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.

Jakarta – Two human rights activists, Veronica Koman and Usman Hamid, have criticized a move by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan (LBP), as a public official, of reporting rights activist Haris Azhar and Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Coordinator Fatia Maulidiyanti

Irfan Kamil, Jakarta – Parameter Politic Indonesia Executive Director Adi Prayitno says that summoning poultry farmer Suroto to the Palace to meet with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is a democratic paradox.

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.

Jakarta – Street artists have loudly condemned a mural contest festival to be organised by the Indonesian police (Polri) saying that it is a waste of time and absolutely does not show that the government is open to criticism.

Jakarta – The winners of the Gagged Mural Contest, which was organised by the Gejayan Calling (Gejayan Memanggil) movement, have been announced with as many as 85 out of hundreds of works and murals selected as champions.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's visit to the Eleven March University (UNS) in the Central Java city of Solo on Monday September 13 was marred by the arrest of several students. They were taken away by police after putting up critical posters on the side of a road that Widodo was to pass by.

Yogyakarta – A mural on the eastern side of the Wirobrajan intersection in Central Java city of Yogyakarta was covered over with black paint on the morning of Friday September 10.

It is known that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo would be passing through this stretch of road during a working visit to Yogyakarta today.

Jakarta – The non-government organisation (NGO) Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) says that police violated the law when they arrested a farmer who held up a poster during President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's visit to Blitar, East Java, on Tuesday September 7.

Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has declared September 7 as Human Rights Defenders Protection Day. This date was taken from the day that renowned human rights defender Munir Said Thalib was assassinated 17 years ago in 2004.

Fitria Chusna Farisa, Jakarta – Presidential Staff Deputy Chief Juri Ardiantoro says that criticism should not be allowed to ignore obedience to the law, ethics and aesthetics. If the criticism is intended as part of democracy, said Ardiantoro, these three elements must still be basic to this.

Jakarta – Audio-visual production house Watchdoc, which is active in monitoring environmental and corruption issues, has won the Ramon Magsaysay award for the category of emergent leadership.

Hengky Yeimo, Jayapura – Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Papua chief public prosecutor's office on Monday August 30 to demand that the Papuan chief public prosecutor immediately release West Papua National Committee (KNPB) spokesperson Victor Yeimo from detention so he can be treated in hospital.

Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has issued a subpoena against lawyer and human rights activist Haris Azhar over accusations that Pandjaitan is involved in the mining business in Wabu Block in Intan Jaya, Papua.

Tatang Guritno, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) says that the government has been excessive in dealing with the emergence of murals with a critical tone drawn by the public.

Jakarta – A number of murals and graffiti with a critical tone on walls in busy locations have been removed recently. The aggressive removal of the critical murals has largely been done by regional officials and police in their respective areas.

Achmad Nasrudin Yahya, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia is concerned that the public will become even more reluctant to express an opinion after police acted excessively by hunting down and arresting a person who painted a mural critical of the government.

Jakarta – A 20-year-old man with the initials RS has been questioned by police after offering a T-shirt with a picture resembling the "Jokowi 404: Not Found" mural on social media several days ago.

Fitria Chusna Farisa, Jakarta – Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko has asked the public not to criticise President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in a reckless manner. After all, the president is a parent to the ordinary people and must be respected.

Arnold Belau, Jayapura – The Yahukimo West Papua National Committee (KNPB) says that police forcibly broke up a peaceful protest action on Monday August 16 arresting scores of people and shooting one person in the Dekai district of Yahukimo regency, Papua.