Alluding To Police Deleting Criticism Murals, Jokowi: It's A Small Business, I Was Insulted, Cursed, Slandered, It's Normal

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) alluded to a number of murals containing criticisms of him. According to him, public criticism in the form of the image is actually only a small matter, so Jokowi questioned why the police were afraid.

"What do you do with murals, my people are insulted, I'm cursed at, it's normal to be slandered. There's only murals to be afraid of. What are you doing?" Jokowi asked while giving a briefing to the Head of the 2021 Regional Unit which was broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Friday, December 3.

Jokowi said that law enforcement must be carried out indiscriminately. However, the Police must also be careful with freedom of expression.

According to him, this should be a concern because the Freedom of Expression Index is currently falling.

"This is another perception, seen by the community, once again the perception is being captured little by little. Therefore, the approach must be persuasive and dialogical," said the president.

Jokowi emphasized that he had never ordered murals containing criticisms of him to be removed. He also believes that the National Police Chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, has never given the same order.

"I know it's impossible. The order of the Chief of Police is also impossible, the order of the Kapolda is also impossible, the order of the Kapolres is also impossible, it's impossible. That's actually a matter at the Polses which I checked in the field. But in fact it was deleted," said Jokowi.

"That's why I told the police chief. It's a small matter. I came to an area where murals were removed, it was crowded," he added.

Jokowi asked the Police to guarantee freedom of expression. He assessed that anyone who criticizes the government does not need to be summoned or prosecuted.

However, he reminded the police that they must follow up on anyone who disturbs public order in the country. "If it bothers you, please (call, ed). But if you don't, don't because we have declared this a democratic country," he said.

"Respect freedom of speech and absorb its aspirations," concluded Jokowi.