Pigai Suspects Reporting of Feri-Ubedilah Aimed at Cornering Prabowo Government

Human Rights Minister (HAM) Natalius Pigai has claimed to be suspicious about the existence of a scenario deliberately designed by irresponsible individuals in the reporting of Feri Amsari and Ubedilah Badrun to the police. He reasons that from those reports, there is an impression of an effort to corner the Prabowo Subianto government by reporting civilians who criticise government policies. “Policing fellow citizens like this seems to be an attempt to corner or downgrade the Prabowo government,” said Pigai in a written statement on Monday, 20 April 2026. That suspicion, he continued, is further strengthened because the current Prabowo government is in its best phase, claimed to be a prominent country with a surplus of democracy. Moreover, he said, criticisms, whether expressed by Feri Amsari regarding food self-sufficiency or Ubedilah Badrun about Prabowo-Gibran being a burden on the state, still fall within the legitimate corridor. “Therefore, they cannot be criminalised or imprisoned,” he stated. In the context of Feri Amsari’s opinion on food self-sufficiency, for example. According to Pigai, Feri, who is a lecturer in constitutional law, does not have competence in the field of agriculture. Moreover, the criticisms voiced by Feri and Ubedilah against government policies are human rights for every citizen protected by the constitution. “Criticism can be criminalised or lead to imprisonment only if it contains elements of incitement leading to treasonous acts, accompanied by ad hominem actions, and attacks on SARA,” said Pigai. Meanwhile, last Monday, lecturer from Jakarta State University Ubedilah Badrun was reported to the police over his statement calling Prabowo-Gibran a burden on the state. Four days later, it was Feri Amsari’s turn to be reported. The lecturer from Andalas University was reported over an alleged matter related to his statement at a halal bihalal event for observers at the end of March. The reporter is named Minta Ito Situmorang, who claims to be from the Legal Aid Institute or LBH Tani Nusantara. Ito reported Feri with charges under Article 264 of the Criminal Code (KUHP).