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Intimidation of govt critics looms over 2024 elections
Intimidation and legal threats against government critics may cause voters to be more hesitant in expressing political opinions or go to polling stations altogether, analysts have said.
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Then Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Agus Rahardjo speaks to journalists at the commission headquarters in Jakarta on Feb. 28, 2018, on the commission's move to name two new electronic identity card (e-ID) graft case suspects. (Antara/Puspa Perwitasari)
Human rights defenders have decried Indonesia’s dwindling freedom of speech and further worrying trend of democratic backsliding as several government critics have been intimidated and reported to law enforcers for their statements ahead of next year’s election.
The latest critic reported to the police is former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Agus Rahardjo.
During an interview with Kompas TV earlier this month, Agus stated that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo ordered the antigraft body in 2017 to drop its investigation into former House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto, who, as then-Golkar Party chairman, was a key ally of Jokowi’s administration. Jokowi later denied Agus' claims of having instructed him to cease investigation against Setya.
A group dubbed Pandawa Nusantara filed a report against Agus to the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) on Monday, accusing the former KPK chief of giving out slanderous statements against Jokowi.
The case against Agus is not the only one to occur recently.
