Adjustments to Community Organization Law: Implications for Freedom of Association, Assembly, and Expression

Abstract

The principles of Pancasila and the collective ethos of the Indonesian people should guide the freedom of association, assembly, and expression of opinion, serving as a conduit for achieving shared objectives within the framework of national unity. Despite existing restrictions, judicial oversight remains essential. While judicial control over the dissolution of community organizations may be absent, government decrees retain validity until permanent legal status is determined by the courts. Consequently, the government must conduct thorough investigations to identify instances of freedom abuse contrary to Pancasila, which may jeopardize national security and order. Concurrently, the state has a responsibility to safeguard these freedoms for compliant mass organizations, contingent upon their adherence to regulations outlined in the Community Organization Law.