Amnesty International: Human Rights in Indonesia Worsen Under Prabowo
Reporter
April 21, 2026 | 09:22 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Amnesty International Indonesia has declared that the human rights situation nationally is showing alarming signs. The institution refers to 2025 as a year of human rights catastrophe, both in civil and political freedoms and in economic and social justice.
Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, stated that in the early second year of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's administration, human rights violations are becoming more prevalent. These violations include restricting differences of opinion and expanding the role of the military, thereby weakening civilian supremacy. They also include seizing land and forests and imprisoning indigenous peoples.
In a global context, Amnesty International sees an increase in predatory attacks by states on human rights. In Indonesia, these attacks target individuals advocating for constitutional rights, such as the right to a decent life, freedom of expression, and land rights. "Starting from the repression of the August protests, criminalization of indigenous peoples, to the acid attack on Andrie Yunus, allegedly involving the Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS)," said Usman on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
Amnesty's 2025 annual report also noted several events that demonstrate the authoritarian nature of the state in responding to freedom of expression and assembly in Indonesia. At the beginning of 2025, certain parties intimidated the Sukatani group because their song titled "Bayar Bayar Bayar" criticized the police institution. The song was then withdrawn from circulation on online platforms. A year later, the related parties also withdrew the album "Cita-citaku (Ga Jadi Polisi)" by child singer Gandhi Sehat just a few days after its release.
Leading up to the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia in August 2025, the raising of the One Piece flag caused a stir in public. The community used this symbol to express their disappointment with the Prabowo-Gibran government. However, the authorities responded to this expression with threats and forcibly removed the flags.
Usman stated that the authorities acted oppressively by targeting individuals, conducting raids in various cities, confiscating One Piece flags from homes and vehicles, and removing related murals. The authorities argued that the display of these symbols did not respect Independence Day and the national flag. "The government even threatened to take legal action against those who participated in this trend, thus raising further concerns about freedom of expression," he said.
Throughout 2025, the state also monitored public conversations on social media. Authorities charged at least 58 citizens with problematic articles in the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE).
According to Amnesty, this series of cases shows that the state is predatively targeting peaceful aspirations, even those that are symbolic, such as the One Piece flag phenomenon. Amnesty considers this response to be excessive.
Usman emphasized that the state is no longer hiding its anti-human rights stance but is openly targeting individuals who voice their opinions peacefully. "The government continues to be anti-criticism from the public through various mediums, including metaphors and art," he said.
He also mentioned Prabowo's statements, often labeling critical citizens as "traitors," "terrorists," supported by "foreign powers," or "funded by corruptors." According to Usman, this attitude shows a lack of concern for human rights. "The purpose of these attacks is to silence criticism, allowing the government to operate without oversight," said Usman.
Read: Amnesty International Paints a Grim Picture for Human Rights
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