Gibran’s Photograph Removed at West Java DPRD, Then Found Upside Down
A photograph of Gibran Rakabuming Raka as Vice-President was taken down in the Budget Committee room of the West Java Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) last Thursday (12 November). There was an incident in which the photograph was seen upside down after being removed from the wall.
The photograph was taken down during an audience with a civil society alliance at the DPRD. Detikcom reported that West Java DPRD chair Buky Wibawa said he was unaware of what had happened.
Buky said there had been no instruction to remove or turn over the photograph. He said he was surprised when the upside-down image of Gibran attracted public attention and prompted accusations that the DPRD leadership lacked proper conduct.
According to Buky, the audience was part of the DPRD’s openness to public concerns. As the people’s house, the DPRD is obliged to receive groups wishing to put forward demands.
“First, the DPRD is the people’s house, so we always receive those who request an audience. Where possible, the leadership usually meets them,” Buky said on Friday (13 November).
He explained that the West Java civil society group’s request for an audience had been received a day before news emerged of the Vice-President’s resignation. The letter listed around six demands the group wanted to present.
After the audience, participants asked to take a group photograph. Buky said he then saw someone carrying a framed photograph of Gibran, but, as he was standing to one side, he did not know that it had subsequently been placed upside down.
“At the end, after the audience, as usual they asked for a group photograph. I was accompanied by West Java DPRD Deputy Chair Iwan. I could see someone carrying a framed photograph of the Vice-President, but I was standing to one side. I didn’t know the photograph had been turned upside down,” Buky said.
Buky said he would formally seek clarification from the West Java Civil Society Alliance through its coordinator. The West Java DPRD plans to send a letter asking who removed and turned over the photograph.
“We will send a letter today asking for clarification about yesterday’s incident. We will wait for their answer as soon as possible. Hopefully they will respond promptly,” he said.
Dedi speaks out
West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi, known as Demul, commented on the removal and turning over of Gibran’s photograph at the DPRD.
Dedi said he regretted the incident. Political expression is part of democratic rights, he said, but freedom of speech must also be exercised responsibly and with decorum.
“That is a democratic and personal right for everyone. But democracy also has what is called the etiquette of democracy,” Dedi said on Saturday (14 November), as reported by Detikcom.
He said a photograph should only be removed from a government office through the proper procedure, particularly as the Budget Committee room is where the DPRD and regional government discuss and make decisions on the budget.
“It should have been taken down by an appointed staff member,” he said.
Dedi also criticised the manner in which Gibran’s photograph was removed, carried upside down and placed on a chair. He said the incident should be a matter of concern for everyone.
“Of course, this is an incident that we should all regret. The DPRD chair has given an open explanation,” Dedi said.
Dedi urged the civil society groups and activists involved in removing the photograph to explain the incident publicly.
He also called on the public to uphold an open yet civil democracy and to await the People’s Consultative Assembly’s (MPR) decision on the process of determining the Vice-President.
“Let us practise democracy openly and with decorum for the progress of the nation. We should wait for the MPR to make its decision, and we believe it will reach the best outcome,” Dedi said.