Komnas HAM: The Sukantani Band Case Is A Lesson So That Institutions Are Not Anti-Critic

Member of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) RI Anis Hidayah (ANTARA)

Member of the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Anis Hidayah emphasized that the Sukatani Band case through the song "Pay Payment" must be a lesson for all institutions to be more open to criticism from the public.

"From the beginning, Komnas HAM has emphasized that freedom of expression is a fundamental right. This is the constitutional right of every citizen who must be protected, respected, and fulfilled," said Anis Hidayah in Padang, West Sumatra, Wednesday.

According to Anis, if there are groups or individuals who create a work, both in the form of songs and others, then it is part of the fundamental rights that must be respected together.

"If the work is critical of the government, policies, or state institutions, then it must be respected because it is part of human rights," he added.

According to Anis, the party who was criticized, in this case the police, should not be reactive or repressive. On the other hand, this criticism can be answered by improving performance so that public trust and institutional dignity are maintained.

"Because this is a fundamental right, there are three obligations of the state, namely respecting, protecting, and fulfilling," he explained.

Anis also regrets that cases involving freedom of expression are still happening. Prior to the Sukatani Band case, the artist Yos Suprapto also experienced the same thing when his work was canceled at the Indonesian National Gallery in December 2024.

He also reminded the government, officials, and stakeholders not to be anti-criticism and not to take criticism as a form of citizen's love for Indonesia.

"In fact, those who criticize show love for this country," he concluded.