At the end of 2025 as we welcome the New Year, grief and sorrow have added to the lengthy kaleidoscope of evils and incompetence inflicted by the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
Terror attacks and intimidation against citizens who are critical is a valid indicator to say that anti-democratic and authoritarian tendencies are truly occurring and are being practiced in their most disgusting forms.
The terror attacks and intimidation against many critical citizens and social media influencers, including Iqbal Damanik (Greenpeace activist), Ramond Dony Adam (DJ Donny), Sherly Annavita, Virdian Aurellio and @pitengz_oposipit, are an assault on democratic values and the freedom to express ideas and opinions that are guaranteed by the Constitution and regulations.
The massive and systematic attacks experienced by these critical groups and influencers have even been twisted by social media buzzers as if the terror they experienced is a lie. This further demonstrates the regime's thick skin, which favours despotism.
It should be remembered that in the lead-up to the enactment of the Draft Law on the Indonesian Military (RUU TNI), which faced massive public opposition, several human rights activists were also subjected to terror and intimidation, including being followed and monitored at their offices, having their vehicles blocked in the middle of the road, threatening calls and WhatsApp messages, visits to their homes and other actions.
This demonstrates two failures of state administrators to safeguard and protect citizens. First, state administrators have allowed terror attacks and intimidation to occur without a firm response and action to punish the perpetrators.
As is known, a number of the victims of terror and intimidation were individuals who had been vocal in conveying the conditions, facts and their views on the government's slow response and mitigation of the flood and landslide disaster in Sumatra.
Second, state administrators have failed to listen to and analyse citizens' critical aspirations and have normalised actions that ignore the public's voice in disaster management and a number of other public issues.
The government is too arrogant and resistant to criticism, seemingly forgetting that citizens are the most important part in all public matters and policies adopted by state administrators. And it also represent an important part of the oversight function to ensure government remains accountable and does not lead to arbitrary power. This failure further demonstrates that the government cannot be expected to fulfil and protect citizens' human rights.
Once again, citizens protect citizens
The concern of critical citizens, including social media influencers, about the conditions of the disaster-affected communities in Sumatra is an expression of solidarity and responsibility, demonstrating their love and support for citizens experiencing grief and injury.
Their public expression on various social media platforms represents a natural response to the values of solidarity. Acts of terror and intimidation against those who are critical is an affront to the spirit of mutual cooperation and efforts to recover from the disaster and also help communities that are still without access to post-disaster assistance.
Poor and unsympathetic responses continue to be echoed by officials and state administrators, ranging from attempts to intimidate the media from reporting positively, attacks by buzzers that inevitably obscure the facts and real conditions, to terror and intimidation of citizens.
This directed intimidation and terror cannot be viewed simply as individual attacks and/or threats, but must be viewed as efforts and actions to silence criticism and public participation, and perpetuate the injustice that has occurred.
Like it or not, this situation serves as a reminder for us to look after one another. Citizens looking after citizens. The Civil Society Coalition will not push for demands or pressure the government, as we believe we feel that such demands or pressure will be of little use with an arrogant and despotic regime.
We instead invite the wider community to continue to work together to protect everyone who today expresses their opinions about the poor quality of the Indonesian government. Solidarity among citizens in a crisis is the most tangible and compelling evidence that nothing can be hoped for from this government.
This joint statement, which is supported by 91 institutions and collectives as well as 51 individuals, also serves as a reminder that terror, threats and intimidation will not deter us from continuing to speak out and present the truth about the government's poor disaster management.
We will continue to stand together and assist disaster-affected communities, protecting one another in order to maintaining the courage to expose lies and collectively demand accountability from the state by declaring a national disaster in Sumatra.
Jakarta, December 31, 2025
Organisations that support this statement
1. Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI)
2. Greenpeace
3. Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet)
4. Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras)
5. Watchdoc Documentary
6. Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia
7. Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Jakarta
8. Indonesian Centre for Law and Policy Studies (PSHK)
9. Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI)
10. Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW)
11. Constitutional and Administrative Law Society (CALS)
12. Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM)
13. Emancipate Indonesia
14. Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Jakarta
15. Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR)
16. Logos ID
17. Four-Finger Salute
18. Public Virtue Research Institute
19. Migrant CARE
20. Social Justice Indonesia
21. International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID)
