TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM) assessed that the government has violated the public constitutional rights by temporarily blocking the access to the internet in Papua and West Papua.

Even, the United Nations Human Rights Council condemned such a practice as a disruptive act against access to online information.

“The series of internet blocking is the bad note in the internet management in Indonesia, that should have been consistent by respecting human rights and democracy,” said Elsam researcher Wahyudi Djafar in a press release, Thursday, August 22.

Wahyudi outlined the access restriction might hamper the public to exchange crucial information related to security, communicate emergency issues, and the work of journalism. It might also produce a high adverse impact on the country’s economy.

“Instead of normalizing the condition to conducive, internet shutdown possibly increases violence acts during the demonstration,” said Wahyudi.

However, he explained the government has the right to apply a restriction policy, including online access, during the emergency in a bid to maintain the safety, health, and public order.

However, the government failed to reiterate the reasons, especially in terms of the emergency. Communication and Informatics Ministry also did not elaborate on the situation clearly.

Therefore, Wahyudi urged the government, especially Communication and Informatics Ministry to recover the information access by revoking the internet block in Papua and West Papua.

ANDITA RAHMA