Marking the annual International Human Rights Day, rights groups on Friday painted a disturbingly bleak picture of the country’s state of human rights with a controversial illiberal legislation being passed, lukewarm handling of past rights violations and persisting violence and impunity among security forces.

Once described as an important bellwether for the state of democracy in Southeast Asia, signs of regression under President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo’s administration have taken greater shape. A new consensus has emerged that Indonesia is now not only facing democratic stagnation but is in the midst of regression.

With the memory of an era of autocratic rule under Soeharto still lingering on, in the minds of activists controversial laws and faltering commitment to defend fundamental freedoms may overturn the country’s hard-won progress in protecting human rights.

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by Yerica Lai (The Jakarta Post)

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]