Concern Over Indonesia's Arrest of Netizens for Posts Allegedly Inciting Riots

The arrests of activists and netizens for posting content on social media that the police allege incited a string of protests and riots in Jakarta and other regions have raised concerns of criminalisation of the public's freedom of expression.

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JAKARTA —

Over the week, the police have arrested more than 40 people as part of their efforts to seek "provocateurs" behind the riots in Jakarta last week, which broke out amid public protests against lawmakers' lavish perks.

The protests escalated in intensity and scale, spreading nationwide, after 21-year-old ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan was run over on Aug. 28 by a police vehicle and died of his wounds.

At least 10 people, including Mr. Affan, have died, with more than 1,000 people injured, as at Sept. 4, according to figures compiled by the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation.

Of the dozens arrested, at least 11 were detained for their social media posts that police allege incited the protests and riots.

Among them was Ms. Laras Faizati Khairunnisa, a communications officer for an organisation affiliated with the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta.

The National Police's Criminal Investigation Department cybercrime directorate accused her of "inciting hatred towards certain individuals and groups as well as inciting mass action" through posts and videos on her social media account.

During a news briefing on Sept. 3, cybercrime director Himawan Bayu Aji showed screenshots of Ms. Laras' Instagram story in which she said her office is "right next to the National Police headquarters," while calling for people to "please burn this building down and get them all."