Boni Hargens Urges Public Not to Panic Over 'Black September' Issue
Political and intelligence analyst Boni Hargens has requested that the public approach the ‘Black September’ issue proportionally and avoid falling into excessive anxiety regarding potential security and political disturbances.
Speaking in Jakarta on Friday, Boni stated that Indonesia’s security forces have extensive experience in handling various security situations. According to him, the National Police (Polri), together with the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), possess the capacity to anticipate potential disruptions.
“There has been almost no riot during the Prabowo-Gibran administration that was not handled quickly and appropriately by the security apparatus,” he said.
He noted that the ‘Black September’ discourse has spread across various segments of society and social media. The term refers to concerns regarding potential actions that could disrupt political stability in September.
“The month of September is indeed laden with important historical moments in Indonesia, and that is what attracts certain parties to exploit them,” he said.
Boni stated that this historical background could be used by certain parties to construct narratives that hold emotional and political appeal within the community.
He cited the Semanggi II Tragedy on 24 September 1999, which involved student demonstrations opposing the Bill on the Management of Emergency Situations (RUU PKB). In that event, several people lost their lives, including University of Indonesia student Yap Yun Hap. Boni assessed that such historical events could be utilised to provide legitimacy or a sense of shock to a specific agenda.
He also assessed that the use of the term ‘Black September’ could influence public perception by strengthening fears regarding the possibility of mass protests or security disturbances.
According to Bini, excessive fear could instead increase psychological pressure within society and cause the issue to expand beyond the actual reality.
Therefore, he reminded the public not to ignore the issue, but also not to exaggerate it to the point of causing social unrest.
“Even though this issue exploits historical moments, it is not an indication of an unmanageable threat. Rest assured, Polri, BIN, and TNI have proven capabilities and experience in maintaining national security,” said the former Supervisory Board member of LKBN ANTARA.
Boni stated that national stability is a shared responsibility that requires the roles of both security forces and the public. According to him, the public can contribute by maintaining peace and unity, and by not being easily influenced by unverified information.