Bogor Subdistrict Head Denies Forcing Barber to Apologise Over Flag Remarks

The head of Rancabungur sub-district in Bogor Regency, Dita Aprilia, has denied that the sub-district forced a barber to make an apology video after a clip of him being reprimanded over the display of the Indonesian flag went viral.

She said the barber did come to the sub-district office in the evening. His visit, accompanied by local RT and RW neighbourhood leaders, was not to be made to record an apology, but rather to clarify the matter so it would not drag on.

Dita said the barber had previously been reprimanded by the RT over his remarks.

“There was no coercion. I know he was reprimanded by the RT and RW. The point was just not to use language like refusing to fly the flag, not to say ‘we are not yet independent’, not like that. It was only that, just the message from the RT and RW,” Dita said when contacted on Wednesday (12/8).

Dita admitted she did not meet the barber when he came to the sub-district office.

She also said she did not know how the apology video that later circulated on social media was made.

According to her, the video was made in the Satpol PP room of Rancabungur Sub-district without the sub-district’s knowledge.

“I asked the section head and colleagues whether anyone intervened. ‘No, ma’am,’ they said. In fact, the video was made without our knowledge,” she said.

Dita said the sub-district also did not know how the video was later disseminated.

“The Satpol PP room is at the front, near the service area. So I also do not like the way the sub-district facilities were used without the section head’s knowledge,” she said.

Chronology

In the circulating video, Dita is initially seen asking the barber to put up a flag. The video then shows the person recording asking in a raised voice why the barber had not put up a flag.

“What is your reason for not putting up a flag? You are already independent. The sub-district head told you to put up a flag,” the person recording said.

“Who says we are already independent?” the barber replied.

The person recording continued to press the barber about his reason for saying the country was not yet independent. Meanwhile, the barber continued cutting a customer’s hair. Another video shows the barber apologising for his remarks. He apologised while holding the red and white flag.

Dita said the person who reprimanded the barber in the video was not an employee of Rancabungur Sub-district.

“I can confirm that he was not an employee of Rancabungur Sub-district. He was a media colleague who happened to be helping to urge residents at the time. It was not for coverage, just helping to encourage residents,” Dita said.

Dita explained that the sub-district had been distributing red and white flags to residents deemed in need since early August. Residents considered able were only given an appeal to put up flags independently.

When visiting the barber’s shop on Monday (10/8), she felt some of the barber’s words were inappropriate.

“When I entered, I said, ‘Please put up the flag.’ There was some language that I felt was not quite right. Then I went out, feeling dizzy and looking for a chair,” she said.

“Then the media colleague, upon hearing that, became emotional. I was also surprised that he was the one who got emotional,” Dita added.

She then asked the Rancabungur Sub-district Secretary to enter and help calm the situation.

“That is why in the last part of the video you can see the sub-district secretary entering. I asked him to mediate,” she said.