Rizky Zulkarnain, Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) has condemned President Prabowo Subianto's statement equating journalists, observers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with the term "londo ireng" (Black Dutchman).
The YLBHI believes the statement is not merely a joke, but rather a form of labelling against groups critical of the government.
YLBHI Chairperson Muhammad Isnur believes this labelling contradicts the spirit of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of opinion, association, information and oversight of government.
"This labelling betrays the mandate of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia which places sovereignty in the hands of the people and guarantees freedom of expression, association, assembly, information, and oversight of government", said Isnur on Friday July 24.
According to the YLBHI, criticism of the government cannot be equated with actions detrimental to the state. The organisation emphasised that the government is not the state, and the President is not the sole representative of the republic.
The YLBHI also warned that every statement by the President has political consequences because it is delivered in his capacity as head of state and government.
"When the President speaks, he does not speak as an ordinary citizen. He speaks with the authority of his office, power over the bureaucracy, and influence over the police, military, intelligence, and all government agencies", he said.
According to the YLBHI, labelling journalists, academics, observers and NGOs has the potential to trigger intimidation, restrictions on activities and even criminalisation of critical groups. The organisation believes this risk is not something that is theoretical in character because various forms of intimidation against journalists, human rights defenders, students and civil society have occurred repeatedly.
Aside from this, the YLBHI also highlighted the President's statement questioning who finances journalists, observers and NGOs. According to the YLBHI, it is in fact the public who finances the administration of the state through tax payments and various other state revenues.
"The President also questioned who pays the salaries of journalists, observers, and NGOs, as well as who pays for their electricity and telephone bills. This question reverses the most fundamental relationship between the state and its citizens. It is not the President who pays the people. It is the ordinary people who finance the President and his government. The President's salary, allowances, facilities, security, official travel, vehicles, official residence, electricity for the Palace, and all government apparatus are paid for using state funds, which include taxes and various levies paid by the public", he said.
The YLBHI emphasised that the President is not the owner of state funds, but merely holds a mandate to manage the budget allocated which originates from the people. Therefore, the public has the right to oversee government policies and the use of state funds.
The organization also urged the government to pursue legal action if it has evidence of an organisation operating illegally or for the benefit of a foreign country, not making general accusations in the public sphere.
"If the government has evidence that an organisation has committed a crime or is operating illegally for the benefit of a foreign country, prove it through an open, fair, and evidence-based legal process. Don't throw around accusations from the podium of power", he said.
The YLBHI believes that democracy requires a free press, an independent judiciary and a critical civil society as mechanisms for oversight of power. According to the group, communication patterns that position criticism as a threat are characteristically synonymous with authoritarian practices.
"Such communication patterns are characteristic of authoritarian rule and contain elements known in fascist politics: creating enemies from within, doubting the loyalty of critical groups, and equating the interests of leaders with the interests of the state", he said.
In closing, the YLBHI called on all elements of civil society, including members of the press, academics, students, and human rights defenders, to maintain solidarity and not be afraid of intimidation.
The YLBHI calls on the press, academics, students, human rights defenders, and all civil society organisations to strengthen solidarity and not succumb to intimidation", said Isnur on Friday.
"The president is only a temporary mandate holder. The people and the constitution are the legitimate owners of this republic. The President must not use the people's mandate to attack the ordinary people", he said.
Notes
During his address at the National Awakening Party's (PKB) 28th anniversary event, President Prabowo Subianto accused critical groups of acting as a modern form of "londo ireng". The term, which means "Black Dutchman" in Javanese, historically refers to Indonesian soldiers who aided Dutch colonial rule, and was directed at journalists, experts and NGOs critical of the government.
"We know there are Indonesians who are happy to serve and devote themselves to other nations. That is what we used to call 'londo ireng,' who fought with the Dutch against us", Prabowo said at the Jakarta Convention Centre on Thursday evening, July 23. "These 'londo ireng' are still around, except now they wear different clothes. Journalists, observers, activists, NGOs", he added.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "YLBHI Kecam Pernyataan Prabowo Soal Londo Ireng, Nilai Ancam Kebebasan Kritik".]
Source: https://aktual.com/ylbhi-kecam-pernyataan-prabowo-soal-londo-ireng-nilai-ancam-kebebasan-kritik