday July 28 with the agenda of examining witnesses by the public prosecutor (JPU) at the Wamena District Court (PN) in Jayawijaya regency, Papua Highlands province.

At around 9.20 am, the demonstrators arrived in front of the Wamena District Court and gave speeches while waiting for the victim and defendant witnesses to arrive at the courtroom.

At 10.15 am the defendant and the victim witness arrived at the court then the demonstrators moved into the court yard to continue giving speeches and reading poetry while waiting for the examinations to be carried out.

The protesters are demanding that the four alleged perpetrators be dismissed from their unit as members of the paramilitary Mobile Police (Brimob) and sentenced to life imprisonment as stipulated under Article 340 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) on premeditated murder.

"Several witnesses and the facts on the ground prove that Tobias Silak was murdered in a structured manner, so we demand that the perpetrators be sentenced to life imprisonment", said Justice Front for Tobias Silak coordinator M.J. Ibage in Wamena.

Meanwhile, the victim's legal representative, Enius Asso, urged the state to be present and provide rehabilitation, reconciliation and compensation for the victim's family.

"We are asking the state to pay attention to the victims' families, as a form of justice for the victims' families by providing rehabilitation, reconciliation and compensation", he said.

The Tobias Silak trial will resume on August 4 at the Wamena District Court. At approximately 2:20 pm the protesters dispersed voluntarily.

The Justice Front for Tobias Silak is demanding:

1. That the trial of the four defendants in the murder of the late Tobias Silak be independent and transparent.

2. That the perpetrators of the shooting of the late Tobias Silak be given the maximum sentence and dismissed from their unit.

3. An immediate and thorough investigation into the other perpetrators, including the person in charge and commander in the shooting case of the late Tobias Silak under the articles on premeditated murder.

4. That the state be obliged to pay attention to compensation, restitution and rehabilitation for the family of the victim the late Tobias Silak.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Massa Aksi Mendatangi PN Wamena Menuntut Pelaku Penembakan Tobias Silak Dihukum Maksimal".]

Source: https://suarapapua.com/2025/07/29/massa-aksi-mendatangi-pn-wamena-menuntut-pelaku-penembakan-tobias-silak-dihukum-maksimal/

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https://www.indoleft.org/news/2025-07-29/students-disrupt-cultural-event-saying-it-doesnt-represent-papuan-voices.html

4) Students disrupt cultural event saying it doesn't represent Papuan voices

Source

Suara Merdeka – July 29, 2025

Arga Nur Wahid – A Papuan arts and cultural performance organised by the East Java Papua Alumni Association in the Kya-Kya area of Surabaya, East Java, on Sunday evening July 27 has ended in chaos.

The chaos erupted after a group claiming to be from the Surabaya Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) arrived at the location and forcibly broke up the event, causing panic among attendees, with some even fainting.

The chairperson of the event's organising committee, Freek Christiaan, expressed regret over the incident. He emphasised that it was an arts and cultural performance that was purely intended to introduce Papuan culture to the public, without any political or other vested interests.

"We wanted to introduce Papuan dance culture, while also building fraternity between ethnic groups in Surabaya", Christian told journalists on Monday July 28.

According to Christian, initially the event ran smoothly from 6:30 pm and featured a number of Papuan figures and representatives from the Surabaya city government.

Around 200 participants attended including cross-regional communities such as the Surabaya city South Sulawesi Family Harmony (KKSS), the Maluku Brotherhood Bonds Committee and representatives from North Sulawesi. Serafi Anelies Unani, a former national athlete from Papua, also served as the keynote speaker in a talk show which was part of the series of activities.

"However, the situation became tense when a group of students claiming to be from the Surabaya AMP arrived and demanded that the event be stopped. They questioned the committee's legitimacy and claimed the organisers did not represent the voices of Papuan students", he explained.

Despite holding a dialogue, no agreement was reached. The mob, believed to be from AMP, then breached the stage area and attacked the rows of seats. Seats were destroyed, spectators scattered and the situation descended into chaos.

A joint force of officers from the Surabaya Metropolitan District Police (Polrestabes), the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) officials, who were present to secure the situation, immediately intervened to prevent further clashes.

Christian also said that the event had received official permission from the Surabaya city government through the Department of Culture, Youth, Sports and Tourism (Disbudporapar), including free use of the Kya-Kya area.

Unani meanwhile, who had been on a talk show before the incident, encouraged the younger generation of Papuans not to lose direction while away from Papua. She emphasised the importance of mental preparedness, discipline and consistency.

Unani also reminded young Papuans not to be ashamed to show their identity. Papua is unique. Never be ashamed of being Papuan. Because Papuans can also contribute to building the nation.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Pentas Seni Budaya Papua di Kya Kya Surabaya Berakhir Ricuh – Suara Merdeka Jatim".]

Source: https://jatim.suaramerdeka.com/nasional/108815625690/pentas-seni-budaya-papua-di-kya-kya-surabaya-berakhir-ricuh

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