Caesar Akbar, Jakarta – The Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) Executive Director, Anggara, said that his institution is in the midst of taking legal steps against the government's policy upon blocking the internet connection in Papua Province and West Papua, which has lasted since Wednesday, August 21.

"There is no other alternative," said Anggara in a text message to Tempo on Sunday, August 25.

The legal actions may take the form of a civil lawsuit with simple demands, which is to push the government to reopen the region's internet access and issue a public apology.

However, Anggara is yet able to confirm when the lawsuit would be filed and that ICJR must consolidate its efforts with other mass-organizations in filing the lawsuit. He says that the lawsuit will still be filed even after the access is reopened.

"There are permanent losses and the acts against the law are not just about reopening the internet access and the quantifiable losses, but [what the government is doing] is basically against the law," he said.

ICJR has been persistent that the Papua internet blockage is an unreasonable attempt by the Communication and Informatics Ministry as people right to the internet is overseen in the 1945 Constitution.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1240221/icjr-takes-legal-action-against-internet-block-in-papua