Human Rights Watch (HRW) Friday stated that Indonesian authorities should not pursue criminal defamation charges against Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti, who are significant human rights defenders in Jakarta. The charges were brought against them based on a 2021 police report filed by Luhur Binsar Pandjaitan, a minister in the president’s cabinet. The report accuses Azhar and Maulidiyanti of “violating criminal defamation provisions” (article 310 (1) of the Penal Code) and violation of the Electronic Information law – the minister is demanding $21 million in compensation also. The police report is unavailable to the public but has been sent to the relevant authorities.

What led to the police report was a YouTube interview and discussion between Azhar, Maulidiyanti and the Director of Walhi Papua environment forum regarding a report. The report accused the Indonesian government of “escalating armed conflict” by using “illegal military operations in Papua.” Furthermore, other organisations such as Greenpeace Indonesia, Trend Asia, KontraS and JATAM contributed to the findings of the report, many of which detailed the environmental problems and civil liberties from these “illegal military operations.” During the discussion, Maulidiyanti mentioned that Pandijaitan and the police/military participated in allowing mining companies to access the Wabu Block, which could impact and displace the indigenous population.

From this, Pandjaitan denied his role in the operations and requested compensation – shortly after he filed the defamation complaint. Still, HRW believes that the government should revoke the criminal defamation charges and amend certain laws that may undermine freedom of speech. Similarly, the UN Human Rights Committee maintains journalists’ freedom of expression as a “necessary condition.”

The trial of the human rights defenders started on April 3