Indonesia is currently in the process of updating its Criminal Code - a document that dates from 1918 and was 136 years in the making.
In 2019, riots swept the country as Indonesians protested against the proposed changes to the code - which included articles such as blasphemy, sedition and adultery - which many felt clamped down on civil liberties and freedom of expression.
On 25 May, Indonesian Parliament discussed "14 Crucial Issues" in the latest version of the code and provided a written matrix of these articles along with the amendments made following the protests in 2019 and notes on the proposed changes.
These “14 Crucial Issues” provide a glimpse into some of the most controversial articles to perhaps beincluded in the code, which could be signed into law at any time.
This podcast looks at these issues and explains some of the background, meaning and legal implications behind them.
Further reading:
Why is Indonesia’s draft criminal code so controversial? - Al Jazeera
Indonesia ‘democracy, human rights at risk’ as row over criminal code heats up - SCMP
KOMISI III DPR RI RDP DENGAN TIM PEMERINTAH TERKAIT RUU TENTANG KUHP - YouTube
Aliansi Nasional Reformasi KUHP
Disclaimer: This post does not constitute legal advice. While every effort has been made to translate legal documents accurately from Indonesian to English, the contents of this newsletter is for information only based on Hukum’s understanding of the law.
Indonesia's Draft Criminal Code: 14 Crucial Issues Explained