Rismon Sianipar Apologises; Gibran: Ramadan is a Good Month for Forgiveness
Jakarta — Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has responded to an apology submitted by researcher Rismon Sianipar to Indonesia’s seventh President Joko Widodo regarding his research in the book titled Jokowi’s White Paper.
Gibran, in a written statement received by Antara in Jakarta on Thursday evening, stated that Ramadan is an excellent month for mutual forgiveness and the restoration of brotherhood ties.
“Ramadan is a month that is very good for mutual forgiveness and rebuilding the bonds of brotherhood,” Gibran said.
Vice President Gibran also appreciated Sianipar’s statement and stance in submitting clarifications and his willingness to review previously made public statements. This step was deemed to demonstrate maturity in democracy.
Previously, Rismon Sianipar visited the residence of Indonesia’s seventh President Joko Widodo to apologise regarding his research in the Jokowi’s White Paper book.
“As I clarified over the past day or two, in the last two months I have continued my research. If it is said that I have re-examined and re-studied all the methodologies I wrote independently, then I want to emphasise: I wrote these methodologies independently, approximately 480 pages out of more than 700 pages in the Jokowi’s White Paper,” he said after visiting Widodo’s residence in Solo, Central Java, on Thursday.
In this research, he acknowledged discovering several new findings for which he takes scientific and academic responsibility. One of these findings concerns the authenticity of Widodo’s diploma. According to him, elements examined include embossing and watermarks on the diploma, as well as the absence of a hologram.
He stated that based on these features, he now believes in a new finding that there are no irregularities regarding the authenticity of Widodo’s diploma.
“I was also hurt by my own findings because I had to honestly state that my findings would be criticised, insulted, and I would be labelled a traitor, but research is research. What can test research is its results, whether by me or someone else. Well, I submitted this to investigators about a week ago and to the Director of General Crime,” said the suspect in the defamation case related to allegations of Widodo’s diploma forgery.
On this occasion, he submitted his apology to Widodo and the public regarding his latest findings on Widodo’s diploma. The apology serves as his responsibility after reviewing the diploma showed changes.
“Of course, I also apologise to the public. Especially to the concerned parties like Pak Joko Widodo; that is the responsibility of a researcher who must be independent, ready to be criticised, insulted, with narratives as they wish,” he said.