If the State Assesses the Status of Human Rights Activists

Amid the ongoing trials of democracy, a discourse emerges that invites serious reflection: the state, through the Ministry of Human Rights, plans to form an advisory team to assess who qualifies as a human rights activist. This idea, linked to statements by Minister of Human Rights Natalius Pigai, is intended as an effort to ensure protection is given to “legitimate human rights defenders.” However, it is precisely at this point that a fundamental issue arises: who has the right to determine who is a human rights defender? In a democratic state, this question is not merely administrative but touches the core of the relationship between the state and citizens. Human rights activism, by its nature, arises from citizens’ critical awareness of power. It is not a product of certification but a moral calling. Therefore, when the state seeks to establish activist status, concerns arise: is the state attempting to protect, or rather to control? These concerns do not arise in a vacuum. Empirical data in Indonesia shows that the position of activists—especially in the environmental and indigenous peoples’ rights sectors—remains highly vulnerable. From this number, hundreds of cases even proceed to criminal processes, placing activists as defendants rather than defenders of public interest. Furthermore, this trend shows no signs of abating. Data from Auriga Nusantara records at least 133 instances of threats and lawsuits (SLAPP) against environmental defenders in the period 2014–2023. Meanwhile, civil society reports indicate that criminalisation is often carried out through articles such as defamation or incitement—not through direct violence, but through legal instruments. Concrete cases illustrate this pattern. Environmental activist Daniel Frits Maurits Tangkilisan was once imprisoned for criticism of environmental damage, before being acquitted at the appeal level (Mongabay.co.id, 22 May 2024). On the other hand, threats to activists do not always stop at legal processes. Data shows that since 2018, at least 12 environmental defenders have died in suspicious circumstances suspected to be related to their advocacy activities. Even in a broader context, Amnesty International Indonesia records that throughout 2025, there were 5,538 people experiencing arbitrary arrests and violence while expressing opinions in public (Amnesty.id, 29 December 2025).