Activist Robertus Robet charged over singing song mocking Indonesian military
- The university lecturer was charged under a law that makes it illegal to insult public institutions
- Critics said the arrest highlighted the fragile state of freedom of speech in the country
Indonesia has charged a rights activist with allegedly insulting the country’s military, sparking a protest from campaigners, who derided it as “ludicrous” and an attack on free speech.
Robertus Robet was briefly detained early Thursday after video emerged online of him singing a protest song criticising a plan to put senior military officials in civilian government positions, comparing it to the days of Indonesia’s late dictator Suharto.
The university lecturer, who is also a well-known rights campaigner, was released and subsequently charged under a law that makes it illegal to insult public institutions. The maximum penalty is 18 months’ jail.
“What he said was not in line with the facts and discrediting an institution without facts and evidence is dangerous,” national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said on Friday in response to the charges.
However, campaigners derided the move.
“This is a blatant and ludicrous attempt to intimidate and silence Robertus for his peaceful criticism of the military,” Amnesty International Indonesia’s Executive Director Usman Hamid said in a statement.