section_path: Reactions/Domestic/Censorship and repression
section_name: Censorship and repression
paragraph_text: Censorship and repression
  
  The government's reaction has also been marred by censorship, mainly targeting journalists and creative industry workers. It was widely reported that the Indonesian new wave duo Sukatani, who wrote a song criticising the police forces, was intimidated, and was later forced to make an apology video as part of the intimidation. American music critic Anthony Fantano condemned the repression, describing the situation as being "not good". Amnesty International also urged the Indonesian National Police to investigate the intimidation case. On X, a video surfaced showing a foreign citizen journalist being apprehended by police for "not having a permit".
  
  There were also incidents of doxing of journalists following the protests at Jakarta on 21 February, causing condemnation by Legal Journalists' Union (Iwakum). CNN Indonesia, which is under the umbrella of Trans Media, was under public scrutiny for making two discrediting headlines against the protesters. In response to the headlines, two CNN Indonesia journalists were doxed by social media users sympathetic to the protesters, and several others called for a boycott of Trans Media-affiliated outlets.
  
  After the storming of Fairmont Hotel, Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) reported being terrorised by unknown assailants. KontraS vice coordinator Andrie Yunus stated that the unknown individuals had been frequently visiting their office and three KontraS staff members had received intimidating phonecalls.
  
  Prior to the ratification of the Armed Forces law amendment, the parliament building and its surrounding areas were heavily guarded by armed forces and police forces.
  
  Several media outlets in Indonesia reportedly received intimidation from the government officials. Kompas.com journalist Adhyasta Dirgantara reportedly received a death threat from the adjutant of the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces after questioning the military's assault on the Tarakan police station. On 19 March, Indonesian magazine Tempo, known for its critical stance on the government, received a threat when a severed pig's head was delivered to its office in Palmerah, Jakarta, targeting journalist Francisca Christy Rosana. Editor-in-chief Setri Yasra condemned the incident as intimidation against freedom of the press. The next day, a journalist from the digital media outlet IDN Times was intimidated while filming the protest outside the parliament building. Several officers attempted to seize his mobile phone and motorcycle key. Two days later, Tempo received another anonymous package containing a box of six headless rats. As of 26 March, the Independent Journalists' Alliance had recorded that 18 journalists had become victims of violence during protests against the revision of Armed Forces Law. On 27 March, during the Jakarta protest, another journalist from Kompas.com, Rega Almutada, was intimidated and searched by individuals believed to be law enforcement in civilian clothing, while two other journalists from Russian media outlet RT were forced to turn off their cameras. In response to growing concerns over threats to press freedom, Hasan Nasbi, serving as Chief of the Presidential Communication Office, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding media independence. However, his remarks drew criticism on social media after he reportedly stated that Tempo should "cook the pig's head."
  
  Additionally, there have been found incidents of intimidation against medical officers by policemen. Jakarta Legal Aid Institute alleged that the perpetrators would not be punished and the repressive approach had been intentionally designed inseparably from the police.
  
  On May 2025, a female student of Bandung Institute of Technology was arrested after posting an AI generated meme depicting Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto doing a parody of My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love painting, a kiss between Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker. The arrest has triggered widespread condemnation on X.