Unnecessary Noise

TANGKAPAN LAYAR TWITTER

Screenshot of @bintangemon account on Twitter channel.

Unnecessary noises still happen in this country. Noises in public because of trivial issues or being baper (too emotional) can cause this nation to tumble.

The latest uproar occurred this week, when the Sula Islands Police Office, North Maluku, summoned Ismail Ahmad, 41, for clarification after he posted on social media an old joke by the late Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid, the fourth Indonesian president, about three good policemen. Ismail was asked to apologize and pledged not to repeat his actions.

The actions of the Sula Islands Police are considered excessive and do not fit with the spirit of freedom of expression. In fact, they threaten democracy in Indonesia. Article 28E of the 1945 Constitution, among other things, states that every person has the right to freedom of belief, to express their attitude and thoughts in accordance with his conscience, and has the right to freedom of association, union and expression.

Moreover, Gus Dur\'s joke has become a social criticism, and other jokes have become the strength and energy of the people in facing the current crisis.

North Maluku Police chief Insp. Gen. Rikwanto also rebuked the Sula Islands District Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Muhammad Irvan and his staff members. Ismail’s post is not the problem and it does not deserve attention by the police (Kompas, 19/6/2020). Moreover, Gus Dur\'s joke has become a social criticism, and other jokes have become the strength and energy of the people in facing the current crisis.

Previously, this country witnessed another noise related to a post by comic Gusti Muhammad Abdurrohman Bintang Mahaputra, aka Bintang Emon, on social media. He cynically and jokingly criticized the one-year jail sentence demands for two police officers who allegedly attacked Corruption Eradication Commission chief investigator Novel Baswedan (Kompas, 17/6/2020). This time it was not the National Police who reacted, but some internet users, who were allegedly buzzers that might be related to the authorities or the government.

The public is divided. The apparatus is considered to be less professional, even repressive in facing the freedom of expression of the people. The government was drawn into the vortex of the debate and was finally considered to be unable to provide protection for the people in exercising their rights. As a result, Indonesia\'s democratic index has been eroded, which will eventually harm the country itself.

In Southeast Asia, in 2019, Indonesia ranked sixth out of 10 countries in civil liberties index.

The Economist Intelligence Unit, an institution that annually measures the condition (index) of democracy in 167 countries, in 2019 gave civil liberties in Indonesia a score of 5.59, the same as in 2018 and 2017. In fact, in 2016, the civil liberties score in this country was 7.06 and 7.35 in 2015. The greater the score, the better the achievements. In Southeast Asia, in 2019, Indonesia ranked sixth out of 10 countries in civil liberties index. Freedom House in 2020 recorded Indonesia as a country whose people only enjoyed partial civil liberties.

The United Nations recalls the importance of freedom of expression as part of civil liberties. Only a country that respects the civil rights of its citizens can grow and develop. That right needs respect from the state apparatus and fellow citizens.