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Culture 'flourishes' amid strong protection of human rights
Several laws, such as the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law and the Mass Organization Law, have also been used to silence people who voice their mind on social media.
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He said she said: Author Eliza Vitri Handayan initiates Fashion ForWords out of concern over repressive acts against freedom of expression in Indonesia, (The Jakarta Post/Seto Wardhana)
H
uman rights and cultural activists have said culture only thrives if the government has a strong commitment to protecting human rights, including freedom of expression.
National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) member Amirudin Al Rahab expressed concern about the future of cultural development in the country, saying how the movement to uphold human rights often came from a different direction to culture.
He said culture only develops if human rights values, especially freedom of expression, are protected.
Amirudin said culture was often overlooked in the fight to uphold human rights because oftentimes the fight is too focused on the legal aspects and consequences.
“Values of human rights will be built up if they are internalized through [daily] social life. We should not care about human rights only because it carries legal consequences, but because it is our mutual need,” he said during a discussion on Friday.
The cultural scene in the country got a new boost after President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo pledged to disburse cultural funds to support production, training and travel funding for artists to develop themselves.
The plan was revealed amid a thriving cultural scene that has suffered amid growing conservatism in society.
