Indonesia’s security minister Djamari says country remains ‘secure’ amid unrest speculation, misinformation online

Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, Djamari Chaniago, affirmed on Wednesday that the country's security remains stable and under control as it prepares to celebrate Independence Day next week. Chaniago cautioned the public not to be swayed by disinformation circulating online regarding potential unrest. The statement came following a study by Monash University Indonesia revealing a potential disinformation campaign involving the recirculation of videos of past demonstrations.

The study, which analyzed over 197,000 social media posts between July 26 and August 1, found that videos of previous protests in Indonesia had been uploaded online, falsely portrayed as current events. These videos aimed to incite panic and suggest large-scale protests were imminent, a claim the minister dismissed as inaccurate. Djamari emphasized that the current situation in Indonesia remains secure, with business activities, public services, and shopping centers operating without any disruptions.

Security measures have been heightened in anticipation of the Independence Day celebrations on August 17. Shopping malls and office buildings in several Indonesian cities installed metal barriers to deter potential protests, a move later deemed precautionary by Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung. Police, military, and government officials, including the Indonesian military commander and national police chief, have been coordinating to ensure the safety and smooth conduct of all events leading up to the celebrations.

Djamari also warned that the police would enforce the law with "without compromise" if any accounts found to be spreading unverified information online are found to have committed criminal offenses. He urged the public to avoid distractions from unverified information during this period of heightened security preparations.