Pribadi Wicaksono (Kontributor), Yogyakarta – The trend of online busking or making money through digital devices in order to get social media users' contributions on the Internet has recently become the highlight in Yogyakarta.
The activities of live streaming similar to those carried out by social media activist Gunawan Sadbor, were detected in various public spaces, especially sidewalks such as the area of Jalan Mangkubumi near Tugu Jogja to Titik Nol Kilometer.
The Regional Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) at the provincial and city levels in Yogyakarta have been actively conducting raids after receiving complaints. The activity is considered potentially disturbing to pedestrians when carried out by a line of people as seen in the circulated videos.
Regulation reference
The enforcement against street live streamers refers to the Yogyakarta City Regional Regulation Number 7 of 2024 concerning Public Order and Community Protection.
"The regulation specifies justice sanctions for minor criminal offenses, with a maximum sentence of three months imprisonment or a fine of up to Rp50 million for those who dare to do so," said the Head of the Legal Enforcement Division of Yogyakarta City Regional Civil Service Police Dodi Kurnianto, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
Dodi explained that the sanctions are imposed on online buskers, especially those who have been proven to repeat their activities despite being reprimanded.
The Yogyakarta City Government applies the ultimum remedium principle or criminal law as a last resort in law enforcement to enforce the Regional Regulation.
"So enforcement starts from administrative sanctions such as oral warnings, written warnings, until finally leading to minor criminal penalties," he said.
Criminal sanctions
Although cases of online busking are considered breaches of regulations and not pure crimes, if carried out repeatedly, administrative sanctions are escalated to criminal penalties.
Since the crackdown starting on Sunday, November 3, the Yogyakarta City Civil Service Police have successfully caught online buskers performing in the area of Jalan Mangkubumi near Tugu Yogyakarta. Based on the Identity Card (KTP) held, the online busker is from Palembang, South Sumatra.
"We will continue to intensify patrols in areas that have the potential to become venues for online busking," he said.
Tourism and government center
The Head of the Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) of Malioboro, Ekwanto, mentioned that according to Yogyakarta City Regional Regulation Number 7 of 2024, all activities, especially events, stages, and economic activities in the Malioboro area must obtain permits.
As the Malioboro area up to Titik Nol Kilometer is not just a gathering place for tourists, but also a government office center up to the National Palace.
"Malioboro up to Titik Nol often becomes the center of activities, including government activities, such as state guest visits and others, so such matters must be regulated, including official events to avoid clashes," he said.
In addition, Ekwanto said that Malioboro is a pedestrian area and the philosophical axis of Yogyakarta. Thus, economic activities such as street vendors, buskers, and beggars are already prohibited in that area. Although there are still many traders sneakily setting up their stalls during peak holiday seasons with high tourist visits.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1937736/yogyakarta-to-fine-rp50-million-for-online-busking-in-public-space