Indonesia - 52.13
96
Modernist Islam not quite modern enough
If Southeast Asia is the world’s next frontier for development, Indonesia will be at the helm. It is one of the region’s few true democracies and boasts a rapidly growing economy. Steering the ship that is Indonesian development is the administration of Joko Widodo, the country’s occasionally authoritarian but consistently shrewd president. Few other countries are as poised for success as Indonesia, which combines a competent and democratic government, a rapidly growing economy, access to natural resources, and relative stability. That is not to say that development in Indonesia comes free. Recently, the government passed an omnibus bill that made it easier to do business in Indonesia and encouraged foreign investment but stripped a number of workers’ rights, sparking mass protests. Additionally, while it is highly economically progressive, Indonesia remains socially repressive. While remaining relatively progressive on LGBT rights, adultery is punishable by jail time and rape is very narrowly defined under Indonesian law. Additionally, Indonesia’s attempts to curb secessionist movements and soft rebellions in West Papua and the Maluku Islands often infringe upon the rights of citizens to privacy. While it still struggles with a number of the problems of the developing world, it could easily emerge as the world’s next large developed economy in the next few decades.
Human Rights - 42
Indonesia retains the death penalty and carried out the last execution in 2016. Drug trafficking is punishable by death and Indonesia has executed several foreign nationals for drug trafficking in the last decade. Executions in Indonesia are carried out by firing squad. The West Papua Insurgency has been relatively tame when compared to similar conflicts in other countries. Military campaigns and paramilitary attacks have seen very few civilian casualties. However, suspected insurgents are often extrajudicially executed by security forces with impunity. Between February 2018 and August 2020 ninety-six people were killed in forty-seven separate incidents in West Papua. Indonesia’s Makar provisions under its criminal code allow the government to charge peaceful protestors with rebellion. Forty-eight Papuan and ten Malukuan protestors remained in jail for rebellion at year’s end. Police agencies were ordered by the president to take action against “hoax spreaders.” Over fifty-five people were arrested nationwide under these orders. The flag of the Republic of South Maluku is considered a symbol of rebellion by the Indonesian government. Raising the flag can result in a rebellion charge and it has in some instances. Seven peaceful protestors were released on June 17, 2020, after serving ten-month sentences. The protesters were of Papuan origin but were jailed in Java and were not given money to return home upon their release. Indonesia’s Omnibus protests were escalated to violence by police. Police attempted to corral largely peaceful protests resulting in rioting, and dispersed protests with tear gas and water cannons, resulting in dozens of injuries. Police arrested hundreds of protestors in several mass arrests. The government arbitrarily detained activists and released them hours later without charge. Activists regularly face harassment from the government. Adultery is punishable by a maximum of nine months in prison but this law goes rarely enforced. Rape is narrowly defined and easy to get away with under Indonesian law. Indonesia officially has freedom of religion but atheists often face harassment. Blasphemy is illegal and this extends to atheist proselytization, meaning that most atheists are private about their beliefs. The government also only recognizes Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism as religions. Indonesians are required to state a religion on the census but can also leave it blank. Homosexuality is legal in all but one province, where it is de facto legal due to a lack of enforcement. Trans people can change their legal gender after obtaining sex reassignment surgery. The Indonesian military is under a don’t ask, don’t tell style policy. Indonesia’s limited discrimination protections require a lawsuit to be initiated to be enforced. Indonesia does not recognize same-sex couples. Any single person can adopt, but Indonesia does not recognize same-sex joint adoption. Abortion is legal to save the woman’s life and in cases of rape, incest, and fetal impairment.
Democracy - 79
The president and parliament are directly elected. Elections are generally free and fair with a strong multi-party system. Some minor irregularities were reported in West Papua, but they would not have swung the results of any elections. Indonesian elections are competitive and rotations between rival parties are common. No party has established an outright majority in several election cycles, requiring the creation of coalitions. Communist parties are banned. The descendants of former President Suharto still exert significant sway over Indonesian politics and the military exerts some sway over the government. LGBT are disenfranchised.
