Jakarta – The prison sentence handed down against journalist Muhammad Asrul in Palopo, South Sulawesi, on November 23 has raised concerns about press freedom in Indonesia which should be protected by the constitution and specific legislation.

Jakarta – The Mulawarman University (Unmul) coalition of lecturers has defended the Student Executive Council (BEM) at their campus after they launched a satirical criticism of a visit by Vice President Ma'ruf Amin to Samarinda in East Kalimantan (Kaltim) on Tuesday November 2.

Jakarta – The move by Education, Culture, Research and Technology Minister Nadiem Makarim to issue a ministerial regulation to prevent and overcome sexual violence at higher education institutions has generated a polemic.

Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) says that seven international non-government organisations (NGOs) have highlighted the recent criminalisation by government officials of four human rights activists in Indonesia.

Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan says that freedom of expression is indeed allowed but he warned that it should not create problems for other people.

Tatang Guritno, Jakarta – The criminal lawsuit filed against human rights activists Fatia Maulidiyanti and Haris Azhar for alleged defamation is seen as a retreat for democracy.

Penulis Irfan Kamil, Jakarta – As many as 38 academics from Australia sent a letter to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Thursday September 16 requesting that he give amnesty to jailed university lecturer Saiful Mahdi.

Rakhmat Nur Hakim, Jakarta – The government's decision not to repeal the Information and Electronic Transactions (ITE) Law is not in accordance with the spirit touted by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo when he initially responded to the polemic over the catchall or ambiguous articles in the law.

Kid: Don't let there be any more victims (headband reads "Democracy")

Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Jakarta – The head of the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network's (SAFEnet) Association of Victims of the Transactions Law (UU ITE) sub-division, Muhammad Arsyad, says that ITE law lies in wait for 99 percent of internet users in Indonesia.

Irfan Kamil, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia says that the police committed acts of violence when securing the protest actions against the Draft Omnibus Law on Job Creation in October and November.

Jakarta – The group Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) has highlighted deliberations on the Draft Criminal Code (RKUHP) which have again been held by the House of Representatives (DPR) in the midst of the corona virus pandemic.

Adi Ahdiat, Jakarta – Research and international digital rights advocacy institute Freedom House says that internet freedom in Indonesia has worsened compared with last year.

According to their rating, in 2018 Indonesia was rated as 54 out of 100, but in 2019 its position dropped to a ranking of 51.

Jakarta – Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Chairperson Abdul Manan predicts that violence against journalists by security forces will still represents a real threat under the next administration of president and vice president elect Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Ma’ruf Amin.

Jakarta – The Social Alliance for Democratic Justice (AMUKK) held a protest action opposing the first stage in the enactment of the Draft Criminal Code (RKUHP) in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Jakarta on Monday September 16.

Theresia Felisiani, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia has joined the debate on the formation of the national legal team by Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs (Kemenko Polhukam) Wiranto.

Jakarta – The government’s plan to form a national legal team to assess figures that violate the law following the April 17 presidential and legislative elections has attracted criticism. The election campaign of presidential ticket Prabowo Subianto and running mate Sandiaga Uno have objected to the proposal.

Jakarta – The KUHP National Reform Alliance is demanding that the government and the House of Representatives not rush to ratify the Draft Criminal Code (RKUHP) at the next sitting of the parliament which is planned to be held on May 8.

Jakarta – The Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) is protesting a statement by Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Wiranto who stated that people who encourage others to golput – to abstain from voting – in the 2019 elections can be prosecuted by law.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) says that the growing number of people being jailed for sending WhatsApp messages critical of the government and private companies is having a a disastrous and chilling effect on free speech and the government should repeal criminal provisions that restrict peaceful free expression online.