Police Praise Orderly Expression of Public Aspirations
Indonesia’s National Police (Polri) has expressed its appreciation and thanks to people in several regions who have voiced their aspirations in an orderly, safe and peaceful manner.
In a written statement, Polri Public Relations Division Chief Inspector General Johnny Eddizon Isir said that expressing opinions in public is a right protected by law and an important part of democratic life.
He said Polri was committed to continuing to assist participants in expressing their aspirations, adopting a humane and professional approach in accordance with applicable regulations. This commitment reflected the police force’s role in ensuring that people could express their views safely while maintaining public order.
Johnny said the orderly and responsible conduct shown by members of the public deserved recognition. A safe and stable situation could be achieved through cooperation between the public and the police.
“We would like to thank and commend participants in demonstrations in several regions who have expressed their aspirations in an orderly, safe and peaceful manner. This shows that freedom of expression can go hand in hand with an awareness of the need to maintain order and respect other people’s rights,” Johnny said on Wednesday (28 October).
He stressed that Polri would remain committed to serving people expressing their aspirations humanely, respecting human rights and acting in accordance with procedures and legislation.
“Polri is here to serve the public and ensure that every citizen can express their aspirations safely. We encourage all members of society to continue maintaining order, respecting one another and working together to create a stable situation,” he said.
Polri hopes that solidarity and good communication between the public and the police will continue. By prioritising dialogue, mutual respect and shared responsibility, the expression of public aspirations can proceed in an orderly manner without impinging on other people’s right to go about their activities.
In keeping with the motto “Police Together with the Community”, Polri said that facilitating the expression of public aspirations was part of its commitment to remain present, listen and serve, in the interests of public safety and order.
Express views peacefully and protect public facilities
Johnny also called on the public to help maintain safety and order. He said freedom of expression was an important part of democracy that must be exercised responsibly and with respect for the rights of others.
He reminded the public that shared public spaces must be protected and maintained so everyone can use them in their daily activities.
“Let us exercise this right peacefully, in an orderly and responsible way, while respecting other people’s rights and protecting the public facilities we use together,” Johnny said.
He said public facilities such as roads, bus stops, pavements and parks played an important role in people’s lives. They were used by many groups, including ride-hailing drivers, small traders, workers and people going about their daily activities.
Protecting public facilities was a way of showing concern for the common good. Demonstrations were therefore expected to take account of the comfort and safety of people carrying out activities near the site.
Johnny also urged the public to prioritise dialogue, show mutual respect and avoid being influenced by unverified information that could fuel tensions.
He said orderly expressions of opinion would help create a stable atmosphere and ensure that the messages being conveyed were properly heard.
He added that democratic maturity was reflected in people’s ability to express their views while respecting others’ rights. All parties were therefore expected to play an active role in maintaining order and caring for public facilities as a shared responsibility.