Rafli Kande's Silent Silencing Politics

An Acehnese artist who currently sits on Commission VI of the Social Justice Party (PKS) faction, Rafli Kande, throws the discourse on the export of cannabis. Various parties reacted. The panicked immediately rejected this idea. Others, in fact, encourage the state to utilize these natural resources. Welcome to VOI's signature Series, "Don't Panic It's Organic". In the next week, we will review the discourse on cannabis exports and all efforts to encourage the use of the five finger plant. Not an easy thing, obviously. Let alone exporting, for research purposes, this country is absurdly anti.

The video above - minutes 1 second 29 to 2 seconds 20 minutes - is Rafli Kande conveying the idea of cannabis exports at the House Commission VI meeting with the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag), 30 January. His loud voice encouraged the country to use marijuana to increase income. Rafli also asked Aceh to become a center for cannabis cultivation.

Not only that. Rafli even talked about the criminalization of marijuana, which he said was a global conspiracy. Rafli's statement is clearly interesting. He is the first legislator to talk about the use of marijuana in an official government forum. However, the artist's "hum" suddenly disobeyed. Political pressure from across the parliament, especially from PKS, is believed to have silenced Rafli's ideas.

"So, sir, how can we make marijuana into a good export commodity. So, we make a location. I can give you the area later," said Rafli at the meeting.

"This marijuana is a global conspiracy. Marijuana is made the number one danger. Other narcotics are made with numbers, even though the most maddening and crazy, now go to prison instead of people (using) marijuana. People who use methamphetamine, kill their grandmothers. Use all ecstasy. sorts, "he continued.

Rafli Kande's change of attitude was seen in a discussion broadcast on Kompas TV, Saturday, February 8. At the event, Rafli seemed more political. His statements are much more "orderly". He stated that the idea put forward regarding the export of cannabis was a mere spontaneous reaction as an Acehnese.

Rafli's idea was not grandiose, actually. In Aceh, marijuana is often used for various things, from natural pesticides in plantations to cooking spices in household kitchens. Rafli also acknowledged that the idea of cannabis exports that he conveyed at a Commission VI meeting with the Ministry of Trade made him reprimanded by PKS.

"This (the use of marijuana) is my cultural understanding ... So that very day I was rebuked by my party. I was rebuked harshly, yes. This was taken over, yes. As a submissive cadre, an obedient soldier, I am grateful to my party, taking this over. atmosphere, I immediately withdrew my statement. I apologize, "said Rafli at the event.

A full week yesterday, we repeatedly tried to ask Rafli for clarification. However, he said he could not convey any statement by telephone or text message. Rafli admits that he is currently in Aceh. He promises conversations in face-to-face meetings at a time he cannot confirm.

Political observer, Ujang Komarudin, read the change in attitude that Rafli showed was the result of PKS pressure on his cadres. In Ujang's eyes, Rafli's idea of cannabis exports was actually legitimate. As a legislator who represents his electoral district (dapil) in Aceh, Rafli is obliged to convey whatever the aspirations of the citizens are.

However, on the other hand, Rafli's statement has the potential to harm PKS. As a religiously leaning party, support for cannabis use would contradict the party's image. "But, if you have touched on a certain party and it is detrimental to the party, the factions will usually stop the statement," said Ujang, contacted by VOI, Tuesday, February 11.

This political pressure was agreed by PKS faction chairman Jazuli Juwaini. He said Rafli's statement was not in accordance with party rules. That was what prompted PKS to reprimand Rafli. According to Jazuli, PKS is a party that consistently supports the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) to combat narcotics trafficking.

"It was on this basis that the PKS faction reprimanded Rafli. And those in line apologized for the mistake of thinking and personal statements that caused polemics and caused misunderstanding among the community. Then Rafly withdrew his personal proposal," said Jazuli in his statement.

PKS is not just rebuking Rafli. According to Jazuli, the PKS stance is unanimous about complying with Law No. 35/2009 on Narcotics.

"However, according to Rafly, there is an opportunity for the cannabis plant if it can be regulated in a special regulation, within certain limits it can become a raw material for the drug or pharmaceutical industry and several countries regulate the same thing," said Jazuli.

"But the PKS faction understands our law. In particular, Law No. 35/2009 on Narcotics (explicitly) strictly prohibits marijuana and categorizes it as narcotics class one," continued Jazuli.

On the other hand, Ujang actually saw PKS taking the wrong attitude by wasting this momentum. According to him, in modern political dynamics, progressive-thinking cadres like Rafli can be a deadlock breaker in rigid policies.

"It would be good if he was able to open up the cannabis export factor and if (this happened), PKS banned it, PKS was wrong," said Ujang.

"Just disclosing (existing) facts (about marijuana). If there was, where it happened, who was the person involved, and how much money was received and for what. Opening the facts and truth is part of the struggle of a people's representative," he added.

Senandung Rafli has long represented the voices of the Acehnese. His name is known through the song Anak Yatim, which represents the bitterness of the condition of the Acehnese people when the tsunami hit on December 26, 2004. Rafli's work has even become a song that every Acehnese must play to commemorate this tragic disaster.

"There is a melody, there is a local rhythm in this song which is very strong down to the people of Aceh," said Rafli as quoted by BBC Indonesia, Monday, February 17.

Rafli is not just an artist. His work was created through extracting inspiration from ancient rhythms and verses from Bumi Serambi Makkah. And not without challenges. During the turbulent conflict in Aceh, Rafli's songs were sung in a risky context. "Especially with clear poetry. The rhythm alone is suspicious. I feel it (suspected by the authorities)," said Rafli.

Apart from excavating ancient Acehnese poetry, each of Rafli's works is said to have accompanied Acehnese natural and cultural energy. The interview on 27 February 2015 actually illustrates the progress of Rafli's attitude and thoughts, who at that time was still a member of the Aceh Regional Representative Council (DPD). The ancient poetry combined with modern elements that Rafli offers in his music is a value that he deliberately promotes as a spirit to encourage a more open Aceh.

"I feel I have an important task to be able to present traditional Acehnese content which must be presented in a modern and dynamic form ... We must offer Aceh open to new things," said Rafli.

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