Indonesia Placed on Global Watchlist as Prabowo Government Cracks Down on Dissent

Johannesburg, RAKYAT NEWS – CIVICUS Monitor has placed Indonesia on its Watchlist due to increasing restrictions on civil liberties under President Prabowo Subianto’s administration.

In just nine months, dozens of activists have been harassed, assaulted, or detained, as authorities resort to violence, legal manipulation, and intimidation to suppress dissent.

CIVICUS now categorizes Indonesia’s civic space as “obstructed,” indicating major constraints on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. This places Indonesia alongside other countries experiencing significant democratic backsliding, such as Kenya, El Salvador, Serbia, Turkey, and the United States.

“Voicing criticism has become a dangerous act in Indonesia,” said Josef Benedict, Asia researcher at CIVICUS Monitor. “Those who speak out are met with fear, violence, and repression.”

Reports from civil society indicate that in the first half of 2025, over 100 human rights defenders were subjected to arrest, criminalization, intimidation, or physical assault. These include environmental and agrarian activists, labor organizers, students, academics, and anti-corruption campaigners.

Protests have been met with force. In March, police and military violently dispersed demonstrations against amendments to the Military Law (UU TNI), which expands military influence over civilian life. Journalists covering the protest were attacked and forced to delete footage of police violence. On May Day, police detained 14 people, including medics, and beat 13 of them—none of the perpetrators have faced prosecution.

In Papua, April protests by students were met with tear gas, arrests, and beatings. In May, peaceful student rallies at Cenderawasih University against tuition hikes were violently broken up by police. Meanwhile, prominent rights group KontraS has faced surveillance, office break-in attempts, and persistent anonymous calls since March.