Executive Summary

There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Indonesia during the year.

Indonesia, West Papua – This 10-page document outlines cases and developments, including human rights violations and their patterns, the escalation of armed conflict and its impact on c

Both police and military in West Papua have carried out numerous incidents of torture and other human rights violations but have faced almost no consequences.

Indonesia, West Papua – This 9-page document lists cases and developments, including human rights violations and their patterns; escalation of armed conflict and its impact on civilians

Public protests were met with excessive and unnecessary force by police. Journalists were targeted. Freedom of expression continued to be repressed under problematic laws.

Indonesia, West Papua – As of mid-March 2025, more than 77,886 people in West Papua [1] remain internally displaced as a result of armed conflict between Indonesian security forces and

Executive Summary

Indonesia, West Papua – This 6-page document lists cases and developments, including human rights violations and their patterns; escalation of armed conflict and its impact on civilians

Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo, a former Army general, won the presidential election in February 2024.

Indonesia, West Papua – This comprehensive 11-page document lists cases and developments including human rights violations and their patterns; escalation of armed conflict and its impac

Since the democratic transition that began in 1998, hundreds of independent media outlets have emerged, making Indonesia a pioneer in this domain in Southeast Asia.

Peaceful demonstrators were arrested and excessive force was used to break up protests. Military operations in Papua resulted in unlawful killings and torture and other ill-treatment.

Executive summary

Indonesia, a multiparty democracy, continued to fall short in protecting and promoting basic civil and political rights.

By Max Lane

Executive summary

Rory James – One month ago extraordinary scenes emerged from the remote province of West Papua, Indonesia.

Events of 2022

By Max Lane

Executive summary

Sofie Syarief – The emergence of digital media has not resulted in more diversity in ownership control and editorial content in Indonesia's media industry.

Yanuar Nugroho and Dimas Wisnu Adrianto – The relocation of the Indonesian capital from Jakarta to East Kalimantan is perhaps the most ambitious government project in history.

Introduction

Yanuar Fajari and Siwage Dharma Negara – While total investments into Indonesia have increased over the years, much of these were driven by a rapid increase in domestic direct investmen

Greg Poulgrain – National security advisor Kissinger and President Nixon described their visit to Chairman Mao Zedong in February 1972 – fifty years ago this month – as 'turning a page

An interview with Michael G. Vann. Interview by Daniel Finn

By Max Lane

Executive Summary

Katitza Rodriguez – Indonesia's Constitutional Court dealt another blow to the free expression and online privacy rights of the country's 191 million internet users, ruling that the gov

From the early 2000s, terrorism in Indonesia was regarded as a matter of 'security and order', and dealt with by the police and its militarized anti-terror unit, Densus 88.

By Max Lane

Executive summary

By Syafiq Hasyim

Introduction

Many health workers did not have access to adequate personal protective equipment or COVID-19 tests.

Natalie Sambhi – Originally touted as a reformer when elected, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has presided over a period of democratic regression and increasing illiberalism.

Introduction

By Max Lane

Executive Summary

On 5 October 2020, the Indonesian Parliament passed an 'Omnibus' law.

By Jarryd de Haan

Mariyah L. M. and J N – Amidst a global wave of pandemic, widespread dispossession, and mass uprising, numerous states have seized the moment to ram through national security laws.

By Max Lane

Executive summary

A response to a statement from Jaleswari Pramodhawardani (Vice Deputy for Political, Legal, Security and Human Rights of the Presidential Staff Office) published by Antara News Jakarta

In a year-long investigation with The Gecko Project, the Korean Center for Investigative Journalism-Newstapa and Al Jazeera, Mongabay traced a $22 million "consultancy" payment connect

Zowi Milanovi – The Dutch King has apologised for violence committed by the Netherlands during Indonesia's independence struggle.

By Max Lane

Executive Summary

Lauren Bowman – In the rural Indonesian village of Hongoi(*), indigenous Dayak Modang women like Lina(*) have had to come up with creative ways to continue their long-held tradition of

West Papuans continue to fight for independence with the support of many Pacific nations.

Nicolas Marvey & Babon Hitam – On December 16, 2009, the Indonesian armed forces murdered the independence leader Kelly Kwalik, accused of sabotage, treason, kidnapping and assassi

By Max Lane

Executive summary

Introduction

Adilsonio da Costa – Ignoring environmental laws in Timor-Leste to build a petroleum infrastructure project could mean serious problems for communities including environmental destruct

By Max Lane, Singapore

Executive Summary

Sydney Jones – Violence has swept across Indonesian Papua in the last six weeks, starting with racist taunts against Papuan students in East Java, and moving back to Papua where protes

Siddharth Chandra – The Indonesian killings of 1965-66 marked a turning point in Indonesian politics, and rank among the most traumatic episodes in the country's history.