JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS – Amnesty International’s latest annual report, The State of Human Rights in the World 2024/2025, warns of a deepening global shift toward authoritarianism, with Indonesia among the countries showing worrying trends. The report outlines how governments around the world are increasingly restricting civil liberties, undermining democratic institutions, and silencing dissenting voices.

According to Amnesty, 2024 saw a widespread erosion of human rights protections across all regions. The organization documented extensive abuses, including limits on freedom of expression, the expansion of surveillance technologies, and targeted discrimination against minority communities. Conflict zones such as Israel, Myanmar, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Yemen were highlighted for committing war crimes and practicing systemic racism.

Indonesia was singled out for a steep decline in democratic norms. The report noted a growing use of authoritarian tactics, including electoral manipulation, curbs on press freedom, and sustained human rights violations in Papua. “Without urgent action, we risk a human rights epidemic,” said Usman Hamid, Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, at the report’s launch in Jakarta.

Amnesty raised serious concerns about the state’s use of excessive force and extrajudicial killings, especially in Papua. Between January and December 2024, at least 39 such killings were recorded nationwide. Of these, 17 occurred in Papua, with both state and non-state actors implicated. Security forces, particularly police and military units, were frequently involved, often with impunity.

Controversy surrounding Indonesia’s 2024 general elections also drew attention. The report criticized constitutional court decisions that altered candidacy rules—changes that ultimately benefited President Joko Widodo’s son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Critics, including the UN Human Rights Committee, labeled the rulings as a blow to electoral fairness and judicial independence.

The revised Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law remains a key tool in suppressing dissent. Amnesty recorded 15 prosecutions under the ITE Law in 2024 alone. Among those charged were a civil servant and a university student, both detained for online posts critical of government officials. Activists and critics continue to face harassment despite legal protections.

Security forces have also escalated violence against peaceful protesters. During protests in August 2024, at least 579 people were injured due to police crackdowns. More recently, student demonstrations in March 2025 opposing proposed changes to military laws led to 221 injuries, with allegations of excessive force widely reported.

Human rights defenders and journalists remain under threat. Amnesty documented 123 attacks on journalists, activists, and indigenous leaders last year, including arrests, threats, and attempted assassinations. Two journalists in Papua were assaulted in separate incidents; neither case has resulted in significant legal action.

Indonesia’s surveillance practices have also come under scrutiny. The report alleges the state used foreign spyware, including tools sourced from Israel, to monitor private citizens. Although a data protection law was passed in 2022, enforcement remains lax, leaving individuals vulnerable to privacy violations and digital repression.

Religious minorities continue to face discrimination. In 2024, there were eight documented incidents targeting groups such as the Ahmadiyya and Christian communities. These ranged from forced church closures to violent mob intimidation. Amnesty criticized local authorities for failing to uphold constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.

Major development projects were also condemned for disregarding indigenous rights. Efforts such as the relocation to the new capital city (IKN) and the Rempang Eco City project have displaced native communities without proper consultation or consent. Amnesty further criticized the government’s reliance on fossil fuels, warning that its environmental and social policies are deepening inequality.

Amnesty International called on Indonesia’s next government to prioritize human rights, urging immediate legal reforms and stronger accountability mechanisms. “The path forward must include restoring public trust, protecting civic freedoms, and addressing long-standing injustices,” the organization concluded. (Uki Ruknuddin)