The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), the Frontline Defenders, the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO), the CIVICUS, the Capital Punishment Justice Project (CPJP), and the Franciscans International urge the Indonesian Government to protect human rights defenders from threats and terror perpetrated by Government officials with articles that repress the freedom of expression.
In the last two months, four human rights defenders, Fatia Maulidiyanti, Haris Azhar, Egi, and Miftah have been framed by the use of the Electronic Information and Transaction Law Effectiveness (UU-ITE) and articles in the Penal Criminal Code (KUHP) for defamation and slander.
Several international non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as the ALRC, the FIDH, the OMCT, the BHRRC, the INCLO, the CIVICUS, the CPJP, the FORUM-ASIA and various regional and national NGOs in various countries have sent their support for this situation of human rights defenders in Indonesia. They are in solidarity with human rights defenders in Indonesia, and are concerned about the actions of Government officials who engage in judicial harassment and the abuse of authority.
This case was also raised in an informal discussion at the 48th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) on 17 September 2021 which discussed resolutions regarding reprisals or acts that intimidate individuals or organizations that cooperate with the UN.
The INCLO, as one of the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) networks on civil liberties issues, intervened in the forum by raising the subpoena cases of Fatia and Haris. Also, KontraS, as an organization that has been working with the UN since 2005, is now experiencing intimidation and the risk of criminalization. The intervention also stated that this act of intimidation was contrary to THE freedom of expression, which Fatia and Haris used to publish the results of research by human rights organizations in Indonesia on military relations and mining exploitation in Papua.
In addition to the INCLO, Franciscans International also raised concerns against the attacks on human rights defenders such as Fatia and Haris at the General Debate regarding the human rights situation that required the attention of the UN HRC at the 48th session of the UN HRC. The international Franciscans are aware that civil liberties are increasingly being threatened in Indonesia. This issue is a human rights issue that needs the consideration of the UN HRC because it certainly threatens civil liberties that have been protected in international legal instruments. Also in the 48th session of the UN HRC, the ALRC also expressed concern regarding the police related reporting experienced by Fatia and Haris.