Academic Freedom in Indonesia

A nationwide student protest movement played an instrumental role in forcing the resignation of President Soeharto on May 21, 1998 and in opening the door to democratic reform in Indonesia. Students and faculty emerged at the forefront of the reform movement in large measure because they publicly spoke their minds, courageously and consistently ignoring a variety of repressive laws, regulations, decrees, and abusive practices that have long limited political and intellectual freedom on Indonesia’s campuses and in Indonesian society. Although the change of leadership in Indonesia has been meant changes, significant barriers to citizens' exercise of basic rights continue to exist.