Megawati's Honor Defense, BARKINDO asks the Police to Arrest Sri Bintang Pamungkas

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Activist Line (BARKINDO) held a demonstration in front of the Indonesian Republic Police Headquarters (Mabes Polri). They urged law enforcement officials to immediately follow up on alleged violations of the law related to the statement made by Sri Bintang Pamungkas in a video that circulated on social media.

According to BARKINDO, the content of the video is suspected of containing elements of defamation, slander, hate speech, and the dissemination of information that is considered unfounded against the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The BARKINDO Presidium, Joko Priyoski, emphasized that freedom of opinion is the right of every citizen guaranteed by the constitution. However, according to him, this freedom should not be used to spread slander, hoaxes, or attack someone's honor without being supported by verifiable facts.

"Freedom of expression is the right of every citizen, but this freedom also has limits, namely it must not be used to spread slander, hoaxes, or attack the honor of an individual or institution without a clear basis. BARKINDO will not be silent when someone defames Ibu Megawati without being based on clear data," he said. Joko Priyoski to reporters, Thursday, July 30.

"We believe that law enforcement officers will process the law of Sri Bintang Pamungkas to hold him accountable for his statement in the video that circulated on social media. We will always take care of Marwah Ibu Megawati Soekarnoputri as the Proclaimer's daughter," said Joko Priyoski.

Three demands of BARKINDO to the National Police

In the action, BARKINDO conveyed three demands to the Indonesian National Police.

First, BARKINDO condemned Sri Bintang Pamungkas' statement which was considered to contain allegations of defamation against Megawati Soekarnoputri. Second, BARKINDO urged law enforcement officials to immediately take legal action on statements that were considered to contain elements of defamation and provocation. And third, BARKINDO asked law enforcement to be fair and professional.

The organization also referred to statements in the video containing allegations regarding the flow of funds to Megawati Soekarnoputri as well as statements that they considered contained threats of violence. BARKINDO asked that all of these allegations be processed in accordance with applicable laws.

According to them, criticism is part of democratic life guaranteed by the constitution, but its delivery must not be accompanied by slander, unprovable information, or statements that attack someone's honor.

BARKINDO stated that it would continue to monitor the legal process related to the case and hoped that the police would handle the case objectively, transparently, and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.