Category: 2. World

Multiple media outlets are coordinating a large-scale protest on Monday to demand Israel stop the killing of journalists in Gaza and call for international press to be allowed into the enclave to report freely.

Nearly 200 outlets from 50 countries will take part in the demonstration, according to organizers, with print newspapers running blacked-out front pages, broadcasters and radio stations interrupting their programming and online outlets disrupting their home pages.

The protest, coordinated by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Avaaz and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), aims to draw attention to the alarming number of journalists killed during Israel’s war in Gaza.

At least 210 journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, IFJ said, making the conflict the deadliest for reporters in modern times. Meanwhile, Israel has barred international media from reporting freely in Gaza, leaving Palestinian journalists to report under fire.

“At the rate at which journalists are being killed in Gaza by the IDF, soon there will be no one left to keep the world informed. This is not only a war on Gaza, it is a war on journalism itself,” said Thibat Bruttin, director general of RSF.

“Journalists are being killed, they are being targeted, they are being defamed. Without them, who will speak of famine, who will expose war crimes, who will denounce genocides?”

The demonstration comes after the recent killings of several prominent Palestinian journalists in Gaza.

In early August, Israel killed five staff members from the news network Al Jazeera in a strike on Gaza City, days after the security cabinet of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved a plan to take over the city.

Among those killed was Anas Al-Sharif, one of the most well-known Palestinian journalists in Gaza. He became a household name for many in the Arab world due to his daily coverage of the conflict and its humanitarian toll.

Last week, Israel killed another five journalists in back-to-back strikes on the Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis, in a tactic known as a “double tap.”

After the first strike on the hospital, people rushed to treat the wounded while journalists arrived to report. Then, Israel struck again.

Video obtained exclusively by CNN showed the second “tap” was in fact two near-simultaneous strikes. These second and third strikes appear to have caused most of the deaths.

Netanyahu conceded the incident was a “tragic mishap.”

PARIS:

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said on Sunday the destiny of France was at stake in a forthcoming confidence vote, which he called to resolve a budget standoff but is expected to lose.

The September 8 vote in parliament will not decide “the fate of the prime minister” but “the fate of France”, Bayrou said, during an interview with four news channels.

The prime minister stunned France on Monday by saying he would request the vote in a divided parliament, as he tries to garner enough support for his minority government’s plan to slash spending — even as opposition parties say they will not back him.

“I think that the days ahead are crucial,” the 74-year-old prime minister said in the interview with franceinfo, LCI, BFMTV and Cnews.

“If you think that I can give up the battles that I fight, that I am fighting here, that I have been fighting for years and that I will continue to fight in the future, you are mistaken.”

Police set up checkpoints across Jakarta in anticipation of further demonstrations.

Indonesian authorities have ramped up security after six people were killed in unrest over economic hardship that escalated into violent anger against the nation’s police force.

The deadly protests, which began last week over financial perks for lawmakers, have forced President Prabowo Subianto to make a U-turn over the measures.

Demonstrations had begun peacefully, but turned violent against the nation’s elite paramilitary police unit after footage showed one of its teams running over 21-year-old delivery driver Affan Kurniawan late on Thursday.

Protests have since spread from the capital, Jakarta, to other major cities, including Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya in Java, and Medan in North Sumatra province, in the worst unrest since Prabowo took power.

More gatherings of students and protesters were planned in several locations around Indonesia’s vast archipelago on Monday.

Police set up checkpoints across the capital, Jakarta, on Monday, and a police spokesman told broadcaster Kompas TV that officers were also patrolling the city to “protect” citizens and give a sense of security.

Police had deployed a convoy of armoured cars and motorbikes to parliament late on Sunday, in a show of force as they attempted to warn off protesters.

The crisis has forced Prabowo to cancel a planned trip to China this week for a military parade commemorating the end of World War II.

His close ally, Minister of Defence Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, warned Sunday that military and police would take “firm action” against “rioters and looters”, after the Minister of Finance’s house was pillaged.

At least three people were killed after a fire on Friday started by protesters at a council building in the eastern city of Makassar.

Another victim died in Makassar on Friday after he was beaten by a mob on suspicion that he was an intelligence officer, local disaster agency official Muhammad Fadli Tahar told AFP on Sunday.

In Yogyakarta, the Amikom Yogyakarta University confirmed the death of its student, Rheza Sendy Pratama, in protests, but the circumstances around his death remain unclear.

In anticipation of further unrest, TikTok on Saturday temporarily suspended its live feature for “a few days” in Indonesia, where it has more than 100 million users.

COME September, campuses around the world stir into action, ready for months of insight and inquiry. But the calibre of these is becoming more tenuous as academic freedom worldwide faces mounting threats. Pakistanis are sadly very familiar with the suppression of academic freedoms, but the global trend has troubling implications closer to home too.

A new working paper by Harvard University’s Pippa Norris documents the growing threats to academic freedoms, defined as the ability of scholars to be free to research, publish and teach without external interference or constraints, and be free to fund research, recruit and engage in public-facing activities without undue censorship.

