Yusril: Those Reporting Activists and Academics Are Not the Government

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Coordinating Minister (Menko) for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra has emphasised that the parties reporting activists and academics are not the government.

Yusril stated that those filing the reports are citizens or organisations.

“Those reporting are not the government. The reporters are members of the public or organisations, right? Fundamentally, we cannot prohibit it, because it is the right of every person to report others. Just as every person has the right to sue others in court,” Yusril said at the Palace in Jakarta on Monday (27/4/2026).

Yusril also reiterated that police reports against activists or academics may be filed by the public or organisations.

“If there is a report to the police, the police have no choice but to follow it up. If they do not, they will face pre-trial lawsuits,” he explained.

“Yes, the reporters are not the government. I also do not know who reported them and did not instruct anyone to do so. The government itself, the President has repeatedly emphasised that academics and others are free to voice criticism, opinions, and so on. And that is not an issue for the government,” Yusril added.

It was previously reported that several observers and academics have been reported to the police for their statements criticising the government.

Some of those observers include Saiful Mujani, Feri Amsari, and Ubedilah Badrun.

Saiful Mujani was accused of rebellion due to a video in which he expressed views on the national political situation and mentioned the need for consolidation to oust the President.

Meanwhile, Feri Amsari was reported for incitement because he was deemed to have lied when criticising the government’s food self-sufficiency claims.

The complainants assessed that a podcast video from Forum Keadilan TV featuring Ubed as a speaker could disrupt public order.