Free speech

Indonesian lawmakers could criminalise insults against govt

 National legislators are expected later this month to resurrect a Dutch colonial-era regulation that could lead to the imprisonment of people who insult state symbols.

The South China Morning Post reports that critics said the move is undemocratic and demonstrates the country's creeping encroachment on free speech.

According to the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, Indonesia's proposed new penal code contains dozens of vaguely-worded articles.