August 18, 2025 | 12:42 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, has expressed concern over the declining state of democracy in Indonesia. Citing data from the V-Dem Institute (Varieties of Democracy), he stated that for the first time in 2024, Indonesia has shifted from the electoral democracy category to being labeled as an electoral autocracy.
The V-Dem Institute is a democracy index institution whose data dates back to the 17th century.
"Despite still having elections, we are already authoritarian. This, in my opinion, must be recognized," said Usman during a press conference held by the Alliance for Indonesian Historical Transparency (AKSI) and Amnesty International in Central Jakarta on Thursday, August 14th, 2025.
He outlined that the characteristics of an autocracy include a narrowing of space for civil protests and criticism, which, if voiced, faces repression; nearly no opposition in parliament; and the weakened integrity of elections. However, he believes that the current condition is not just autocracy, but is beginning to show signs of fascism.
He explained that fascism is not only characterized by a military or centralistic style of government leadership, but also by ideological regimentation. According to him, this is reflected in several ways, such as rewriting history to glorify one's own race and demean foreigners, the amalgamation of civil society organizations into the state structure, and the cult of individualism.
Despite Soeharto's association with the authoritarian New Order regime, Usman cited the government's attempt to declare him a national hero. "Soeharto represents dictatorship and past autocracy. From authoritarian power, they want to repackage it as a national hero in the name of the New Order ideology, developmentalism, and anti-communism," he said.
This phenomenon, according to Usman, is reminiscent of the integralistic state paradigm of the New Order, which views the state and society as a unity, thereby eliminating opposition and disregarding individual voices for collective harmony.
"This is a phenomenon of the return of the integralistic state that always prioritizes national security. Papua must be part of Indonesia, regardless of the oppression or arrests of its people. The same goes for East Timor and Aceh," he added.
Usman also criticized the stance of civil society organizations such as Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, which he believes are increasingly being assimilated into the state, including their figures entering strategic government and business positions, such as in mining.
"Some of their ministers still hold leadership positions in these organizations. There are allowed conflicts of interest. Also, political parties want to amalgamate into a totality with the ruling government for stability, development, and collective progress," he said.
Usman cautioned, borrowing a term coined by Nurcholish Madjid, that fascism and autocracy are enemies of civil society. "The enemy of civil society must not be assimilated into it. This, I believe, should be a criticism of the government, political parties, and civil society," he concluded.
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