JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS – Amnesty International Indonesia has criticized President Prabowo Subianto for his recent statement accusing civil society protests, such as Indonesia Gelap, of being funded by corrupt individuals. The organization views the president’s remarks as a serious threat to freedom of expression and the legitimacy of peaceful protests in a democratic society.

“The President’s claims are a direct attack on freedom of expression and the right of citizens to protest lawfully and peacefully,” said Wirya Adiwena, Deputy Director of Amnesty International Indonesia. “Such statements aim to delegitimize civil society movements by spreading baseless accusations to the public. There is no credible evidence to support what the President said.”

Adiwena compared this tactic to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s strategy of discrediting migrants and asylum seekers by spreading disinformation to undermine their rights. He warned that these kinds of narratives are commonly used by authoritarian regimes to silence dissent and avoid public accountability.

This is not the first time President Prabowo has targeted civil society voices. In the past, he accused non-governmental organizations (NGOs) of serving foreign interests and attempting to sow division, particularly when they criticized or monitored government actions. Instead of engaging with the substance of public criticism, Prabowo has frequently chosen to attack the motives and credibility of his critics.

Amnesty International warns that the president’s repeated efforts to discredit NGOs, activists, and civic movements foster a dangerous narrative—one that portrays dissenters as enemies of the state or allies of corrupt powers. “Such rhetoric mirrors that of authoritarian regimes that fear transparency and public scrutiny,” Adiwena added.