Freedom - 34
Indonesian security forces generally have impunity to extrajudicial execute suspected insurgents. Ninety-six people were killed in forty-seven separate incidents between February 2018 and August 2020. Indonesia’s criminal code retains the Makar Provisions, which allow the government to charge peaceful protestors with rebellion. Forty-eight Papuan and ten Malukuan protestors remained in jail at year’s end on charges of rebellion. Police agencies were ordered by the government to take action against “hoax spreaders.” Over fifty-five people nationwide were arrested under these orders. Raising the flag of the Republic of South Maluku can result in a rebellion charge, and has on several occasions. Additionally, the government is known to surveil those who fly the South Maluku flag, even if they do not face criminal consequences. Seven peaceful protesters of Papuan origin, held in jail serving ten-month sentences, were released from a Javanese prison and were not given the means to return home. Violence against journalists hit an all-time high in Indonesia in 2020. Of eighty-four reports received by the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) most were carried out by non-state actors. Libel and defamation are both illegal and threats of lawsuits are sometimes used to silence journalists. Defamation suits are also frequently used against academics. Sometimes, the threat of a lawsuit is enough to compel a university to remove a professor from their post. Indonesia officially has freedom of religion but atheists often face harassment. Blasphemy laws extend to atheist proselytization, meaning that most atheists feel compelled to keep their beliefs private. The government only recognizes Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism on the census. Possession of narcotics is punishable by up to four years imprisonment and mandatory rehabilitation programs while drug trafficking is punishable by (and often carries) a death sentence. Gun ownership is heavily restricted in Indonesia. Gun ownership licenses are difficult to obtain and are generally reserved for ex-military and police. Civilian gun permits are extremely rare and civilians are subject to a very stringent background-checking process.
Economy - 65
Health - 56
Indonesia has a life expectancy of 72 years and an infant mortality rate of 1.7%. 6.9% of Indonesians are obese and 9% are malnourished. Indonesia’s universal healthcare is currently a work in progress. 35% of the country’s hospitals are owned by the government, providing free care to all, and the poorest 80% of the country is eligible for free health insurance. The implementation of free care for the wealthiest 20% is currently running well behind schedule. Healthcare is of very high quality in major cities but is difficult to access on smaller islands and in West Papua. 92.7% of Indonesians have access to clean, running water. Indonesia struggles with typhoid fever as well as several mosquito-borne tropical diseases, namely dengue. Indonesia has one of the highest male smoking rates in the world at 62.8%, while only 5% of Indonesian women smoke. Some 19% of children aged 10-18 smoke regularly.
Corruption - 6
Judicial verdicts are bought and sold at nearly all levels of the judicial system. At higher levels, it is also highly subject to political pressure. Police corruption is rampant. Police regularly extort bribes at road checkpoints. Senior positions are nominated through bribery, most notably when President Jokowi nominated Budi Ganawan to be the chief of the national police despite an ongoing bribery investigation. Public services must be bribed into action. Building permits are impossible to obtain without bribery. Land rights are not adequately protected in certain areas and the government has been accused of illegally seizing land to award to developers. Tax money is embezzled at all levels of government. Indonesian customs administration can be bribed into allowing smuggling. Public contracts are impossible to obtain without bribery. Mining companies are very close with the government and illegal mining is common.
Competency - 45
The government is failing to quell insurgencies, as insurgencies in Papua and Maluku control little territory but present a constant thorn in Indonesia’s side. The government is failing to implement its universal healthcare system. The government is failing to eliminate corruption.
Future - 70
Indonesia is poised for rapid development as the economy has been growing quickly and the government is committed to development. Additionally, Indonesia’s democratic future looks secure. However, Indonesia continues to struggle with insurgency in Papua and Maluku and civil unrest has become more of an issue in recent years.
Actions Abroad - 74
Indonesia is a leading member of ASEAN and maintains good relations with most ASEAN nations. Indonesia is also a leading member of the Non-Aligned Movement. Indonesia maintains good relations with the United States and has cooperated with American military campaigns in the region. Indonesia helped install the current government of Cambodia and has also been a mediator for border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia. Indonesia has offered to mediate the Iran nuclear dispute. Indonesia has stated that they support a two-state solution but refuses to recognize Israel until one is reached. Indonesia maintains relations with North Korea despite international embargos and the country’s consistent human rights violations. Indonesia has a strong unofficial relationship with Taiwan.
4.6% of Indonesians live below the international poverty line and 9.8% live below the national poverty line. Indonesia’s unemployment rate spiked to 7.07% in 2020. It sat at 3.62% in 2019. Indonesia has a high economic disparity. The minimum wage in Indonesia is $306 per month. Indonesia is working on building a universal healthcare system. Presently, 35% of hospitals in the country are owned by the government and provide free care to all. The poorest 80% of Indonesians are eligible for free health insurance. The implementation of the program that would provide the wealthiest 20% of the country with free health insurance has been slow and is currently well behind schedule. Healthcare access is solid across Indonesia. Healthcare is of very high quality in major cities but is harder to access on smaller islands and in West Papua. The Indonesian economy shrunk 2.1% in 2020 and grew 5% in 2019.