Joint Statement – Indonesia: Release human rights defenders Dera Pramandira and Fathul Munif, uphold people’s right to peaceful protest
BANGKOK, Thailand (8 December 2025) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and Front Line Defenders (FLD) urge the Indonesian Government to immediately and unconditionally release human rights defenders Adetya “Dera” Pramandira and Fathul Munif.
The two were reportedly ambushed by 24 police officers and arbitrarily arrested on 27 November 2025, following accusations of inciting demonstrations that spread across Indonesia in August. Dera and Munif were designated as criminal suspects under the “incitement” provision of the Indonesian Criminal Code and the “hate speech” provision of the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) law.
Their arrest occurred just days after the revised Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) came into effect. The United Nations Special Procedures criticized KUHAP for expanding police powers and weakening safeguards against arbitrary detention. Dera and Munif’s case mirrors the escalating pattern of judicial harassment, arbitrary arrests and detention, violence, and intimidation faced by Indonesian human rights defenders, students, activists, and peaceful protestors.
Systemic silencing of dissent
Between August and September 2025, thousands of Indonesians took to the streets to criticize government policies. Protestors peacefully called for higher minimum wages, stronger job security, fair labor and tax reforms, and the passage of key laws to protect workers’ rights and democratic participation.
The protests—which spread across 18 provinces and 39 subdistricts—were marked by police brutality and unlawful crowd-control tactics. It left a trail of at least 10 civilian deaths, over 400 severe injuries, and approximately 4,000 arbitrary arrests. The latter included individuals who did not even participate in the demonstrations.
In the aftermath, human rights defenders and civil society actors have faced targeted repression, red-tagging, digital surveillance, and baseless criminal accusations. They were charged under vague and overly broad provisions such as “incitement” under Article 160 of the Criminal Code, the ITE Law, and the Child Protection Law.
Many were arrested without warrant, denied access to legal counsel, and subjected to intimidation during detention. Among them are Delpedro Marhaen Rismansyah, Syahdan Husein, Muhammad “Paul” Fakhrurrozi, Muzaffar Salim, Laras Faizati, and Figa Lesmana.
The continued use of vague criminal provisions, warrantless arrests, and prolonged detentions reflects the government’s deliberate efforts to intimidate and dismantle civil society movements.
The ongoing trials of activists involved in the August-September protests—paired with Dera and Munif’s arrests in November—demonstrate a systematic pattern of silencing dissent, shrinking civic space, and criminalizing peaceful and legitimate human rights work in Indonesia.
All these point to Indonesia’s failure to uphold its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Law No. 39/1999 on Human Rights, and the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, all of which guarantee the rights to liberty, due process, freedom of expression, and freedom from arbitrary arrest.
Call to action
FORUM-ASIA and FLD are in solidarity with all human rights defenders, civil society actors, students, and peaceful protesters who are continuously demanding for justice and accountability despite escalating repression.
We urge Indonesian authorities to acknowledge, respect, and protect the people’s fundamental freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Dera, Munif, and all other detained human rights defenders and protesters. We urge authorities to uphold due process, fair trials, and the right to access legal counsel.
The government must stop using overly broad laws to suppress dissenting voices. People have the right to peacefully protest and human rights defenders are not criminals. Their efforts to protect marginalized communities, report abuses, and speak truth to power are essential to democracy and public accountability.
We also call on the international community to continuously monitor the situation in Indonesia and to join us in opposing the criminalization of human rights defenders and peaceful protestors.
