Indonesia

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Indonesia

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Candidate for Jakarta governor, Anis Baswedan (C) is surrounded by journalists as he arrives at a polling station in Jakarta, Indonesia, 19 April 2017, ADEK BERRY/AFP/Getty Images

Prevalence of violence and threat of downsizing undermine Indonesian media

Aliansi Jurnalis Independen documents violent attacks and threats of layoffs plaguing Indonesian media in the past year.

Police officers stand guard in front of Indonesia's Constitutional Court during a protest in Jakarta, 8 August 2014, BAY ISMOYO/AFP/Getty Images

Indonesia’s parliament bans critical coverage of its members

A new law criminalizes criticism and ‘disrespect’ of the country’s parliament and its members.

An Indonesian armed military officer stands guard at the local clinic during a measles and malnutrition outbreak, at Ayam village, Asmat district, Papua province, 26 January 2018, BAY ISMOYO/AFP/Getty Images

Indonesia told to respect media freedom in Papua after expelling BBC reporter Rebecca Henschke

The Indonesian military expelled BBC journalist Rebecca Henschke from Papua for “hurting soldiers’ feelings” with her social media reports.

Indonesian House Speaker Setya Novanto speaks during a press conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, 18 July 2017, AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana

Indonesian police go after social media users for mocking House Speaker

The Indonesian police briefly detained an internet user for spreading memes that mocked House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto.

Policemen hold rifles during a police investigation into a men's club after a weekend raid on what authorities described as a "gay spa" in Jakarta, Indonesia, 9 October 2017, REUTERS/Beawiharta

Indonesian police raid ‘gay party’

This is at least the fifth raid targeting LGBT people in private spaces in 2017.

Indonesia Attorney General H.M. Prasetyo (R) talks to reporters in Cilacap, Central Java, Indonesia, 29 April 2015, REUTERS/Beawiharta

Indonesia’s Attorney General rejects LGBT discrimination

Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office rescinded a job notice that barred lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons from applying.

Rohingya refugees get off a boat after crossing the Bangladesh-Myanmar border through the Bay of Bengal, in Shah Porir Dwip, Bangladesh, 11 September 2017, REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

Journalist Dandhy Dwi Laksono charged with online defamation for Facebook post

Dandhy Dwi Laksono was reported for a post that compared former Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri with Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi on their handling of the Papua and Rohingya issues.

Workers watch a TV broadcast of a press conference by the leader of the Islamic Defenders Front, Rizieq Shihab, in Jakarta, Indonesia, 28 November 2016, AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim

In Indonesia, netizens face intimidation from the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI)

Members of the Islamic Defenders Front visited the personal residences of media users accused of publishing derogatory posts against Rizieq Shihab, the organisation’s grand mufti, and forced them to issue a public apology.

Indonesian soldiers watch as workers and contractors from the PT Freeport mining company travel in a convoy during a rally commemorating May Day in Timika, Papua province, 1 May 2017 , Antara Foto/Wahyu Putro A/via REUTERS

Papua remains restricted under Widodo; 72 cases of violence against journalists

Two recent cases of violence against journalists in Papua highlight the empty promise of Press Law protections in Indonesia’s easternmost province, as well as the false hopes of President Joko Widodo, who more than two years ago promised to open foreign press access to the area.

Jakarta Governor Ahok, center, talks to his lawyers after his sentencing hearing at a court in Jakarta, Indonesia, 9 May 2017, Bay Ismoyo/Pool Photo via AP

Indonesia sends Jakarta governor to prison for blasphemy

Ahok, the former Jakarta governor and a Christian, was charged in November 2016, for violating the blasphemy law in connection with a reference he made to a Quranic verse in September.

Then presidential candidate Joko Widodo, center left, greets supporters during his campaign rally in Jayapura, Papua province, Indonesia, 5 June 2014, AP Photo

Indonesia steamrolls media freedom in Papua, again

Indonesian police detained and then deported two reporters, who were filming a documentary for Indonesia’s Garuda Airlines in Papua, for lacking “necessary documents from related institutions,” without elaborating.

Link to: Indonesia urged to fulfil promises as deadline looms on Papua press blocks

Indonesia urged to fulfil promises as deadline looms on Papua press blocks

Indonesia has less than three months to deliver “full and free” press access to Papua provinces, says PFF, warning that
“Jakarta risks global condemnation if it continues to ignore the facts”.

On 11 November 2016, contestants wait backstage during the Miss Transgender Indonesia pageant in Jakarta. Opposition from Islamic hardliner groups prevented the long-running event twice in recent years, AP Photo/Dita Alangkara

Transgender people detained for violating “religious values” in Indonesia

Indonesian police are once again helping carry out the anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) agenda of militant Islamists.

On 11 November 2016, contestants wait backstage during the Miss Transgender Indonesia pageant in Jakarta. Opposition from Islamic hardliner groups prevented the long-running event twice in recent years, AP Photo/Dita Alangkara

Transgender people detained for violating “religious values” in Indonesia

Indonesian police are once again helping carry out the anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) agenda of militant Islamists.

West Papuan protesters wear headbands with the banned "Morning Star" flag during a rally calling for the remote region's independence, in Jakarta, 1 December 2016, AP Photo/Dita Alangkara

Indonesia urged to address press freedom violations in West Papua

Just five months before Indonesia is set to host UNESCO’s 2017 celebration of World Press Freedom Day, its government still has not met a regional human rights watchdog’s demands to address press freedom violations in the country’s restive West Papua province.

Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, nicknamed "Ahok", (R) speaks with the media regarding a blasphemy complaint against him while standing next to the deputy governor in Jakarta, 16 November 2016 , REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Indonesia’s abusive blasphemy law under fresh scrutiny

The blasphemy law has been used to prosecute and imprison members of religious minorities and of traditional religions.