Five Demands from Banser as They Storm the KPK During Yaqut's Questioning
Barisan Ansor Serbaguna (Banser), the paramilitary wing of Gerakan Pemuda Ansor, submitted five demands whilst staging a protest at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters on Thursday afternoon, 12 March, as former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas underwent questioning. Yaqut serves as an adviser to the organisation.
The group contended that Yaqut was being subjected to criminalisation and expressed their concern over the situation. They maintained that Yaqut had derived no personal benefit whatsoever from the additional hajj quotas that Indonesia received for the 2024 pilgrimage season.
“Having carefully reviewed the legal proceedings against our friend Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, we hold the following view: firstly, justice and legal certainty form the principal foundation of a constitutional state. Law enforcement must proceed in alignment with the principles of substantive justice and must not serve merely as an instrument of criminalisation,” stated one of the group’s speakers from a command vehicle in the courtyard of the KPK’s Red and White Building in Jakarta on Thursday afternoon, 12 March.
They argued that public policy represents part of the administrative responsibility of state officials in conducting government affairs, a responsibility protected by the constitution and prevailing legislation. Consequently, in their second demand, they warned against criminalising Yaqut for policies he had implemented.
“The practice of criminalising public policy whilst disregarding the principle of substantive justice can transform law into an instrument of oppression that obstructs innovation in public service and ultimately weakens governmental administration,” the speaker continued.
The following constitute the complete demands they presented before the KPK headquarters, where Yaqut remained under questioning as a suspect in the alleged corruption case involving additional hajj quotas.
We affirm our position:
We solemnly declare our faith and testify that our friend, Gus Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, is a person, cadre, and state official of integrity, national commitment, and dedication in fulfilling his duties and responsibilities to the nation and state.
We reject the criminalisation of public policy grounded in sincere intention and good faith to safeguard the lives of Indonesian hajj pilgrims. Particularly without malicious intent, abuse of authority, or demonstrable and measurable loss to state finances.
We urge law enforcement in combating corruption offences to remain founded upon the principle of substantive justice and not be misused as an instrument for criminalising policy.
We demand that law enforcement officials act professionally, objectively, and proportionally to prevent arbitrariness that constrains discretion and obstructs innovation by public officials.
We appeal to the heart of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, General of the Indonesian Armed Forces Haji Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo, to exercise his constitutional authority as mandated by the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia with wisdom and prudence in order to establish justice and legal certainty for our friend Gus Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
“We remain committed to monitoring this process in order to uphold just and dignified law in the Republic of Indonesia,” the speaker concluded.