Minister Of Home Affairs Asks Regional Heads To Limit Mass Crowds

JAKARTA - Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian asked regional heads to make strict rules regarding crowds during the COVID-19 pandemic. He even proposed a 3M push to 4M by avoiding the crowd as an addition.

"Those in the regions, please, by looking at the graph of the COVID-19 curve which is relatively increasing, increasing. There is no trigger for it to fall, so I think it is necessary to make regulations," said Tito when he was a speaker at the Innovative Government Awards ( IGA) 2020, as quoted from Antara, Saturday, December 19.

He explained that the related rules include the obligation to wear masks, including socialization, distribution and enforcement of the law, then the principles of washing hands, maintaining distance, and avoiding crowds.

Tito said that even today, there are still many people who do not understand why they should use a "hand sanitizer".

"The hand sanitizer must be in everyone's pocket. Just hold the spray right away, because it's impossible to carry a basin (of water) and soap everywhere," said Tito.

According to him, regional heads must intervene in public policies so that people in the regions will comply with the appeal to avoid crowds.

"There needs to be public policy intervention. In places where the public space is, it is regulated and there is enforcement. The last thing that is most important in my opinion is how to avoid any crowd. Once a crowd occurs, all of 3M's efforts are in vain," said Tito. .

According to Tito, the act of expressing opinions in public or demonstrations is not prohibited, but is limited to the number of people who must be reduced. If necessary, no more than 50 people.

"In my opinion, just limit 50 people. Just like we limited (the number of people) in the regional head elections (pilkada) yesterday," said Tito.

According to Tito, if the mass of the demonstration is not limited, then what will happen will be a massive COVID-19 transmission (superspreader). If you don't want that to happen, he said, then law enforcement officials must make rules limiting the number of masses so that the expression of opinions can still be implemented in compliance with health protocols.

So that it is easier for COVID-19 tracers to track people who are participating in the activity of expressing opinions if someone is tested positive for COVID-19.

"Demo is allowed, expression in public, freedom of expression, please. But in the rules. The main rule, the name is ICCPR, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. That UN document, article 9, does not mention there are no restrictions, but does mention there is no intervention, "he concluded