Since August 25, 2025, thousands of Indonesians have taken to the streets to protest the increased benefits of elite lawmakers, while ordinary citizens suffer from mass suspension of workers, property tax hikes, and budget cuts in education. Instead of listening, the State, however, answered with violence and repression.
Indonesia is a signatory of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), a legally binding treaty that protects the right to protest (Article 21-22) and expression (Article 19) of citizens.
And yet, civil society organizations report at least 10 people have already been killed due to brutality of police forces — including the 21-year old motor-taxi driver Affan Kurniawan — more than 3,000 protesters were arrested and detained, and 33 cases of enforced disappearances were recorded. Most of which involve torture and denial of legal assistance. Restrictions on online communications and social media platforms were also reported.
Furthermore, laws, such as Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, Child Protection Law and Criminal Code, are being weaponized against activists and protesters. Four (4) activists, who are vocal about the situation, have been arrested citing violation of these laws.
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The escalation of police brutality and political unrest in Indonesia cannot be ignored. These are blatant violations of human rights and of the people’s freedoms of expression and assembly—undeniable evidence of Indonesia’s shrinking civic space and the erosion of its democracy.
The Grassroots Justice Network-Southeast Asia (GJN-SEA) supports the Indonesian people and civil society in their fight against repression. We call on the international human rights community to amplify solidarity and pressure, and we urge the government of Indonesia to:
Signatories: