Attacks on Climate Strike and Forum Highlight Threats to Civil Liberties in Indonesia

JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS – In response to recent attacks on peaceful demonstrations and discussions in Indonesia, Usman Hamid, Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, has called for an immediate investigation into the instigators behind these violent incidents.

“Over the past week, the public has once again witnessed unprofessional behavior from the police. It appears that law enforcement has tacitly approved the actions of individuals taking the law into their own hands,”

“These groups have resorted to violence, targeting peaceful protests and legitimate gatherings.” he stated

The attacks were recorded during the Global Climate Strike on September 27 and a discussion forum on September 28 in Jakarta. Additionally, in Central Java, assailants vandalized crops and seized banners belonging to local farmers, representing a direct assault on their civil liberties. Such actions are indefensible and must not be tolerated.

“In times like these, it is crucial for law enforcement to protect citizens from the reckless actions of irresponsible groups. Instead, the police were present at the scene and appeared to allow these violations to occur, essentially endorsing illegal behavior. Officers are meant to safeguard those exercising their rights peacefully,” he emphasized.

“Why did the police seem to shield the attackers? Who is orchestrating these assaults on peaceful gatherings?”

The Indonesian Constitution and various laws guarantee citizens their human rights, including civil liberties such as the right to assemble and express opinions, as well as social freedoms like farming and reaping its benefits.

These rights are also protected under international law. Intimidation tactics like these cannot be overlooked.

Amnesty International urges the Chief of Police to thoroughly investigate the masterminds and perpetrators behind these acts of intimidation and vigilantism, ensuring that decisive legal actions are taken against those responsible.

Amnesty calls for a comprehensive evaluation of the police’s performance under General Listyo Sigit Prabowo’s leadership by Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives, emphasizing the need for the state to seriously uphold human rights.

Background

Recent peaceful protests in Jakarta on September 27 and 28 were disrupted by unknown individuals using repressive and intimidating tactics, with law enforcement present during both incidents.

The first attack occurred during the Global Climate Strike on September 27 at Menteng Park, where a non-partisan movement organized by youth focused on climate change. Videos monitored by Amnesty International revealed a group of unknown individuals seizing protest materials, including banners and sound equipment, while police nearby did not intervene despite participants pleading for assistance.

During the event on Jalan Sudirman, participants were again surrounded and harassed, leading to police demanding the protesters disperse, citing a lack of personnel, while the situation escalated.

A similar incident unfolded at the Forum Tanah Air discussion on September 28 at Hotel Grand Kemang, which aimed to facilitate dialogue between the Indonesian diaspora and national figures. The event was sabotaged by masked individuals who vandalized the venue and verbally assaulted participants. Shockingly, police present at the scene allowed the disruption to unfold and even appeared to socialize with the assailants afterward.

As reported on September 29, the Metro Jaya Police arrested five individuals, two of whom have been designated as suspects in the sabotage.

In Pati, Central Java, local farmers faced intimidation from a group that damaged their crops and confiscated their banners amidst ongoing agrarian conflict with corporations.

Amnesty International Indonesia has documented at least 255 cases of intimidation and physical attacks against 482 human rights defenders, including activists, indigenous people, farmers, academics, and journalists, from January 2019 to September 2024. (Uki Ruknuddin)