KontraS Criticizes State Violence During Two Years of Prabowo's Administration

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) has asserted that the two-year tenure of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has witnessed a marked decline in human rights conditions in Indonesia.

Deputy Coordinator Jane Rosalina stated that the organization has observed numerous recurring human rights violations, increasing restrictions on civil freedoms, and a further drift from democratic ideals in security sector reform.

“Amidst these various issues, the government has failed to demonstrate a concrete and measurable human rights policy that supports victims. Instead of bringing about change, the two years of the Prabowo-Gibran administration have intensified ongoing practices of impunity, repression, and democratic regression,” Jane said in a written statement on Wednesday (21/10/2026).

Jane noted that KontraS reflects on the current situation regarding severe human rights violations, civil liberties, and security sector reforms in several key points.

First, the absence of accountability for severe human rights violations

Throughout the two years of the Prabowo-Gibran administration, the government has failed to show seriousness in addressing various incidents of crimes against humanity.

Jane remarked that there has been no significant progress in the investigation and prosecution of incidents recognized as crimes against humanity by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), nor clarity on legal proceedings in cases such as the acid attack against Andrie Yunus, who serves as Deputy Coordinator of KontraS, and the murder of Munir Said Thalib, a former Coordinator of KontraS.

“The stagnation in resolving serious human rights violations has been further exacerbated by statements from state officials denying or questioning the existence of such violations. On October 21, 2024, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, the Minister Coordinating Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, stated that the May 1998 events do not constitute a severe human rights violation,” she explained.

“Meanwhile, on June 11, 2025, Fadli Zon, the Minister of Culture, claimed there was no evidence of mass rape during the May 1998 events, considering it an unproven narrative,” she continued.

Jane asserted that such statements reflect a practice of state denial regarding human rights crimes, which risks obscuring historical truths and hindering justice for victims.

Moreover, on November 10, 2025, President Prabowo Subianto officially bestowed the title of National Hero on Soeharto, who is also his former father-in-law.

This decision has sparked controversy due to the New Order regime's record marked by various human rights crimes, as well as issues of Corruption, Collusion, and Nepotism.

The award has drawn criticism that the state is increasingly whitewashing the New Order’s sins and ignoring the demands for justice from victims.

Second, violations of civil freedoms, silencing dissent, and attacks on human rights defenders

KontraS’ monitoring for January to June 2026 recorded 111 incidents of violations against civil freedoms, resulting in 51 injuries, 199 arrests, and 1 death.

Previously, during December 2024 to November 2025, KontraS documented 205 incidents of civil freedom violations with a total of 5,101 victims.

Jane noted that these threats also target human rights defenders, as evidenced by the acid attack on Deputy Coordinator of KontraS, Andrie Yunus, on March 12, 2026.