The US Is Worried About Articles In The New Indonesian Criminal Code

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi (right) held a bilateral meeting with US Foreign Minister Antony John Blinken (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken expressed concern that his government was related to a number of articles in Indonesia's new Criminal Code (KUHP), which were passed late last year.

This was conveyed by Blinken to Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in a telephone conversation, Thursday (16/2), according to the US State Department.

"Foreign Minister Blinken expressed US concerns about certain articles of the new criminal law in Indonesia," said US Deplu spokesman Ned Price on his office's website, quoted by Antara, Sunday.

Apart from Blinken, four US senators also protested the new Criminal Code by sending a letter to President Joko Widodo.

The letter dated February 1, 2023 was signed by Edward Markey, Tammy Baldwin, Tammy Duckworth, and Cory Booker.

"We are writing this letter to you with deep concern about the new criminal law passed by the House of Representatives on December 6, 2022," they said in the letter, a copy published on the US Senate website.

They highlight several articles, including those related to human rights, especially those concerning freedom of expression and press freedom.

The new Indonesian Criminal Code is considered to contain several articles that can be used to limit media freedom.

This includes criminalization of news broadcasting that has not been verified and the defamation law.

They assessed that the articles would make it easier for authorities to try people who criticize the government. The US senators also expressed their concern about the rules that could criminalize the socialization of the use of contraceptives and abortions, which they value violates the privacy rights of millions of people.

Not only about human rights, but they also consider the possibility of a new Criminal Code having an impact on the Indonesian economy.

US Ambassador to Indonesia Sung Kim at the "US-Indonesia Investment Summit" said that criminalizing individual personal decisions would be a big consideration for US companies to invest in Indonesia.

"The results (of the new Criminal Code) can reduce foreign investment, tourism, and travel," he said.

The US senators also said they asked the President of the Republic of Indonesia to reconsider certain articles in the new Criminal Code.

"... and ensure that every article... is consistent with Indonesia's obligation to comply with international human rights and its own constitutional principles," they said in the letter.

The Criminal Code is a law that regulates punishment for criminal acts in Indonesia.

The Criminal Code has only been passed through Law No.1 of 2023 and will be enforced starting January 2, 2026.

The Criminal Code will replace the previous Criminal Code which was stipulated by Law no. 1 of 1946.