Imagine living in a country where speaking your mind, especially if it questions those in power, could label you an “enemy of the state.” This isn’t a dystopian novel, but a chilling reality depicted in a new report from Amnesty International about Indonesia under President Prabowo Subianto. The report, aptly titled “Building Up Imaginary Enemies,” pulls back the curtain on an alarming trend: a coordinated crackdown on critics, human rights defenders, independent journalists, and civil society organizations, all orchestrated through online disinformation campaigns. These campaigns have a singular, insidious goal – to paint anyone who dares to challenge the government as a “foreign agent,” someone secretly working for external forces to undermine Indonesia. It’s like a sophisticated, digital witch hunt, where legitimate concerns are dismissed as conspiracies and patriotic citizens are branded traitors, eroding the very foundations of democratic freedom and pushing the nation towards more authoritarian practices.
This isn’t just about harsh rhetoric; it’s a strategic move to silence dissent and deflect attention from real issues. The report, which covers Prabowo’s first eighteen months in office starting October 2024, meticulously details how government-aligned actors and institutions are weaponizing social media and public discourse. They accuse critics of being foreign puppets, often without a shred of evidence, twisting their words and actions to imply disloyalty. What’s even more concerning is that this isn’t a sudden shift, but rather an acceleration of trends that began under the previous president, Joko Widodo. It’s as if the playbook for marginalizing critics has simply been expanded and amplified, creating a suffocating environment for anyone who wants to hold power accountable. By framing criticism as a foreign-backed plot, the authorities don’t have to engage with the actual substance of the concerns; instead, they can rally nationalist sentiment and dismiss legitimate opposition as unpatriotic.
The report dives into heartbreaking examples, none more stark than the story of Andrie Yunus, deputy coordinator of KontraS, a prominent human rights organization. Yunus bravely spoke out against what he saw as the militarization of Indonesian politics, especially concerning revisions to military law that would allow active-duty personnel to hold civilian government positions – a move many believe threatens democratic oversight. After his peaceful protests in March 2025, the attacks began. Social media accounts, allegedly linked to Prabowo’s Gerindra Party, flooded the internet with videos accusing Yunus and his fellow activists of being “foreign agents” trying to weaken the armed forces. These were baseless accusations, designed to dismantle his credibility. The situation took a horrific turn on March 12, 2026, when Yunus was brutally attacked with acid in Jakarta, suffering severe injuries. Even after this monstrous act, the online smear campaign continued, with anonymous accounts suggesting Yunus had staged the attack for international sympathy. The subsequent arrest of four military officers connected to the Indonesian Strategic Intelligence Agency in connection with the attack paints a terrifying picture of state involvement and the extreme dangers faced by activists.
Beyond the immediate psychological and reputational damage, the “foreign agent” label carries a chilling legal threat under Indonesia’s new criminal code. The report highlights provisions that criminalize engagement with foreign organizations or individuals if authorities deem these relationships to be undermining the government, with potential prison sentences of up to ten years. Imagine collaborating with an international non-profit on a legitimate project, only to find yourself facing imprisonment because your work is reinterpreted as a conspiracy against the state. This broadly worded legislation, combined with politically motivated accusations, creates a fertile ground for abuse. It fosters a climate of fear, discouraging even legitimate international cooperation and creating a “chilling effect” where citizens hesitate to express dissent, knowing that their actions could be twisted into a criminal offense. This drastically shrinks the space for healthy democratic debate and participation.
The report further reveals how this “foreign agent” narrative has become a standard tactic in political communication. A senior journalist, who spoke anonymously to Amnesty, explained that government officials consistently frame criticism as foreign interference rather than addressing genuine domestic issues. This strategy of creating “imaginary enemies” helps justify restrictions on dissent and garner support by portraying opposition as a threat to national unity, diverting public attention from policy debates. Amnesty identified four major disinformation campaigns initiated during Prabowo’s presidency, three of which were linked to military-affiliated social media accounts. These campaigns targeted human rights defenders, participants in the “Indonesia Gelap” protest movement, and journalists from the independent media outlet Tempo. The Centre of Economic and Law Studies, a policy research organization, was also targeted. These campaigns often twisted normal international partnerships, grants, or donor relationships into elaborate conspiracy theories, painting organizations as tools of foreign influence without any evidence.
One particularly disturbing example involved Tempo, a highly respected independent media institution. A viral TikTok video edited a speech by President Prabowo with references to Tempo’s funding from the Media Development Investment Fund, falsely implying that foreign investment compromised its editorial independence and labeled it a “foreign element” disguised as independent media. This narrative, devoid of evidence, is designed to erode public trust in journalism, leaving reporters vulnerable to harassment and intimidation. Independent media are the lifeblood of a democracy, acting as watchdogs and providing vital information. When their credibility is systematically attacked, it undermines the public’s ability to make informed decisions and hold power accountable. As Indonesia grapples with complex challenges, this Amnesty report serves as a dire warning. The combination of online disinformation, legal threats, and the stigmatization of critics poses a severe threat to freedom of expression, association, and an independent press. The government’s silence on these allegations is deafening. Ultimately, safeguarding civil liberties in Indonesia means allowing activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens to voice their concerns without fear of reprisal, violence, or being falsely branded as enemies of their own nation.