Arrests of Indonesian protesters spur fears of censorship, more political chaos, from the South China Morning Post
By Resty Woro Yuniar for the South China Morning Post, Sept 11, 2025
Threat to freedom of expression
The arrests of activists and social media users in Indonesia on accusations of inciting violence in the recent protests have prompted rights advocates to warn of a “serious threat” to freedom of expression in the world’s third-largest democracy.
Anger over perks
Jakarta police last week named 43 people as suspects behind “a series of anarchic acts” during the week-long protests across Indonesia in late August. The protests were sparked by anger over the excessive perks given to lawmakers, which later morphed into riots after a motorcycle taxi driver was fatally hit by a police armored vehicle.
Claimed 10 lives
The unrest has claimed at least 10 lives, according to the country’s human rights commission.
The suspects were believed to have incited others to join the protests or to vandalise property and resist officers, Ade Ary Syam Indradi, a spokesman with the Jakarta police, told reporters on September 4.
Among the suspects was Delpedro Marhaen, an executive director with Jakarta-based human rights group Lokataru Foundation. The group posted on social media a photo that police claimed encouraged students to join the protests. The post also included a hotline number that students could call to report any punishments against them for taking part in protests. Muzaffar Salim, a Lokataru staff member who managed the account, was also arrested.
“There are [social media] accounts that try to encourage children to take to the street, to take action and [assure] that they will be protected,” Ade said.
Others arrested by the police include Laras Faizati Khairunnisa, who worked for the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in Jakarta. On August 29, Laras posted on her Instagram a photo with a caption that reads: “When your office is right next to the National Police Headquarters, please burn this building down and get them all y’all. I wish I could help throw some stones, but my mom wants me home. Sending strength to all protesters!”
Military to prosecute YouTube Influencer
The Indonesian military has also received flak for its attempt to prosecute Ferry Irwandi, an influencer who alleged in a TV show on September 2 that the military was behind the riots. The military has dismissed his accusation as a “hoax”.
Military cyber unit
“From cyber patrols, we found several facts regarding alleged criminal acts committed by Ferry Irwandi. As law-abiding citizens, we of course prioritise the law, so we will take legal steps to address the alleged crime,” Brigadier General Juinta Omboh, commander of the military’s cyber unit, told reporters on Monday.
In a video posted online on the same day, Ferry said that he “does not know” what crimes he might have committed, but would abide by any potential legal action.
Debate over military’s role
Rights groups have decried the arrests of activists and internet users as “repressive” and a “serious threat” to freedom of expression in Indonesia.
Authoritarian and repressive approach
“All of this shows the state choosing an authoritarian and repressive approach over a democratic and persuasive one. The accusations also use the same loosely defined [legal] articles that have long been used to suppress criticism. This must stop. Release them,” Usman Hamid, executive director at Amnesty International Indonesia, said in a statement on September 2.
Calls for military to stop intimidation
The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform, which includes a number of rights groups, has also urged the military to drop its “intimidation” against Ferry, as a recent Constitutional Court ruling stated that national institutions cannot use the country’s draconian information and electronic transaction law against individuals.
“The TNI’s [Indonesian military’s] threat to criminalise Ferry has the potential to blur the line between military and civilian duties,” the coalition said in a statement on Tuesday.
“This is a serious threat to freedom of expression and to human rights defenders in Indonesia, whose space … is increasingly being restricted.”
Military cyber patrol
Iqbal Nurfahmi, a researcher at the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform, pointed to a 2025 law limiting the responsibility of the military’s cyber unit to addressing “cyber threats within the defence sector, not to carry out cyber patrol to determine whether there are any suspected crimes [committed by citizens], which clearly contradicts the law”.
Sugeng Teguh Santoso, head of Indonesia Police Watch, an independent police watchdog, said the military could still pursue another avenue over Ferry’s comments.
“Ferry’s statement was broadcast through the media, which has the right to report, so the military’s objection can also be submitted through this mechanism as [described] in the Indonesian press law,” Sugeng said.
Responding to the critics, Brigadier General Freddy Ardianzah, a military spokesman, said in a statement on Wednesday that the military would “carefully consider legal steps” without violating the Constitutional Court’s ruling.
Military dignity
The potential legal action against Freddy was taken to “maintain the dignity and honour” of all Indonesian soldiers and to “maintain national unity and national security stability”, Freddy said.
Jakarta police’s Ade Ary said the arrests of Delpedro and other activists were in accordance with the law and “based on the facts and evidence”.
“The Jakarta Metropolitan Police will thoroughly investigate this case, professionally and proportionally,” Ade said in a news briefing on Monday.
Self-censorship fears
Airlangga Pribadi, a political expert at Airlangga University in Surabaya, feared that the arrests of activists could increase self-censorship in Indonesia.
“The public would be demotivated to participate in state governance. The government would lose the public’s input into what is happening in society,” Airlangga said.
Worsen political chaos
Any censorship tightening could worsen “political chaos”, he warned.
“In addition to addressing the long-standing economic pressures in Indonesia, protesters also voiced their concerns about the regression of democracy and the lack of empathy among the political elites,” Airlangga said.
Freedom of expression crucial
“It is clear that guaranteeing freedom of expression is crucial in the current political climate in Indonesia.”
This post is based on report by Resty Woro Yuniar for the South China Morning Post, Sept 9, 2025. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3325207/arrests-indonesian-protesters-spur-fears-censorship-more-political-chaos. Featured image credit: Controversial (former) National Mandate Party (PAN) House of Representative member and entertainer Eko Patrio shows off the shoe room in his Jakarta house to reporter Atta Halilintar. Foto: YouTube AH via Tempo.co https://www.tempo.co/hiburan/rumah-eko-patrio-mencapai-rp-150-miliar-ada-ruangan-khusus-lego-hingga-lift-makanan-240452.
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