PDIP Politician Urges Authorities to Investigate Tracking Device Terror Against Tiyo Ardianto
PDI Perjuangan politician M. Guntur Romli has strongly condemned the act of intimidation involving the installation of a tracking device on a car used by former Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Student Executive Board Chair Tiyo Ardianto. Guntur Romli stated that this action constitutes illegal surveillance, which he described as a form of psychological terror. He further asserted that it represents a violation of Human Rights (HAM) and wounds democracy in Indonesia. “We also remind law enforcement officials that this incident extends the grim list of acts of terror that have been left unresolved,” Guntur Romli told Tempo on Sunday, 14 June 2026.
Guntur Romli noted that illegal surveillance violates various regulations. For instance, Article 28G paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution guarantees every person the right to personal protection, family, honour, dignity, and property, as well as the right to security and protection from fear. Furthermore, Article 31 paragraph (1) of Law Number 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights states that a person’s residence and private life must not be interfered with. This act also breaches Article 4 of Law Number 27 of 2022 on Personal Data Protection (UU PDP), which stipulates that specific or personal data, including location data tracking an individual’s movements, is protected by law. Article 65 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 67 paragraph (1) of the same law strictly prohibits anyone from obtaining or collecting personal data not belonging to them with the intention of unlawfully benefiting themselves or others. The action also violates Article 31 paragraph (1) of Law Number 11 of 2008 on Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE), which prohibits the intentional and unauthorised interception of electronic information or documents within another person’s electronic system.
Guntur Romli also raised the issue of previous acts of terror against civil society. He stated that the public has not forgotten the case involving a pig’s head sent to the Tempo office, the hacking of personal data, and the intimidation and terror targeting journalists, activists, and influencers such as DJ Donny, Sherly Annavita, Virdian Aurellio, and Palti Hutabarat, among others. “All of these cases remain in the dark to this day and have not been fully uncovered,” he said. He added that the state has been half-hearted in uncovering the acid attack against KontraS Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus, judging the military court handling of that case to be a sham due to the very light sentence handed down to the perpetrator. “Now, fresh terror has occurred again. PDI Perjuangan urges law enforcement officials to immediately and thoroughly investigate the intellectual actors behind the installation of this tracking device, as well as the previous acts of terror,” he said. “The state must not be defeated by perpetrators of terror, and authorities must not be selective in order to maintain a safe space for critical public voices.”
Tiyo Ardianto received the threat after participating in the Gejayan Memanggil demonstration alongside students and civil society movements in Yogyakarta on Saturday, 13 June 2026. That day, the 2025 UGM BEM chair was travelling by car. Tiyo explained that after feeling less safe during his travels, he borrowed a relative’s car for transportation. While on the road after the protest, Tiyo received an unusual notification on his gadget. “A tracking device named PBX Finder was found moving with me,” Tiyo said after checking the notification. He then got out of the car to search for the device and soon found a PBX Finder unit under the black car’s frame. Tiyo then contacted several people close to him, who advised him to submerge the tracking device in water. “I do not know who installed the tracking device,” he said, suspecting he had been followed by unknown individuals. The undergraduate Philosophy student judged the suspected tracking by unknown persons as unusual, highlighting what he saw as a regime’s method of terrorising citizens who criticise government policy.