Norris analyses data from the Academic Freedom Index to conclude that academic freedom has eroded in 22 countries — home to over half the world’s population — in the first quarter of the 21st century, while improving in only five (including, interestingly, Kenya and Iraq). She also points out that it is not just external factors such as funding cuts or legal pressure that are undermining academic freedom, but also a growing tendency among academics to self-censor in the face of academic homogeneity, groupthink, and the fear of being disadvantaged for having a contrarian argument.

The challenge to academic freedom is gaining attention because of the dramatic news from campuses across the US. Norris cites the American Association of University Professors, which reports 57 bills in 23 states “seeking to limit the autonomy or public colleges and universities by prohibiting or banning the content of syllabi, empowering partisan appointments on managing boards, and restricting freedom to learn, teach and conduct research”. The world is becoming accustomed to the varying forms of academic suppression in the US, from the clampdown on pro-Palestinian voices to book bans, the blocking of funding for research on topics such as climate change, and even the deportation of international students.

Academic suppression indicates democratic decline.

While depressing, the US onslaught on academic freedom is not unprecedented. As early as 1972, then US president Richard Nixon was reminding Henry Kissinger that “professors are the enemy”. The erosion of academic freedom aligns with any form of democratic backsliding and the rise of populist, right-wing politics and is evident in countries as diverse as the US, Turkiye, Poland, Egypt and Nicaragua.

The alignment between rising authoritarianism and suppressed speech and academic freedom was forecast by John Stuart Mill in the 19th century: “To refuse a hearing to an opinion, because they are sure that it is false, is to assume that their certainty is the same thing as absolute certainty. All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility.” The misguided perception of infallibility and the belief that dissenting voices are inherently wrong are the hallmarks of authoritarians everywhere.

The suppression of academic freedom is part of a spectrum ranging from intimidation of students, travel curbs, internet bans, detentions, civilian trials in military courts, and extrajudicial killings. The lack of academic freedom spurs democratic collapse, as, in the words of the OHCHR, “without academic freedom, societies lose one of the essential elements of democratic self-governance: the capacity for self-reflection, for knowledge generation and for a constant search for improvements of people’s lives and social conditions.”

For Pakistanis who have long endured the absence of academic freedom, there may be an element of schadenfreude in watching the US administration ravage its erstwhile enviable academic institutions. But no one benefits from a race to the bottom.

Pakistan’s exp­en­diture on R&D drop­ped from 0.17 per cent of GDP in 2019 to 0.16pc in 2021. Meanwhile, the race to participate in tra­nsnational educat­ion programmes (whereby students remain in Pakistan while obtaining degrees from foreign institutions) is heating up — there are over 15,000 Pakistani students engaged in 55 TNE programmes in the country.

In a 2024 Daedalus article, Michael Ignatieff warned against the trend of authoritarian and populist regimes clamping down on academic freedom, and enabling this suppression through partnerships with the academic institutions of other authoritarian states. He asks: “… what victory have authoritarian leaders won if they have muzzled their best universities, exiled their best researchers, and created institutions whose only purpose is to indoctrinate the ruling class?

In a world where borders remain open, talent flows towards freedom, not away from it.” But what happens when there’s nowhere free for the best and brightest to flee to?

The world ends up less insightful, informed and innovative — a true curse in these challenging times.

The writer is a political and integrity risk analyst.

X: @humayusuf

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2025

JAKARTA: Indonesia cut financial perks for lawmakers on Sunday, after at least five people were killed in protests against economic hardship that have escalated into anger against police.

Southeast Asia’s biggest economy was rocked by protests in major cities in recent days after footage spread of a motorcycle taxi driver being run over by a police vehicle at a rally against lucrative perks for lawmakers.

“The parliament leadership conveyed that they would revoke several policies, including the amount of allowance for lawmakers, and a moratorium on overseas visits,” President Prabowo Subianto said, without specifying which allowance he was referring to.

The ex-general said protests should take place peacefully and if people destroyed public facilities or looted private homes “the state must step in to protect its citizens”.

Prabowo terms some rallies ‘treason, terrorism’

“The rights to peaceful assembly should be respected and protected. But we cannot deny that there are signs of actions outside the law, even against the law, even leaning towards treason and terrorism,” Prabowo said in a speech in Jakarta.

Defence Minister Sjafrie Sja­m­s­oeddin later said military and police would take “firm action” against “rioters and looters” who entered private homes or state institutions.

Their comments came after the house of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati was looted overnight, soldiers guarding her residence and a witness said on Sunday.

Anger has spread to lawmakers and several have reportedly had their houses ransacked in recent days. The grievances of protesters are many but rallies before the driver’s death this week focused on the revelation that lawmakers were receiving a housing allowance nearly 10 times higher than the minimum wage in Jakarta.

Rights groups said Prabowo’s speech and the olive branch from parliament did not go far enough.

“The president’s statement was insensitive to all the complaints and aspirations that the people were voicing during the demonstrations,” Amnesty Inter­national Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid said in a statement. “The state should respond demands from various groups of people with a series of comprehensive policy changes.”

