In a report titled “Building up Imaginary Enemies,” Amnesty said Indonesian authorities, including elements of the military, had amplified false narratives portraying journalists, academics, protesters and human rights activists as “foreign agents” working against national interests.

The rights group said the tactic had become more pronounced during the 18 months since Prabowo assumed office, describing online disinformation as a systematic tool used to suppress dissent and narrow public debate.One of the cases highlighted in the report involved Indonesian activist Andrie Yunus, who suffered severe injuries in an acid attack in March that left him blind in one eye.

Amnesty said Yunus, 27, had been outspoken against what critics describe as the military’s growing role in civilian governance and was attacked shortly after recording a podcast discussing the issue.

According to Amnesty, online abuse and accusations labeling critics as agents of foreign influence frequently preceded physical intimidation and violence.The organization also criticized major technology platforms, including about meta, tiktok, x and youtube , alleging they failed to adequately remove harmful disinformation targeting activists and government opponents.

AFP reported that requests for comment were sent to Indonesian authorities and the technology companies named in the report.

Responses were not immediately available.In statements included in Amnesty’s report, TikTok said it continued working with global safety partners to strengthen content moderation systems, while Meta said it regularly updated its human rights reporting and platform oversight measures.

Amnesty regional researcher Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong said the investigation identified state-linked actors involved in amplifying false accusations, including members of Prabowo’s Gerindra Party and at least one presidential staff member.

“Under international human rights law, the government has an obligation to refrain from spreading disinformation,” Chanatip told AFP, adding that authorities also had a responsibility to prevent and address coordinated campaigns targeting critics.

Prabowo, a former military general, has faced scrutiny from rights groups for alleged past abuses linked to Indonesia’s authoritarian era, allegations he has repeatedly denied.

The ministry said talks are ongoing over a draft “Letter of Intent,” stressing that the proposal remains preliminary and non-binding. It added that any arrangement would need to respect Indonesia’s sovereignty and comply with national laws.

Media reports had suggested the United States was seeking “blanket overnight access” for its military aircraft and that President Prabowo Subianto had approved the plan. The ministry, however, said the draft was still under internal review.

Pete Hegseth is scheduled to meet Indonesia’s defence minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin later on Monday, according to a U.S. government advisory, with the discussions expected to cover defence cooperation.

Indonesia emphasised that control over its airspace remains solely under national authority, and that any agreements with foreign partners would safeguard its strategic interests.

The discussions come amid heightened regional security dynamics and increased military coordination between the United States and its partners across the Indo-Pacific.

The statement, submitted by Indonesia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Umar Hadi, called for strengthened protection measures for peacekeeping forces amid escalating security risks. It also urged an end to violence and a return to negotiations to secure a peaceful resolution in Lebanon.

Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry said the safety of UN personnel was “non-negotiable,” stressing the need for the Security Council to use all available mechanisms to safeguard troops deployed in volatile environments.

The appeal follows a series of explosions in southern Lebanon in late March that killed three Indonesian peacekeepers serving under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and wounded several others, including personnel from France, Ghana, Nepal and Poland.

A separate blast inside a UN facility less than a week later injured three more Indonesian soldiers.The incidents prompted Jakarta to demand accountability and enhanced security guarantees for peacekeeping missions.

The Foreign Ministry described the attacks as “unacceptable” and called for an urgent meeting of troop-contributing countries to review safety protocols and operational conditions within UNIFIL.

President Prabowo Subianto condemned the attacks, saying such acts undermine peace efforts and result in the loss of lives of Indonesian personnel deployed abroad.

The UNIFIL mission, established to monitor hostilities and support stability in southern Lebanon, operates in a region that has seen renewed tensions in recent weeks, raising concerns over the safety of international peacekeepers.