President: Freedom of Expression a Constitutional Right

Kompas

Protesters, consisting mostly of university students and high school students, block the toll road in the Slipi Petamburan area in Jakarta on Monday (30/9/2019). The rally was held to demand the revocation of the newly revised Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law, which is feared would weaken the KPK in its fight against corruption in Indonesia.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — High school students, university students, labor groups and civil society organizations again staged demonstrations on Monday (30/9/2019) in several regions in Indonesia. Regarding the continuing wave of protests, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo emphasized that the activity was a constitutional right. The demonstration in Jakarta was concentrated at the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR)/House of Representatives (DPR) in Senayan. Riot police later dispersed protestors by firing tear gas. Besides, some students protested at their universities in Jakarta.

Protests were also held in other regions such as Yogyakarta, Pontianak (West Kalimantan), Batam (Riau Islands), Kendari (Southeast Sulawesi), Malang (East Java) and Tegal (Central Java). The protesters’ demands varied, but generally included rejection to the revised Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law.

President Jokowi allowed protests at Bogor Palace, saying that the Constitution guaranteed the right to freedom of expression, including through protests.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Protesters unfurl unique posters in the “Gejayan Calling” rally that was held at the Gejayan T-junction in Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Monday (30/9/2019). The action was carried out to demand that the government cancel the enactment of a number of controversial laws.

“We are listening. Even more, we are listening attentively,” he said.

However, the President warned that the demonstrations should be conducted in an orderly manner. “Avoid rioting, avoid anarchic actions, do not damage public facilities to inflict losses. Its is important to observe this,” he said.

Thorough investigation

Apart from the demands related to legislation, several regions also urged the government to thoroughly investigate the deaths of two Halu Oleo University students during last week’s demonstration in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, who were identified as Randi, 20, and Yusuf, 19. Randi reportedly died from a gunshot wound, while Yusuf died from severe head injuries.

KOMPAS/HARIS FIRDAUS

Hundreds of students who are members of the Yogyakarta Student Executive Boards (BEM) walk to the Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD) building in Yogyakarta on Monday (30/9/2019) to hold a demonstration. In the action, the students voiced a number of aspirations, including demanding that President Joko Widodo issue a government regulation in lieu of the law (Perppu) to revoke the newly revised Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law.

Indonesian Ombudsman Southeast Sulawesi head Mastri Susilo insisted that the police open the investigation to the public, including their findings from the sites of the incidents.

“This is our initial step to control the [situation]. We demand the actual dissemination of such findings so public supervision can be exercised. This is to be followed by the next stage. so that the findings lead to further divulgence in the end,” said Mastri.

KOMPAS/WISNU WIDIANTORO

A student holds a hand-written poster at a rally at the Senayan Legislative Complex in Jakarta (30/9/2019). The rally was attended by a mixed mass of people consisting of university students and high school students and was disrupted by rioting and tear gas. The rally was held to demand the revocation of the newly revised Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law, which is feared would weaken the KPK in its fight against corruption in Indonesia.

The Ombudsman had so far proposed that several parties be involved in the investigation, including public figures, students and the media, he added.

Mastri added that involving many parties ensure that an investigation would be opened and that the results would be transparent. A multi-party investigation would ensure that the investigative team would work openly without manipulation. He suspected that the demise of the two students indicated a procedural flaw in managing the protests.

KOMPAS/WISNU WIDIANTORO

A police officer speaks to protesters, asking them to disperse from a rally at the Senayan Legislative Complex in Jakarta (30/9/2019). The rally was attended by a mixed mass of people consisting of university students and high school students and was disrupted by rioting and tear gas. The rally was held to demand the revocation of the newly revised Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law, which is feared would weaken the KPK in its fight against corruption in Indonesia.

According to a provisional report that the Southeast Sulawesi Ombudsman head had received, the police had questioned 13 officers assigned to riot control order and confiscated their weapons.

Southeast Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Harry Goldenhardt has been contacted for confirmation, but he has yet to respond.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen, Dedi Prasetyo said, contacted from Kendari, that the team was testing the evidence it had gathered from the field.

“Only one projectile was (discovered). I’ll be notifying on further developments,” said Dedi.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

A protester unfurls a unique poster in the “Gejayan Calling” rally that was held at the Gejayan T-junction in Sleman, Yogyakarta, on Monday (30/9/2019). The action was carried out to demand that the government cancel the enactment of a number of controversial laws.

Protecting legislators’ inauguration

Amid the latest surge of demonstrations, the elected members of the DPR, the Regional Representative Council and the MPR for the 2019-2024 sessions are to be sworn in on

Tuesday (1/10) at the Senayan legislative complex. On 20 Oct., the president and vice president of the 2019-2014 term are to be inaugurated.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has thus been to guarantee the security of the nation’s capital.

A 9mm bullet casing is found on Friday (27/9/2019) by students in a demonstration that deteriorated into chaos in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi.

TNI commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto said 6,000 troops would be deployed to safeguard the inauguration ceremonies for the MPR and the DPR, as well as the president and vice president. This is double the number of troops that have been guarding the legislative complex during the recent protests.

“They are spread out to protect several locations, especially the legislative complex, the state palace and the financial center. This security measure aims to ensure the sense of public safety,” Hadi said after heading a military roll call for Squadron 17 at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta.

(JAL/HRS/NCA/RAM/CIP/NDU/ESA/ZAK/XTI/IDO/WER/IKI/FAI/DVD/BOW/VAN/DAN/GIO/DIV)

KOMPAS/SAIFUL RIJAL YUNUS

Officers examine the location of the deaths of two students participating in a rally in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, on Saturday (28/9/2019). At the location of the incident, which was investigated directly by the team from the National Police Headquarters, three bullet casings were found. A number of parties requested that the investigation into the deaths of these two students be carried out openly and resolved thoroughly.