Major test

Protests have spread from capital Jakarta to other major cities, including Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya in Java, and Medan in North Sumatra province.

At least three people were killed after a fire on Friday started by protesters at a council building in the eastern city of Makassar.

Another victim died in Makassar on Friday after he was beaten by mob on suspicion that he was an intelligence officer, local disaster agency official Muhammad Fadli Tahar said on Sunday. A local council building was burned on the island of Lombok on Saturday while a police headquarters in the eastern Java city of Surabaya was set on fire.

In response to the protests, social media app TikTok on Saturday temporarily suspended its live feature for “a few days” in Indonesia, where it has more than 100 million users. Some institutions were anticipating protests to continue on Monday. One international school said its classes would take place online until Tuesday and civil servants working in Jakarta were asked to work from home.

A Jakarta police spokesperson in remarks aired by broadcaster Kompas TV said patrols would be carried out in the capital to “protect” citizens and give a sense of security.

The protests are the biggest and most violent of Prabowo’s presidency, a key test less than a year into his rule. He pledged an investigation into the killing of motorcycle gig driver Affan Kurniawan and promised to help his family. Seven officers in the tactical van were detained for further investigation.

Analysts said his speech could provide a “temporary calming effect” among political elites but not the wider public. “On the ground frustrations over economic hardship and perceived government privileges remain,” said Dedi Dinarto, senior associate at public policy advisory firm Global Counsel.

“Unless those deeper concerns are addressed, the speech alone is unlikely to fully diffuse the unrest.” The crisis has forced Prabowo to cancel a planned trip to China next week for a military parade commemorating the end of World War II. Prabowo has pledged fast, state-driven growth but has already faced protests against widespread government budget cuts.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2025

Indonesian political parties have agreed to cut some lawmakers’ perks, including a controversial $3,000 housing allowance, the president said, as security measures were stepped up in an attempt to halt protests that have gripped the country for a week.

President Prabowo Subianto, accompanied by leaders of eight Indonesian political parties, told a televised news conference in the capital, Jakarta, on Sunday that they had agreed to cut the housing allowance and suspend overseas trips for members of parliament.

By Monday, “lawmakers will see certain allowances scrapped and overseas work trips suspended under a new moratorium,” said Prabowo, in a concession aimed at calming public anger.

He added he had ordered the military and police to take firm action in response to the burning and looting of some politicians’ homes and state buildings.

On Monday, police set up checkpoints across Jakarta. Officers were also patrolling the city to “protect” citizens and give a sense of security, a police spokesman told broadcaster Kompas TV.

Indonesian students and civil society groups called off protests on Monday, citing fears of a crackdown by authorities.

Protests first erupted a week ago, sparked by anger over the pay and privileges given to lawmakers, including a housing allowance of 50m rupiah ($3,075), which is nearly 10 times higher than the minimum wage in Jakarta. Anger escalated further after a motorcycle taxi driver, 21-year-old Affan Kurniawan, was run over by a police vehicle at a protest site on Thursday.

A video apparently showing his death prompted an outcry against the security forces.

Witnesses told local television that an armoured car from the National Police’s mobile brigade unit suddenly sped through the crowd of demonstrators, hitting Kurniawan and running him over. Kurniawan had reportedly been trying to complete a food delivery order at the time.

Prabowo has promised an investigation into his killing, and pledged to help his family. Seven officers have been detained for further investigation.

The death toll from riots rose to six after the Amikom Yogyakarta University confirmed the death of 21-year-old student Rheza Sendy Pratama in protests on Friday. The circumstances around his death remain unclear.

At least three people were killed in the eastern city of Makassar on Friday after a fire was started by protesters at a council building.

Another victim died in Makassar on Friday after he was beaten by a mob on suspicion that he was an intelligence officer, local disaster agency official Muhammad Fadli Tahar told Agence France-Presse on Sunday.

Protests have taken place in multiple, including Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya in Java, and Medan in North Sumatra province.

Prabowo reiterated that his government respects freedom of expression as guaranteed in Indonesia’s constitution and international conventions.

“But when demonstrations turn anarchic, destroying public facilities, endangering lives, and attacking private homes or public institutions, this becomes a serious violation of law,” he said.

Prabowo cautioned that violent acts risked veering into treason and terrorism, and warned “the state would not tolerate attempts to destabilise the country”.

The homes of political party members and state buildings have been targeted by looters, including a house owned by finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, according to state news agency Antara reported on Sunday. She was not in the house at the time and it was not clear if she uses the property often, Reuters reported.

The crisis forced Prabowo to cancel a planned trip to China for a military parade commemorating the end of the second world war.

TikTok, which has more than 100 million users in Indonesia, temporarily suspended its live feature in response to the protests.

The Alliance of Indonesian Women, a coalition of women-led civil society groups, said it had delayed planned protests at the parliament on Monday, fearing a crackdown by authorities. “The delay is done to avoid increased violent escalation by authorities … the delay takes place until the situations calm down,” the group said in an Instagram post on Sunday.

Student groups also delayed a protest on Monday, with one umbrella group saying the decision was “due to very impossible conditions”.

With Associated Press