PAN Politician: Reporting Saiful Mujani-Islah Bahrawi is the Right Step

Deputy General Chairman of the PAN Central Executive Board, Saleh Partaonan Daulay, considers the step of reporting Saiful Mujani and Islah Bahrawi to the police as the right move in consolidating efforts to bring down President Prabowo Subianto. “I am confident that if the police watch that video, they will find many potential violation articles. It could possibly be considered as elements of defamation, hate speech, unpleasant acts, calls to topple a legitimate government, and so on,” Saleh told reporters on Friday (10/4), quoted from Antara. According to him, the public can easily understand the alleged incitement because it was delivered publicly and recorded in full, which has spread on social media. Therefore, the reporting done is, he said, appropriate and in accordance with the provisions. “That call is highly potential to be misinterpreted. As a result, it is highly potential to cause uproar and disorder,” he said. Saleh agrees that everyone has the right to speak publicly. However, if the speech is deemed disruptive and causes uproar, it may be reported to law enforcement authorities (APH). “The police should follow up on this report. That way, law enforcement applies to everyone, there should be no impression that if activists are reported, they are not processed,” he said. Civil Coalition Asks Police Not to Process Report Meanwhile, Executive Director of Centra Initiative Al Araf said the Civil Society Coalition views the reporting of Saiful Mujani and Islah Bahrawi to the police as reflecting a worrying trend in law enforcement practices. “If practices like this continue to be allowed, an atmosphere of fear will be created in society which ultimately silences freedom of opinion, weakens academic freedom, and narrows civil space which should be the main foundation in the democratic system,” he said. Araf said that in a democracy, criticism of the government, including calls for leadership change, is a legitimate part of the public control mechanism, as long as it is done within constitutional corridors and without violence. “The Civil Society Coalition urges law enforcement officials not to follow up on reports that lack strong legal basis and to avoid the arbitrary use of treason articles,” he said. Metro Jaya Police have received two reports against political analyst Saiful Mujani regarding alleged incitement. The two reports are currently still in the process of deepening investigation. Head of Public Relations of Metro Jaya Police, Combess Budi Hermanto, asked the public not to bring this case into the realm of political issues. “We also invite everyone to be wise together, not to make the reports of the two citizens earlier regarding criminalisation, brought into SARA issues, politics,” Budi told reporters on Friday (10/4).