Multiple TV Stations Prepared to Facilitate Debate Between UGM Law Professor Zainal Arifin and Human Rights Minister Pigai

Zainal Arifin Mochtar, Law Professor at Universitas Gadjah Mada, has disclosed that numerous national television stations have offered to facilitate an open debate with Indonesia’s Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai. This came following a public polemical exchange between the two figures on the X platform (Twitter) regarding human rights issues.

“Very many have contacted (us offering to facilitate - Ed.). Kompas, iNews, there’s Mojok as well, and Tempo and Tempo TV have also invited us,” Zainal stated at the UGM Law Faculty in Sleman on Friday (27 February 2026).

According to him, offers have not only come from television stations but also from research centres, campus discussion forums, and student executive boards. He has even posted information about this on his X account, tagging Minister Pigai’s account. However, he remained uncertain whether the minister has directly responded to his post.

“Anyone is fine (no problem - Ed.), but I think it might be better on multiple platforms rather than just one, so others can still watch,” he said.

Nevertheless, Zainal acknowledged that as of now he has not received a formal invitation regarding the debate. “Formally, I haven’t (received an invitation - Ed.),” he noted.

The academic, commonly known as Uceng, explained his reasoning for accepting the challenge posed by the Human Rights Minister. He emphasised that he is not someone who enjoys debating in the public sphere and has often declined similar invitations, including those led by journalists such as Aiman Witjaksono and Karni Ilyas.

However, this time was different. Uceng believed that the public needed to witness healthy democratic practice, where public officials respond substantively to criticism rather than merely through rhetoric.

“Why am I willing this time? Because I believe the public should be taught that in democracy, public officials should not respond with jargon, as if saying ‘rest assured I have mastered this knowledge. I can handle it’. No, that cannot happen. Democracy cannot work that way anymore,” he said.