22. Campus Workers Union (SPK)
23. Network of Christian Service Institutions in Indonesia (JKLPK)
24. Dongker
25. Community Legal Aid Institute (LBHM)
26. Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI)
27. Human Rights Working Group (HRWG)
28. South Sulawesi Non-Governmental Organization Information and Communication Forum (FIK Ornop)
29. Trend Asia
30. Themis Indonesia
31. Indonesia Climate Justice Literacy Think Tank Foundation (ICJL Foundation)
32. Hang Tuah Pro-Democracy Student Committee (HANTU-PD), Surabaya, East Java
33. Postgraduate Alumni Association of Natural Resources and Environmental Management (PSL), IPB University
34. IPB University Family Forum
35. Indonesian Marine Science and Technology Student Association (HIMITEKINDO)
36. Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR)
37. Kontras Aceh
38. Institute for Socio-Ecology Development (ISSED)
39. 350.org Indonesia
40. People's Earth Heritage Foundation (Pusaka)
41. Nusantara Media Development Association (PPMN)
42. JalaStoria Indonesia Association
43. Indonesian Women Against Corruption (PIA)
44. Voice of Indonesian Mothers
45. RPuk – PELINTAS
46. Bersemai Sekebun
47. Free Nation (Bangsa Mahardika)
48. Frontline Monitoring
49. Indonesia Resilience (IRES)
50. Rainbow Current (Arus Pelangi)
51. Institute for the Development of Legal Studies and Human Rights Advocacy (LPS HAM) Central Sulawesi
52. Taman 65 Bali Community
53. Centre for Legal Studies and Social Justice (LSJ) Faculty of Law, Gadjah Mada University
54. Sajogyo Institute
55. Indonesian Caucus for Academic Freedom (KIKA)
56. I Am an Anti-Corruption Woman (SPAK Indonesia)
57. Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM)
58. Women's Solidarity
59. Transformation of Women Dotcom in West Nusa Tenggara
60. Sustainable MADANI
61. Indonesian Centre for Environmental Law (ICEL)
62. Indonesia Resilience (IRES)
63. Transparency International Indonesia (TII)
64. Coalition of Indonesian Musicians and Artists Activists (KOMS)
65. Student Struggle Centre for National Liberation (Pembebasan)
66. Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial)
67. Advocacy Alliance for the KBB of East Kalimantan
68. National Advocacy Network for Domestic Workers (JALA PRT)
69. Federation of Indonesian United Trade Unions (FSBPI)
70. Confederation of Indonesian United Workers (KPBI)
71. UGM Student Executive Council (BEM)
72. POKJA30 East Kalimantan
73. Free Education Alliance (APATIS)
74. Indonesian Youth and Student Movement School (SGMI)
75. Srikandi Sejati Foundation (YSS)
76. Sanggar Swara
77. Karimunjawa Struggle Circle
78. Gemawan Institute
79. Semai Collective
80. Democracy Lab
81. PATTIROS Association
82. National Political Committee
83. Amnesty International Indonesia
84. BEM Jentera Indonesian College of Law (STHI Jentera)
85. Free Women (Perempuan Mahardhika)
86. IM57+ Institute
87. People's Liberation Party (PPR)
88. Our Indonesia Movement
89. GITAKU Choir
90. Alternative Media Coalition
91. Tangsel Bergerak
92. The Hand-in-Hand Movement
93. The Cross-University Anti-Corruption Movement (GAK-LPT)
Individuals who support this statement
1. Bivitri Susanti (Lecturer at STHI Jentera)
2. Wahyu Susilo (family of a victim of enforced disappearance and Migrant CARE activist)
3. Dhia Al Uyun (Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Brawijaya University, Malang)
4. Sukidi (thinker on diversity)
5. Julius Ibrani (human security researcher and musician)
6. Bhima Yudhistira (Celois economist)
7. Firdaus Cahyadi, ST., M.Sc. (researcher & observer of ecology and politics)
8. Feri Amsari
9. Cholil Mahmud (Musician)
10. Kanti Pertiwi (Lecturer, University of Indonesia)
11. Fitri Oktaviani (Brawijaya University)
12. Saiful Mahdi (Lecturer, Syah Kuala University)
13. Mardiyah Chamim (Writer)
14. Dania Joedo (Musician)
15. Tommy Indriadi A
16. Ika Ardina (Community)
17. Laila Juari
18. Mayling Oey (Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia)
19. Zico Mulia (human rights and democracy activist)
20. I Ngurah Suryawan (Warmadewa University, Bali)
21. Echa Wao'de (General Secretary of Rainbow Current)
22. Purwanto Setiadi (Writer)
23. Gita Putri Damayana (Lecturer, Student of Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Jentera)
24. Herlambang P. Wiratraman (Faculty of Law, Gajah Mada University)
25. Imam Shofwan (JATAM)
26. Herdiansyah Hamzah (Faculty of Law, Mulawarman University)
27. Diah Kusumaningrum (Lecturer in International Relations, Gajah Mada University)
28. Hari Akbar Apriawan (IRES)
29. Netty Herawaty (Lecturer in the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Lambung Mangkurat University)
30. Ismail Al-'Alam (Editor, IndoPROGRESS)
31. Parid Ridwanuddin (Environmental activist – Member of the Natural Resources Politics Division of the Muhammadiyah Central Executive Board)
32. Dhoni Zustiyantoro (Semarang State University)
33. Eka Rahyadi Annash (Musician)
34. M. Anik Tunjung W (Activist)
35. Jumisih (Labour and women's activist)
36. Uchikowati (Dialita) (Choir)
37. Usman Hamid (Activist and musician)
38. Tiyo Ardianto (Chairperson of the Gajah Mada University Student Executive Board)
39. Daniel Frits Maurits Tangkilisan (Environmental Activist)
40. Anastasia Ika (Writer)
41. Vincent Thomas (Unpad student)
42. Arsenius Agung Boli Ama (Journalist)
43. Satria Unggul Wicaksana P (Lecturer at the Law Faculty of Muhammadiyah University of Surabaya)
44. Derry Prima Ramadhan (Chairperson of the Student Executive Board of the Indonesian School of Philosophy (STH Jentera)
45. Surya Anta
46. Alif Iman Nurlambang (Student at the Driyarkara School of Philosophy)
47. Taty Krisnawaty (Kalianget Organic Farm and School)
48. Dian Purnomo (Writer)
49. Samsidar (PELINTAS)
50. Siti Aminah Syahidah (Activist)
51. Hardingga (Family) (Victim)
52. Andi Angger Sutawijaya
53. Tibiko Zabar (Anti-Corruption Activist)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Teror dan Intimidasi Kepada Warga Negara Adalah Wajah Totalitarianisme Rezim Prabowo-Gibran".]
