Season of Reporting Figures to Police Over Critical Statements

A number of observers and activists have been reported to the police due to statements with a critical tone. The complainants are from community groups who disagree with their statements. Among those reported is the 10th and 12th Vice President, Jusuf Kalla.

At least three observers and activists have been reported to the police: political expert Saiful Mujani, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) activist from Madura Islah Bahrawi, and lecturer at Jakarta State University (UNJ) Ubedilah Badrun.

They were reported because of their critical statements.

Saiful Mujani

Saiful Mujani was reported by someone named Robina Akbar from the East Jakarta Community Alliance to the Metro Jaya Regional Police regarding alleged incitement. The report is recorded under number LP/B/2428/IV/2026/SPKT/POLDA METRO JAYA, dated 8 April 2026.

“Yes, it’s true he was reported on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, around 21:30 WIB,” said the Head of Public Relations of Metro Jaya Regional Police, Commissioner Budi Hermanto.

Mujani was reported in connection with Article 246 of the Criminal Code. That article is known to regulate incitement to resist public authority with a maximum penalty of four years’ imprisonment.

“Related to Article 246 of Law 1/2023,” said Budi.

Mujani has spoken out regarding the report. According to him, the report is a legitimate step, but it would be better if the statements he made were responded to with a reply.

Previously, a clip of Saiful’s video narrating a call to topple the government sparked controversy and went viral on social media.

Saiful has also explained the intent of his statement. He emphasised that his words were not an act of rebellion but a political stance.

Mujani is a Professor of Political Science at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah. He is also the founder of the research and political policy consultancy firm based on research, Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC).

Islah Bahrawi

The same person, Robina Akbar, also reported Islah Bahrawi. Bahrawi’s statement in the same event as Saiful Mujani became the reason for the report.

Both spoke at the Halal Bihalal Observers event held after Eid al-Fitr 2026 or the 1447 Hijriah Eid al-Fitr.

Like Mujani, Bahrawi also made critical statements regarding the government.

Robina, as the complainant, said that Mujani and Islah’s statements were no longer a matter of freedom of opinion but had become criminal law violations.

“Because statements like this are no longer just opinions but have entered the category of criminal acts,” she said.

Robina, who claims to represent the East Jakarta Community Alliance, reported Islah Bahrawi and Saiful Mujani on the grounds that their statements caused unrest and had the potential to divide the nation.

“Therefore, the East Jakarta Community Alliance urges the police to act quickly to thoroughly investigate this case,” she said.

Ubedilah Badrun

Meanwhile, Ubedilah was reported to the Metro Jaya Regional Police following his statement calling Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka a burden on the nation.

Ubedilah is a political observer as well as a lecturer at Jakarta State University (UNJ). He is also known as a former 1998 activist who toppled the New Order (Orba) regime under President Soeharto’s leadership.

The report against Ubedilah was filed by Coordinator of Pemuda Garda Nusantara Rangga Kurnia Septian. The report was immediately accepted by the police and registered under number LP/B/2560/IV/2026/SPKT/POLDA METRO JAYA dated 13 April 2026.

In the video, Ubedilah stated that the Prabowo-Gibran government has become a burden on the Indonesian nation and must end its power immediately.

According to him, the Prabowo-Gibran government also has inherent flaws from the start, especially constitutional flaws during the 2024 presidential election process.

Jusuf Kalla

Meanwhile, JK was reported by several parties with two reports. Unlike the reports against Mujani, Bahrawi, and Ubed, the report against JK relates to his statement on the Poso conflict. However, recently JK has made many critical statements, from fuel prices to Jokowi’s diploma which some parties accuse of being fake.

The first report against JK was filed by the Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI) together with the Expert Council of the Indonesian Christian Community Assembly (MUKI), Indonesian Pastors Association (API), Pluralism Community Struggle Movement, DPP Si Pitung, up to DPP Horas Bangso Batak, reporting JK to the Metro Jaya Regional Police.

The report was received and registered under number LP/B/2546/IV/2026/SPKT/Polda Metro Jaya on 12 April 2026.

In their statement, DPP GAMKI quoted JK’s statement which they considered controversial. That statement touched on the conflict in Poso and Ambon in the early 2000s. They took issue with the phrase ‘syahid’ used by JK regarding the conflict that touched on religion, including in Poso and Ambon.

General Chairman of DPP GAMKI Sahat Sinurat stated that they also strongly condemned JK’s statement which they considered to hurt the feelings of Christians and caused unrest in society.

The second report was filed by the North Sumatra Civil Society Alliance to the North Sumatra Regional Police.

The report was received and registered under number LP/B/579/IV/SPKT/POLDA SUMATERA UTARA dated 14 April 2026.

A representative of the alliance as well as Chairman of the Synod of the Indonesian Christ Soldier Church (GLKRI), Bishop Dikson Panjaitan, said the report was filed because JK was considered to have committed blasphemy against the Christian religion.

JK’s sermon when preaching at the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Mosque in March 2026 became the trigger for the report. That sermon discussed the Poso and Ambon conflicts related to Christians and Muslims.

JK and UGM themselves have denied the statement considered to blaspheme religion.

JK’s spokesperson, Husain Abdullah, said the viral social media post lacked the full context. The video in question contained JK’s statement referring to both sides in the Poso and Ambon conflicts with the term ‘died syahid’.

“After investigation, the accusation is the result of context cutting. We firmly deny that accusation,” Husain said when contacted.