Police Will Solve Baswedan Novel Matters With Mediation

JAKARTA - The National Police Headquarters stated that the handling of reports against Novel Baswedan would be resolved by prioritizing mediation.

This was carried out by the direction of the National Police Chief regarding application numbered: SE/2/11/2021 handling of Information, Technology, Electronic (ITE) cases.

"The process will be like that (mediation). Because the circular letter states like that", said Karo Penmas, Police Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Rusdi Hartono, to reporters, Tuesday, February 23.

Rusdi said in the circular that similar cases would be facilitated for mediation. That way the legal process does not need to continue.

The mediation process will also be implemented in all cases related to alleged defamation. To be precise, cases can be resolved by restorative justice.

"For existing cases, as well as cases that may be in the future like that", he said.

"If the personal matters are only insulting and defamation, of course in the future the police will prioritize mediation and restorative justice methods", he continued.

Baswedan's novel was reported to the police because his tweet asked the authorities not to go too far. The tweet also appeared related to the cause of the death of Ustaz Maaher.

Novel wrote his criticism regarding the death of Ustaz Maaher on Tuesday, February 9 through his Twitter account @nazaqistsha. He questioned why the Ustaz was ill was forced to be detained in the detention center by the police.

"Innalillahi Wainnailaihi Rojiun Ustadz Maaher died at the Police detention center. In the case of humiliation, detention, then illness. People are sick, why are they forced to be detained? The authorities don't go too far ... Especially with Ustadz. It's not trivial, you know", wrote Novel Baswedan.