Ade Ridwan Yandwiputra, Jakarta – Secretary General of Amnesty International Agnes Callamard has concluded her visit to Indonesia, during which she assessed the nation's human rights situation and the ongoing prevalence of authoritarian practices.
Her five-day visit, from March 4th to 7th, 2025, provided her with an opportunity to evaluate these critical issues.
During her stay, Callamard observed that Indonesia is experiencing ongoing authoritarian practices, reflecting a global trend. She noted a recent increase in human rights violations and the militarization of civilian spaces within the country.
"I visited Indonesia as part of a global campaign against authoritarian practices around the world as part of the global resistance to the actions of Donald Trump and his allies in violating human rights and global governance," Callamard stated in an official release on Friday, March 7, 2025.
Authoritarian practices are not a recent development in Indonesia. Amnesty International's records indicate that the country has been a site of human rights violations that have remained largely uninvestigated since 1965.
During her visit, Callamard met with various law enforcement officials, including representatives from the Supreme Court and the Attorney General's Office. Through these meetings, Amnesty International called for an end to impunity for human rights violators in Indonesia.
In discussions with the Attorney General's Office, Callamard emphasized the crucial role of prosecution in resolving past cases of serious human rights violations. She also urged the office to prevent the criminalization of human rights defenders in Indonesia.
In meetings with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and other justices, Callamard discussed the importance of maintaining judicial independence, which is often targeted in countries experiencing increased authoritarian practices, as exemplified by recent actions taken by President Donald Trump in the United States.
"We urge the authorities to immediately investigate cases of serious human rights violations that have become a dark chapter in Indonesian history," Callamard stated.
During her visit, Callamard also met with victims of human rights violations, including those involved in the recent Dark Indonesia protest and protests in Papua. "In these cases, we witnessed excessive deployment of security forces against human rights defenders," she observed.
Amnesty International is also monitoring the criminalization of actions that do not violate the law, such as protests against climate change, despite legal provisions protecting individuals advocating for public interests (Anti-SLAPP).
In Papua, Amnesty International Indonesia has documented cases of torture, extrajudicial killings, and arbitrary detention. Amnesty International expressed concern that none of these cases have been processed fairly.
"Last year, we documented a case of torture that resulted in the death of a victim, where 13 officers were allegedly involved, but none have been brought to trial. So, there is an extraordinary need for justice to be enforced in these cases," Callamard emphasized.
She called on the authorities to exert every effort to end these violations and ensure the protection of human rights in the country.
Amnesty International urged Indonesia to immediately end impunity and investigate serious human rights violation cases. The organization also called for Indonesia to build solidarity with other developing countries to combat authoritarian practices worldwide.