Human Rights 3 - Indonesia at Melbourne

Mural controversies expose the poor health of Indonesian democracy

The repressive police response to three murals criticising the government's management of the Covid-19 pandemic is just another sign of the rapidly declining health of Indonesian democracy.

A solution to conflict over houses of worship at last?

Human Rights, Law, Policies, Politics, Religion

Conflicts over houses of worship are caused in part by a problematic legal framework – this may be about to change

Talking Indonesia: Papua and special autonomy

Human Rights, Security, Talking Indonesia

What impact, if any, has special autonomy had on ongoing conflict in Papua? What will the recent extension of special autonomy mean for the provinces? Dr Dave McRae discusses these issues and more with Hipolitus Wangge in the latest episode of Talking Indonesia.

BRIN and the bureaucratisation of knowledge in Indonesia

Education, Human Rights, Top Stories

The co-opting of knowledge production by the state has a long history in Indonesia. The establishment of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is just the latest example.

The Indonesian government's approach to Papua is starting to look like insanity

Human Rights, Security

Jakarta has repeatedly taken a security approach to addressing problems in Papua, a pattern reflected in its recent decision to label armed separatist groups in Papua as terrorists.

First ‘separatists’, now ‘terrorists’: another way for Indonesia to avoid solving West Papuans' historical grievances

Human Rights, Security, Top Stories

The government's recent decision to label West Papuan resistance groups as ‘terrorists’ will have serious implications for the future of conflict resolution in the region.

Talking Indonesia: transgender women and public space

Gender, Human Rights, Talking Indonesia

How have transgender women navigated public life in the world’s largest Muslim society? In Talking Indonesia this week, Dr Annisa Beta discusses how transgender women have negotiated citizenship and belonging in postcolonial Indonesia with Dr Benjamin Hegarty.

Attempts to revise draconian ITE Law stumble

Human Rights, Law

The Information and Electronic Transactions Law has become so distorted from its original function that it has now emerged as one of the greatest threats to freedom of expression in Indonesia.

Between punishment and rehabilitation: the government’s half-hearted approach to drug use

Human Rights, Public health

More than half of inmates in Indonesian prisons are drug convicts. It is hard to imagine how the Ministry of Law and Human Rights can provide rehabilitation services for them all.

Posted in: Human Rights