Pollster Finds Freedom of Expression Eroding in Indonesia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A survey by the pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia shows 47.7 percent respondents ‘slightly agree’ that people are getting more afraid to express their opinions while 21.9 percent have outright agreed freedom of expression is starting to erode. 

 “The survey shows a growing threat towards civil liberties where the majority of people tend to agree and strongly agree that people are afraid of voicing their opinions (79.6 percent),” said Indikator Politik Indonesia executive director Burhanuddin Muhtadi in a virtual press conference on Sunday, October 25. 

The poll also found 20.8 percent of respondents agree that Indonesian citizens are facing more difficulties to conduct demonstrations with another 53 percent slightly agreeing to this notion. 

The survey from September 24 - October 30 reveals that only 19.6 percent slightly disagree that taking it to the streets have been hampered and merely 1.5 percent believe the freedom of expression is not being hampered by authorities. 

Moreover, the survey also revealed that the majority of respondents - which involved 1,200 random respondents asked in face-to-face interviews - believe law enforcers have started to act arbitrarily against those voicing different political views compared to the government in power. 

“The public believe that Indonesia’s democracy is starting to decline and people are getting more afraid to express their opinions, conduct public rallies, and law enforcers are starting to act arbitrarily which reduces people’s satisfaction towards democracy,” said Burhanuddin. 

DEWI NURITA