FILE PHOTO: Bambang Wuryanto, head of the parliamentary commission overseeing the revision, delivers a report on the new criminal code, during a parliamentary plenary meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, December 6, 2022. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan
JAKARTA 鈥� 聽The United Nations has expressed concern over threats to civil liberties posed by Indonesia鈥檚 new criminal code, warning the revised laws could result in the erosion of press freedom, privacy and human rights in the world鈥檚 third-largest democracy.
Indonesia鈥檚 parliament approved the legislative overhaul on Tuesday, part of a decades long process to replace its colonial-era penal code.
The criminal code includes laws that make it an offence to insult the president, the national flag and state institutions.
The laws also require people to get a permit to hold a protest and bans spreading fake news and views counter to state ideology.
Other articles which officials say aim to uphold 鈥淚ndonesian values鈥� in the world鈥檚 largest Muslim-majority nation criminalise sex outside of marriage, cohabitation between unmarried couples, the promotion of contraception to minors and abortion for non-rape victims.
鈥淭he UN is concerned that several articles in the revised Criminal Code contravene Indonesia鈥檚 international legal obligations with respect to human rights,鈥� the UN鈥檚 local office said in a statement released on Thursday.
鈥淪ome articles have the potential to criminalize journalistic work鈥� Others would discriminate against, or have a discriminatory impact on, women, girls, boys and sexual minorities,鈥� it said.
The code could also affect reproductive and privacy rights and exacerbate gender-based violence based on sexual orientation and identity, the statement said.
Civil society groups have slammed the new laws saying the changes constitute a huge democratic setback, and pose a particular risk to LGBT people, who could be disproportionately impacted by the so-called morality clauses.
鈥淪ame-sex couples cannot marry in Indonesia, so this clause also effectively renders all same-sex conduct illegal,鈥� Human Rights Watch said in a statement.
Responding to criticism of the criminal code, Indonesia鈥檚 justice ministry noted the morality laws, which will not come into effect for another three years, can only be reported by limited parties, such as a spouse, parent or child.
鈥淚nvestors and foreign tourists don鈥檛 have to worry about investing and travelling in Indonesia, because people鈥檚 privacy is still guaranteed by law,鈥� the ministry said in a statement.