Jakarta (ANTARA) - Culturalist Widihasto Wasana Putra has reminded\nthe public that the spirit of expressing opinions must not cause\ndivision or damage to public facilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cRespect the rights of other members of society and safeguard public\nfacilities as shared property,\u201d Widihasto said in a statement received\nin Jakarta on Sunday.<\/p>\n
He was responding to unrest at a protest involving students at the\nYogyakarta Regional Police Headquarters (Mapolda DIY) on Tuesday (24\nFebruary).<\/p>\n
He stated that in the current Indonesian democratic climate,\nparticularly since the onset of reform, the expression of aspirations\nand critical attitudes towards government operations are essential.<\/p>\n
\u201cDemocracy provides space for citizens to express opinions freely and\nresponsibly,\u201d said Widihasto.<\/p>\n
However, he emphasised that such freedom is not without limits. The\nexpression of aspirations, he said, must remain within the framework of\nlaw, uphold order, and avoid violence, anarchism, or damage to public\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cParticularly when this occurs in Yogyakarta, a region known as the\ncentre of Javanese culture that upholds values of courtesy, empathy, and\nharmony,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
Previously, hundreds of Yogyakarta residents calling themselves\n\u201cKawula Ngayogyakarta\u201d held a cultural demonstration on Thursday (26\nFebruary).<\/p>\n
They comprised students, university students, traditional arts\ncommunities, culturalists, and folk martial arts activists.<\/p>\n
In the event, they issued a national call to reject anarchic protest\npractices.<\/p>\n
The cultural action began at Condongcatur Terminal, Sleman, and then\ntravelled along the northern lane of Ring Road towards Mapolda DIY.<\/p>\n
The activity attracted public attention as it was organised like a\ncultural carnival. Participants played various traditional instruments\nincluding trumpets, flutes, bende gongs, drums, and kendang drums.<\/p>\n
They also wore costumes resembling royal palace soldier attire. The\nfront row carried a large banner with Javanese script reading \u201cReject\nViolence, Prioritise Peace\u201d.<\/p>\n
Yogyakarta Regional Police Deputy Commander Brigadier General Eddy\nJunaedi welcomed and appreciated the arrival of the \u201cKawula\nNgayogyakarta\u201d cultural demonstration at Mapolda DIY.<\/p>\n
He viewed the presence of participants wearing traditional cultural\ncostumes as bringing a special sense of calm.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour arrival brings refreshment because everyone is wearing\ntraditional cultural costumes that are characteristic of DIY. Hopefully\nsuch positive things will continue to be woven together so that security\nand conduciveness can be firmly established,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He stated that the police did not object to the expression of\naspirations or criticism from the public regarding police\nperformance.<\/p>\n
However, as hoped by DIY Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, such\naspirations were expected not to be conveyed in anarchic ways.<\/p>\n
The cultural action concluded with group photographs of participants\nand Yogyakarta Regional Police officials. The activity proceeded\nsmoothly, and at exactly 5:00 PM WIB the crowd returned to Condongcatur\nTerminal before dispersing in an orderly manner.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/culturalist-expression-of-aspirations-must-not-cause-division-1772358915", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }