The Public Virtue Research Institute (PVRI) has expressed concern\nthat the narrative of labelling those who criticise the government as\n\u201cunpatriotic\u201d could deteriorate Indonesia\u2019s democratic climate. The\nnarrative is feared to widen space for intimidation and normalise\nrepression of critical voices in society.<\/p>\n
These concerns emerged following President Prabowo Subianto\u2019s\ndiscourse on \u201cregulating\u201d observers and critics deemed unpatriotic. The\nstatement was made only hours after KontraS activist Andrie Yunus became\na victim of an acid attack by unknown assailants on Friday, 13\nMarch.<\/p>\n
PVRI Executive Director Muhammad Naziful Haq emphasised that\ncategorising observers based on levels of patriotism is a dangerous\nstep. The use of the term \u201cregulation\u201d is seen as invoking collective\nmemory of past political violence practices.<\/p>\n
\u201cCategorising observers according to measures of patriotism clearly\nendangers democracy. It is akin to marking people\u2014the submissive are\nnurtured, the critical are eliminated,\u201d Naziful stated firmly in a\nwritten statement on Sunday, 15 March.<\/p>\n
PVRI highlighted that the attack on Andrie Yunus adds to a long list\nof terror against human rights defenders, journalists, and activists.\nPreviously, a series of intimidation tactics ranging from the sending of\npig heads and Molotov cocktails to terror in private spaces had targeted\nthose at odds with government policy.<\/p>\n
Pattern of Political Thuggery<\/p>\n
In agreement with Naziful, PVRI researcher Zikra Wahyudi believed\nthat a statement from the head of state in such a tense situation could\nprovide wider room for political thuggery practices. He questioned the\nstate\u2019s commitment if the perpetrators of the acid attack on Andrie were\nnot soon exposed with accountability.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith repeated terror and violence against critical voices and human\nrights fighters, the state has actually failed to guarantee democracy\nand human rights,\u201d Zikra said.<\/p>\n
He added that without transparent law enforcement, terror against\nfreedom of expression will continue to exist in a \u201cgrey zone\u201d that\nappears structured yet lacks clear intellectual actors.<\/p>\n
Criticism Is Not Disorder<\/p>\n
PVRI Board Chairman Usman Hamid also offered sharp criticism.\nAccording to him, criticism should be viewed as a healthy correction\nmechanism in governance, not as a disturbance that must be\nregulated.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir criticism is viewed by Prabowo as disorder that must be\nregulated. Yet what is disordered is Prabowo\u2019s thinking orientation\nalong with his policies, statements, and actions,\u201d Usman said.<\/p>\n
Usman warned that a political climate at the apex of power\ndemonstrating an anti-criticism stance could hamper law enforcement\nprocesses in the police force, particularly in fully investigating\nactors behind violence against activists.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/patriotic-labelling-deemed-a-threat-to-democracy-1773579103", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }