Human rights organizations such as Amnesty, Kontras, LBH, and SAFEnet have documented the patterns as follows:
1. CRIMINALIZATION OF ACTIVISTS & STUDENTS
Laws used: UU ITE / Electronic Information and Transactions Law, Treason, Defamation
Documented cases:
1. Harun Al Rasyid, Jambi 2020 – Arrested for criticizing the governor on Facebook
2. Raviyo, Jakarta 2019 – Arrested during the Omnibus Law protest
3. Andi Arief, 2019 – Politician arrested over a tweet
4. Ratna Sarumpaet, 2018 – Hoax case of alleged assault
5. Dandhy Laksono, 2019 – Arrested for tweets about Papua
…and so on. Kontras recorded >800 activists processed between 2014-2023
2. CRIMINALIZATION OF JOURNALISTS & CRITICAL CITIZENS
Laws used: UU ITE Articles 27, 28, 29
Examples:
6. Nurul, South Sulawesi 2020 – Sued for reporting a village head’s illegal extortion
7. Hariss, Riau 2021 – Arrested for criticizing the regent on TikTok
8. SAFEnet records: >400 UU ITE cases per year, 70% of complainants are public officials
3. CRIMINALIZATION OF FARMERS & INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
Cases: Land conflicts, accused of land encroachment
Examples:
9. Kendeng Residents, Rembang 2016-2017 – Protested against a cement factory
10. Tumpang Pitu Residents, Banyuwangi – Rejected a mining project
11. Wadas Residents, Purworejo 2022 – Protested against quarrying
LBH recorded >1000 agrarian conflicts, many of which ended with villagers being criminalized
4. CRIMINALIZATION IN PAPUA
Laws used: Treason Articles 106, 110 of the Criminal Code
Examples:
12. Victor Yeimo, 2021 – Detained for 11 months
13. 7 KNPB Activists Merauke, 2020 – Including Kristianus Yandum who died
14. 33 Sentani Activists, August 2026 – Beaten during a protest
Komnas HAM Papua recorded hundreds of cases
5. STATE VIOLENCE & IMPUNITY
Notable cases:
15. Kendari 2019: Randy & Yusuf killed during a protest. 6 police officers only received a “written warning”
16. Padang 2011: 2 children died in police custody
17. Ferdy Sambo, 2022 – Murder case of Brigadier J
Amnesty: “police shoot, beat, and even kill without fear of prosecution”
WHY IS IT DIFFICULT TO REACH 1000 CASES?
1. Scattered data – Data is spread across LBH, Kontras, Amnesty, Komnas HAM, but not yet in one database
2. Many cases never reach court – Settled through “coaching” or intimidation
3. Fear of reporting – Victims fear being criminalized in return
