On November 15, 2022, Indonesian police arrested approximately 12 students affiliated with a civic group known as the Indonesian People’s Assembly (IPA), for attempting to start a demonstration criticizing the G20 summit, which was held in Bali from November 15 to 16.

Police forcibly arrested students who had gathered in the city of Selong to denounce the ongoing summit, and transported them to a local police station. Some students were reportedly arrested at their boarding houses as well. Police also arrested students planning a coordinated protest in Mataram City (see report).

Prior to the demonstration, the group had requested permission from the police. However, their request was denied because of the summit. The event was part of a series of protests organized by IPA across the country.

The students were released the following day, on November 16.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the detention of students for nonviolently exercising their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly – conduct that is expressly protected by international human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Indonesia is a party. State authorities have a responsibility to refrain from restricting nonviolent expressive activity. The detention of students for nonviolent expression, undermines academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://en.tempo.co/read/1657403/26-students-protesting-g20-in-lombok-arrested
https://regional.kompas.com/read/2022/11/16/064842278/aksi-kritik-pertemuan-g20-26-mahasiswa-ntb-ditangkap?page=all
https://www.tribunnews.com/nasional/2022/11/16/komnas-ham-soroti-penangkapan-mahasiswa-di-ntb-yang-kritik-ktt-g20-bali
https://ntb.idntimes.com/news/ntb/muhammad-nasir-18/mahasiswa-yang-diamankan-saat-demo-ktt-g20-sudah-dibebaskan?page=all