Transparency Society Indonesia Warns of Shrinking Public Oversight Space

Masyarakat Transparansi Indonesia (MTI) has deplored President Prabowo Subianto’s use of the term ‘londo ireng’ directed at journalists, analysts, and non-governmental organisations during a speech at the Gerindra Party’s anniversary celebration at the Jakarta Convention Centre, Senayan, on Thursday (23/7/2026). MTI Executive Director Ahmad Jilul Qurani Farid assessed that the narrative has the potential to delegitimise the critical voice of civil society and narrow the space for public participation in overseeing power. He stressed that the existence of criticism is an essential element in maintaining the health of a democratic state. ‘Criticism is the oxygen of democracy, not betrayal. When the head of state repeatedly labels journalists, academics, and civil society organisations as ’londo ireng’ or ‘foreign stooges’, what occurs is no longer a contest of ideas, but a systematic effort to delegitimise public oversight,’ Jilul said in a statement on Saturday (25/7/2026). According to MTI’s records, the use of the term ‘londo ireng’ adds to a list of episodes of negative labelling or stigmatising accusations levelled by the President against critical voices since he took office in October 2024. Several incidents recorded by MTI include accusations of being ‘foreign stooges’ during the Gerindra anniversary (15/2/2025), claims that protesters were paid during the rejection of the TNI Law in Hambalang (6/4/2025), accusations of ‘foreign powers’ during Pancasila Day (2/6/2025), and the claim ‘I know who paid for the demonstration’ during the 17th National Farmers’ Week in Gorontalo (24/6/2026). Jilul reminded that a democratic state has principles different from a military organisation’s hierarchy, where diversity of views and critical voices are protected by the constitution. ‘Officials must introspect, your stars and your life are financed by the people’s money. Because all operations of power are financed by the sweat and taxes of the people, state officials are obliged to open themselves to evaluation and criticism,’ Jilul said. Furthermore, Jilul asked the government to prove its claim of not being anti-criticism through concrete actions, namely by addressing the substance of policy criticism rationally using data, rather than resorting to verbal counter-attacks or negative labelling. He also invited all elements of civil society, the media, and academia to consistently maintain a critical public sphere in order to safeguard the accountability of power in Indonesia.