Analysis of Securitization and Political-Diplomatic Aspects in Indonesia's Policy on the 2019 Internet Shutdown in Papua

Muhnizar Siagian, Muhammad Ilham Aryaputra Sumarman, Alya Zaskia — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Digital democracy is currently developing very rapidly in various regions in Indonesia, especially the Papua region. This region presents an intriguing case for digital democracy because it is the only region that is still struggling, both politically-diplomatically and armed, to become independent from Indonesia. Issues such as historical problems, capitalism and development failures, political violence and human rights violations as well as the marginalization of indigenous Papuans are the main issues campaigned by pro-independence activists, both domestically and abroad through digital channels such as websites, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. In 2019, when the racial riots that started in Surabaya and Malang spread to the Papua region, the Indonesian government adopted a policy to limit and even shut down internet access in Papua. The internet shutdown policy is the first time the Indonesian government has implemented it in Papua. This research uses a qualitative case study method by carefully analyzing the Indonesian government's policy of shutting down the internet in Papua during the riots in 2019. The findings of this study show that the Indonesian government securitized the riots that occurred in Papua in 2019. Using securitization theory, this study examines how the state discursively frames the Papuan issue as a security threat. It does this by examining how Indonesian authorities justified drastic measures like internet access restrictions by framing online hoaxes as existential threats. In conclusion, the internet shutdown implemented by the Indonesian government represents new form of security policy. It reflects a broader pattern of government measures in Papua, aimed at controlling the flow of information to the outside world. This control is intended to protect Indonesia’s political and diplomatic interests and to maintain national sovereignty, although it comes at the cost of civil liberties.

The Adaptation of Criminal Law in Addressing Transnational Organized Crime: Implementation of UNTOC at the National Level

Didi Jubaidi, Khoirunnisa Khoirunnisa — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the implementation challenges of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) at the national level, with a focus on legal harmonization, law enforcement capacity, and international cooperation. It aims to evaluate the effectiveness of UNTOC as an international legal instrument and its application across diverse national legal systems. Using a qualitative normative approach, it analyzes legal documents, academic literature, and international reports, with case studies from Indonesia, Italy, Canada, and Germany. The findings reveal that, despite its comprehensive framework, UNTOC’s implementation remains inconsistent due to fragmented domestic legislation, limited institutional capacity, and inadequate cross-border cooperation. These challenges undermine collective efforts to effectively combat transnational organized crime. The value of this manuscript lies in its integrative analysis that bridges the gap between legal theory and practice, offering insights into how national legal reforms, strengthened law enforcement, and enhanced international collaboration can improve global responses to organized crime. This study contributes to the discourse on international criminal law by emphasizing the need for a more coordinated and holistic approach to implementing international legal standards at the domestic level.

Journal of International Studies on Energy Affairs

Analysis of Securitization and Political-Diplomatic Aspects in Indonesia's Policy on the 2019 Internet Shutdown in Papua

The Adaptation of Criminal Law in Addressing Transnational Organized Crime: Implementation of UNTOC at the National Level