Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Mr. Sifton, for your time and your presentation.
The Indonesian authorities have laws on criminal defamation to prosecute members of religious minorities in violation of their basic rights. One member of a minority group now facing criminal trial under these laws is Alexander Aan, a civil servant alleged to be an atheist. He was arrested in January and is on trial for blasphemy and inciting public unrest, which of course carries a penalty of up to almost six years in prison.
The specific charges against him relate to posts he made on a Facebook account. These criminal defamation laws allow the abuse of powerful people over the religious freedoms of citizens.
Mr. Sifton, if one recourse of action is to repeal these laws, what would you suggest is the most effective way to do this? Is this a matter that will be more effective if spearheaded internally by Indonesian citizens themselves, or is this an area in which the international community can help in some way?