Indonesia: Still Restrictions On Freedom of Speech

Five years ago Indonesia embarked on a transition from authoritarian towards democratic rule following former President Suharto’s forced resignation. Many limits on freedom of expression, including restrictions on the media, political parties and labour unions were removed.

Muhammad NAZAR was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on 1 July 2003 for his peaceful pro-independence activism with the Aceh Referendum Information Centre (Sentral Informasi Referendum Aceh, SIRA).©Private

However, other legislation which had been used to silence government critics remained, although for a short period, was not used. Where politically motivated charges were still brought, they were used mainly against independence activists in the provinces of Papua (formerly known as Irian Jaya) and Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD, formerly known as Aceh), rather than the broader range of government opponents who had been imprisoned under former President Suharto.

Moves towards greater political freedoms and respect for freedom of expression are being undermined by the prosecution and imprisonment of peaceful political, labour and independence activists, and most recently journalists. Since 1998, Amnesty International knows of 50 people who have been sentenced to prison terms for exercising their peaceful and legitimate right to freedom of expression.

Six prisoners of conscience are currently imprisoned. Ignatius Mahendra Kusuma Wardana, the Chairperson of the Yogyakarta branch of the National Democratic Student’s league (Liga Mahasiswa Nasional untuk Demokrasi, LMND) and Yoyok Edo Widodo, a member of the Indonesian Street Musicians Union (Serikat Pengamen Indonesia, SPI) are serving three year prison sentences in Yogyakarta town, Central Java Province. They were convicted of “insulting the President and Vice President” after burning their portraits during a peaceful demonstration. Muhammad Nazar, the head of Aceh Referendum Information Center (Sentral Informasi Referendum Aceh, SIRA) and Reza Pahlevi, also a SIRA activist, are serving prison sentences of five and three years respectively. Both were found guilty of “spreading feelings of hostility, hatred or contempt against the government” in connection with peaceful pro-independence activities. Yohanes Wanggai and Edison Waromi were sentenced to two years’ imprisonment each in October 2003 for “rebellion” (makar). The two men were arrested while raising a flag symbolising Papuan independence in the provincial capital Jayapura in December 2002.

In the report “Indonesia: Old laws-new prisoners of conscience” Amnesty International is calling for the release of all prisoners of conscience in Indonesia. The organization is also calling for the abolition of repressive legislation, which is used to detain prisoners of conscience and severely restricts one’s right to exercise freedom of expression.




Source: asiapacific.amnesty.org

Posted in: Amnesty International,Arsip 2003