Indonesian activists hail ruling to strike down ban on insulting the Govt

Indonesian legal experts and activists voiced support on Monday for an Indonesian court ruling voiding legal provisions that made insulting the government a criminal offence, but said there were still doubts about the move's effectiveness.



The provisions were part of Indonesia's updated penal code, which took effect in January.



Their broad definitions drew condemnation from democracy activists concerned they might harm civil liberties and free speech, and put government critics at risk of arrest.



Indonesia is the world's third-largest democracy, but concerns have grown in recent years about the erosion of democratic values under President Prabowo Subianto, who is battling to restore the confidence of the general public, the business community and investors spooked by the economic impacts of his ambitious, populist programmes.



On Friday, Indonesia's Constitutional Court, whose decisions are final and binding, struck down articles that criminalised insulting the government and disseminating such insults, punishable by up to three years in prison.



Experts and activists praised the ruling, but warned that the country has used other means to criminalise critics.