Human Rights 9 - Indonesia at Melbourne

Is Grace Natalie the next Ahok?

2019 Indonesian Elections, Human Rights, Politics, Religion, Society

Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) head Grace Natalie has been accused of blasphemy for remarks she made on shari'a-inspired local regulations. Is there now no room for non-Muslims to comment on religion in public? Daniel Peterson examines the case against her.

It’s time for Indonesians to say goodbye to the ‘supercrip’

Analysis, Arts, Human Rights, Policy in Focus

Indonesia is still basking in the success of the 2018 Asian Games and Asian Para Games. Slamet Thohari writes that while Indonesia deserves the plaudits it received, the Games also served to highlight outdated attitudes to people with disability.

The human cost of Indonesia's Blasphemy Law

Analysis, Human Rights, Law, Religion

Some 23 people have been sentenced under the Blasphemy Law since President Joko Widodo came to power in 2014, including six this year. Andreas Harsono from Human Rights Watch looks at the impact of the law on its victims, such as ethnic Chinese Buddhist Meliana.

Talking Indonesia: disability and education

Education, Human Rights, Talking Indonesia

Although opportunities for education remain limited for people with disability in Indonesia, some Islamic universities have taken steps to improve accessibility. In Talking Indonesia, Dr Dirk Tomsa chats to Dr Dina Afrianty about what pushed them to act, and the likelihood that others will follow.

Misinformation, Ratna the hoaxer, and 1965

2019 Indonesian Elections, Analysis, Human Rights, Media, Politics

What does the 1965 violence have to do with Ratna Sarumpaet? Hellena Souisa examines two incidents that demonstrate how serious the problem of hoaxes has become for Indonesian politics.

Has the Supreme Court just created a legal aid crisis?

Analysis, Human Rights, Law

Community-based paralegals play an important role in providing legal services for poor Indonesians. But Antoni Putra writes that a recent Supreme Court decision on paralegals could see their role curtailed, further restricting access to justice for already underrepresented communities.

What might Jokowi’s vice presidential pick mean for religious freedom?

2019 Indonesian Elections, Analysis, Human Rights, Politics, Religion

President Joko Widodo surprised many when he selected Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin as his vice presidential running mate. Dr Budhy Munawar Rachman looks at Ma'ruf's record at the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI) and writes that if the pair are elected, things could become a lot worse for religious minorities.

Talking Indonesia: protecting migrant workers

Human Rights, Migration, Talking Indonesia

How will the newly passed Law on the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers improve conditions for the millions of Indonesian citizens working overseas? What more needs to be done? Dr Jemma Purdey chats to Migrant CARE Director Anis Hidayah in the latest episode of Talking Indonesia.

There’s now proof that Soeharto orchestrated the 1965 killings

Analysis, Human Rights, Security

According to official government narratives, the military was forced to step in to save the nation from a coup on 1 October 1965. Drawing on her remarkable new book, Dr Jess Melvin explains how rather than reluctantly stepping in, Soeharto and the military used existing military chains of command to actively seize power.

Posted in: Human Rights