President: Freedom of Expression a Constitutional Right
High school students, university students, labor groups and civil society organizations again staged demonstrations on Monday (30/9/2019).
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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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.