Faiz is a committed student and young literacy activist from East Java. The gentle campaigner has unexpectedly found himself at the center of a high-profile, controversial legal battleground that poses serious questions about freedom of expression and the treatment of young climate activists in Indonesia. The Kediri City Police arrested Faiz and took him into custody. Instead, he’s on the defensive against serious allegations of criminal misbehavior backed by solid evidence and expert analysis. His mother, Imro’atin, has issued an open letter to President Prabowo appealing for his release. She advocates valiantly for her son’s innocence and underscores the far-reaching consequences this case has on students and activists throughout the country.
Faiz became not only a trusted messenger, but an important leader in his community. He spreads the word about literacy and science in incredibly fun and inspiring ways through events with his classmates and friends. His activism has resulted in unforeseen consequences. Beyond the mixers, Faiz has inspired countless iconic and impactful contributions to society. His detention threatens his education and future, as he is not the only student now in police custody.
Arrest and Allegations
Faiz’s arrest has concerned those who know the emerging journalist, both among his peers and members of his mostly progressive community. Police subsequently raided his home, confiscating his phone, laptop, two books, a diary and five protest posters. During the course of this interaction, he was arrested. The conditions of his arrest have been called horrifying by his mother.
“I didn’t even get a chance to read the search warrant. The way they searched — like robbers — left me in shock.” – Imro’atin
His mother went on to share her thoughts about the government’s crackdown on young activists. She expressed her concern that these actions by the feds are working against the future that they profess to be fighting for.
“The government says it wants a golden generation, but on the other hand, children are being criminalised like this.” – Imro’atin
Such sentiments are indeed shared by many who see a more alarming trend of criminalizing dissent across the archipelagos, targeting Indonesia’s younger generations.
Community Response and Protests
Faiz’s friends, fellow activists, Sam, Umar, and Bima immediately went into action upon his detention. So they held a protest in Kediri to call for his release. They argue that Faiz’s activism was rooted in his overwhelming desire to change the world for the better. This was not a move of insurrection. As Imro’atin has affirmed, Faiz himself did not attend the protest.
The protest is receiving broader publicity for its failure to move beyond Chicago’s immediate demands. It is a stark reminder of the treatment meted out to young activists in Indonesia. Many protesters echo the sentiment that silencing voices like Faiz’s threatens the future of democratic engagement among youth.
“So what does this government really want? Do they want our children to have no future?” – Imro’atin
This question speaks to an increasing worry among young Indonesians and their families. They are concerned at how the federal government’s response to dissenting opinions and legitimate political activism.
Broader Implications for Youth Activism
The early case of Faiz has opened a broader discussion on what is really happening with youth activism in Indonesia today. Indonesian activists and commentators have been drawing parallels between today’s climate and that of Indonesia’s New Order era. They contend that young folks today are facing the same kind of existential threats to their rights and freedoms.
Maria Catarina Sumarsih, an activist, looking at the past to inform the future. She responded to the difficult climate for young critics of government policies today.
“Now many young people who criticise government policies are being silenced, disappeared, even put in detention at regional police stations.” – Maria Catarina Sumarsih
These statements and their accompanying documents point to a sad truth. The chilling effect of potential repression is enough to drive youth out of activism altogether. Other activists, as well, are voicing these concerns. As parents and educators, these women fear for Faiz but for countless other students who will be increasingly affected by harmful government policies.
“We’re worried, not just about Delpedro, but also about the future of other young activist friends, the future of students, who are directly affected by government policies.” – Maria Sumarsih
At the same time, voices are growing louder in protest of these perceived injustices. A generation of young people are currently suffering the blowback from their activism in what appears to be an increasingly hostile environment to dissent.
