Ban on free speech

With the case of Roeslan Abdulgani's being prevented from speaking in the Netherlands not yet cleared up, a similar incident has happened to Gus Dur in Jember. But Gus Dur was prevented from speaking in a different way. The official permit was issued too late, which prevented him from being a speaker at a discussion at the local university's School of Law.

The camp which issues such bans presents itself as being responsible for maintaining political order and so requires everybody who is active in politics to conform to the system. Those who experience the bans, on the other hand, present themselves as heralds of human rights, particularly the rights of speech and opinion which, indeed, are guaranteed by Article 28 of the Constitution.

As long as those differences exist there will be bans. Therefore, what is needed now is to find a point of convergence to make it possible to take a middle road and prevent the argument from worsening. A road which will allow anyone to speak, wherever and on whatever occasion, but at the same time providing some clear-cut rules as to what may and what may not be discussed.

-- Jawa Pos, Surabaya