Event Summary
On 27 November 2025, officers from Polrestabes Semarang arbitrarily arrested two well-known civil society activists in Central Java: Adetya Pramandira, staff member at WALHI Central Java, and Fathul Munif, long-standing coordinator of Aksi Kamisan Semarang, a weekly silent protest calling for justice for victims of past human-rights violations. According to initial reports, the arrests were conducted without arrest warrants, without prior summons, and without sufficient evidence, in violation of due-process guarantees under KUHAP and Indonesia’s Constitution.
Police allege that both activists were involved in demonstrations held in late August and early September 2025, where thousands protested corruption, economic inequality, and proposed legislative amendments perceived as weakening democratic safeguards. Authorities are reportedly considering charges under the Electronic Information and Transactions Act (UU ITE) , a law widely criticised for its misuse to criminalise dissent, and Article 160 of the Criminal Code. National and international organisations stress that these accusations are unfounded and part of a broader wave of criminal cases opened against peaceful protesters and activists after the August 2025 demonstrations, and warn that the use of criminal provisions and the ITE Law to target pro-democracy and environmental activists is creating a strong chilling effect on freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly, and further shrinking of civil society’s enabling environment.
In joint statements, national and international organisations call for a national solidarity mobilisation and urge President Prabowo and the Chief of Police to order the immediate and unconditional release of Adetya Pramandira and Fathul Munif, to halt all politically-motivated prosecutions against activists linked to the August–September protests, and to ensure independent investigations into excessive use of force and protest-related deaths. As of 28 November, both activists remain detained without access to formal charges or legal safeguards. Civil-society groups warn that this new incident reinforces a broader pattern of reprisals against defenders and undermines protections for fundamental freedoms.