Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) assesses the action of Indonesian Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman in reporting an agricultural observer from a university as a form of criminalization against academics.
"We see the Minister of Agriculture's action as showing a nuance of fascism in the agricultural sector. He is still trapped in the politicization of the orba language, where criticism must be constructive," said the Head of Advocacy of LBH Jakarta, Alif Fauzi Nurwidiastomo, through a messaging application on Sunday, April 20, 2025.
According to Alif, a state official should not see a criticism as a mere subjective statement. Moreover, he said, if the correction concerns data that the criticism can be measured and is still within democratic and academic bounds. "If there is a report or criminalization, it is a form of slapp against public participation and a violation of academic freedom," said Alif.
In addition, he added, based on Article 28E paragraph (3) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which has been ratified through Law 12/2005, criticism directed at state institutions should not be restricted.
Alif explained that the haatzaai artikelen articles or rubber articles commonly used to silence criticism had been annulled through a decision of the Constitutional Court (MK). Although this article is now re-introduced in the new Criminal Code Law (KHUP), Alif said, the rule is still not in effect.
"Therefore, it is only appropriate that the officials who receive the report should reject it because there is no connection between hate speech and defamation with criticism," he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Amran Sulaiman stated that the legal process against an agricultural observer is ongoing. He revealed that the observer is a professor from a renowned university.
"Many already know who it is, this process has proceeded to law enforcement," said Amran in a written statement on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
Amran reported the observer because he was deemed to have spread baseless opinions. According to him, the criticism expressed by the observer did not intend to be constructive, but for personal interests.
"This observer also criticized the food self-sufficiency target, calling it unclear. Furthermore, he accused the free lunch and milk program of being prone to corruption," he said.
Prior to this, Amran had also mentioned that he would report this observer during a speech at the 49th Anniversary Academic Senate Open Session of Universitas Sebelas Maret uploaded on the Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) YouTube channel on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Amran initially showcased the achievements of the rural field printing program in Merauke, South Papua.
At that time, minister Amran Sulaiman claimed that the rural field printing project was running well. Amran targeted 3 million hectares to be printed within three years, as long as it was not obstructed, for example, by an observer.
"Sorry, because it turns out there are observers who are enemies of the state. My apology to the Rector and the Professor, but in a little while, it is highly likely that observer will be imprisoned. That person is part of the problem in this republic," said Amran as monitored from the Universitas Sebelas Maret YouTube channel on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
– Han Revanda contributed to the writing of this article.