Shadow Cabinet Not Intending Subversion, Says Feri Amsari
Feri Amsari, State Secretary Minister of the Shadow Cabinet, has said the group has no intention of overthrowing the government or committing treason. According to him, the formation of the Shadow Cabinet does not fulfil the elements of treason either.
“To the best of our belief, not a single article relating to treason applies,” he said at a Shadow Cabinet press conference in Central Jakarta on Monday, 27 July 2026.
Treason is regulated under Articles 104, 107, 108 and 109 of the Criminal Code (KUHP), which cover offences against state security. This constitutional law expert said the Shadow Cabinet has not committed any of the acts covered by those articles.
The Shadow Cabinet is not attempting to physically attack the president or vice president. It also does not seek to alter the structure of government or the ministries. “We are not out to change anything; we are merely offering a shadow perspective,” he said.
The Shadow Cabinet has no desire to seize part or all of Indonesian territory, nor is it an armed coup. “We have no weapons. All we have is a microphone,” he said.
Even so, he believes the Shadow Cabinet is a weapon of the people. The people, he said, have only the right to speak. “The right to speak usually frightens authoritarian governments,” he said.
The shadow cabinet was formed by civil society, comprising academics and activists. A number of names were selected to fill 15 ministerial posts in this cabinet counterbalancing the government of Prabowo Subianto.
Feri Amsari explained that the cabinet is not intended to seize power from the current administration led by Prabowo Subianto. Its formation, he said, is a civil society response to the disappearance of checks and balances on the executive.
He said there is no formal opposition capable of counterbalancing the Red and White Cabinet, which is mostly made up of political forces from coalition parties. In fact, he said, Indonesia has no shortage of competent individuals ready and capable of running the government.
“Unfortunately, none of this can be realised because it is held hostage by political interests,” Feri said in an official statement quoted on Saturday, 18 July 2026.
Feri assured that the formation of this cabinet is free of support from political parties or politicians. He said all the work is voluntary and pro bono, carried out in the public interest.