Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Jakarta – A Golkar Party legislator has criticized President Joko Widodo for saying "Merdeka," or "Freedom," during his inauguration speech, suggesting it was indicative of partisan politics and could have been construed as inciting Papuan independence.
Bambang Soesatyo said the remark – which became a battle cry for freedom during Indonesia's independence struggle – was a trademark of Joko's party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). He said it showed Joko put party before country.
"He said that there should be a coming together of the people – the remark shows the exact opposite, he draws a line by doing it," Bambang said. "He forgets that he's the people's president, not a party member anymore."
Bambang also claimed the word was open to interpretation and could be seen as promoting secession in Papua.
"I don't know who he meant the remark for," Bambang said. "There were delegates from Papua; if it was indeed intended to them, it could mean that he ordered Papua to be independent."
The name of Papua's main independence organization is Organisasi Papua Merdeka, or Free Papua Organization (OPM).
Bambang went on to say there was nothing extraordinary in Joko's inauguration speech. "It turned out to be different from what his supporters said, that there would be a great speech from Joko."
PDI-P legislator Aria Bima said that Bambang's accusation was ridiculous, as merdeka was a national salute that belonged to the people, not the PDI-P.
"A presidential decree issued in 1947 declared that merdeka was a national salute," Aria said. "It's a remark of national fight. It doesn't belong to the PDI-P." He added that Bambang should read more and get the facts straight.