‘Spiral’ of silence haunts human rights protection

Ahead of an upcoming UN review on Indonesia’s human rights record, the sources were commenting on recent assaults on freedom of speech and minorities. The latest incidents included disruptions and cancellations of some of the planned discussions with
Canadian author Irshad Manji, who launched the translation of her latest book here, Allah, Liberty and Love.

Despite the incidents, Manji told a discussion at The Jakarta Post on Saturday that she still had "faith”
in Indonesia.

She said there was a "sort of crisis in freedom of expression in Indonesia”, adding that her last tour in the country back in 2008 went quite smoothly.

"[Now] even intellectual discussions were cancelled simply because there was weak leadership in this country, which does not protect the people’s rights to enjoy freedom of expression,” she said.

Among others, the rector of the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta cancelled on Wednesday a discussion with Manji. (...)