Hundreds of Academics and Activists Gather at UI, Addressing 'Observer Inflation'

Hundreds of scientists and activists attended a focus group discussion (FGD) organised by the Interdisciplinary Intellectual Forum (FIAD) at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Central Jakarta, on Monday (13/4).

Human rights activist and Director of Amnesty Indonesia, Usman Hamid, responded to Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya’s comments on the phenomenon of observer inflation, which refers to the increasing number of parties offering opinions without expertise or accurate data.

Usman stated that Teddy’s remarks lack credibility because observers are actually key actors in helping the government understand what is happening in society.

“First, that statement is actually not credible, because observers are an important part of the actors that help the government understand what is happening in society,” Usman told reporters.

“Without observers, it is impossible for the government to objectively understand social, economic, political, and legal realities,” he added.

Usman said that Teddy’s response instead creates the impression of an administration that is anti-criticism.

“So, statements like that only reinforce the impression that the government is anti-criticism. Especially last March, President Prabowo stated that he would regulate observers, assessing that they have impure motives,” he said.

He also alluded to the many negative comments directed at observers by the current administration.

“From just losing the election, to seeking money, or carrying foreign interests. So, it’s best to stop statements like those made by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Wijaya,” he said.

Previously, Teddy’s statement on ‘observer inflation’ was made because he claimed that several observers were providing incorrect data that did not match the actual conditions.

“Now, there is one phenomenon. What is it? There is something called observer inflation. So, there are many observers. There are rice observers, but their background is not in that field. There are military observers, foreign observers, and those observers’ data does not match the facts, the data is wrong,” Teddy said at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, on Friday (10/4).

However, according to Teddy, the government is open to criticism and input from various parties, emphasising the importance of delivery based on data and facts.

“So, I think it’s fine for us to have different views, different opinions. Please give criticism, but don’t give statements that lead to anxiety, making people anxious about this country. Everything is stable, everything is under control,” Teddy said.