Kim Jong Un Builds Respect And Loyalty With Dictatorship Terror: Another Story Of Edy Rahmayadi's Thirst For Applause

Kim Jong Un (Instagram/@marshalkimjongun)

JAKARTA - The Governor of North Sumatra, Edy Rahmayadi, became a public discussion after his video tricking the coach of the North Sumatra billiard team went viral. Many attribute Edy's behavior to the dictatorship of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Not without reason. We discuss why applause is so crucial for Kim Jong Un and his leadership.

The trapping incident occurred when the Governor gave a speech at the ceremony of handing over the affection to PON athletes at his official residence in Medan, Monday, December 27. Suddenly Edy called Khoirudin (Choki) Aritonang, the coach of the North Sumatra billiard team for the Papua PON.

On stage, Edy asked Choki's identity, from his area of origin to his position in the Papuan PON contingent. Choki replies that he is a coach. "The coach did not applaud. Not suitable to be this coach," said Edy hearing Choki's answer while tweaking him.

The other guests laughed faintly. But it didn't take long for the atmosphere to turn tense when Edy chased Choki out of the room. "You don't need to use it anymore. You go out right away. You don't have to be here," said Edy.

Dijewer in public #EdyRahmayadi #PetanganBiliar #EdyRahmayadiJewerPetangan pic.twitter.com/8syycVMeTv

— (@y8sefv) December 28, 2021

One day after the incident, Tuesday, December 28, Edy answered the reason why he hired Choki. "Jewer dear." Edy also admitted that he saw Choki sleeping in the middle of the event. "I had a chance to hang out with football coach Luis Milla."

"Luis Milla was placed in a hotel, he asked for a mirror. I thought what is this for. Every time he wants to go out to train a little (weight) he doesn't eat him. That's the coach."

"If my coach, I gather like this, he sleeps," added Edy at the inauguration ceremony for the North Sumatra Indonesian Community Recreation Sports Committee (KORMI), Wednesday, December 29.

Choki also raised his voice after the incident. He considered Edy's anger towards him unclear. He also touched on the relevance of Edy's anger to the progress of North Sumatra's sport. Billiards, said Choki, did not get the attention of the North Sumatra Provincial Government.

"Angry, cursing doesn't connect. That's strange. Emotionally unclear. If you get angry, you curse, but the world of sports is advancing, that's good. This isn't it," Choki told reporters, Tuesday, December 29.

"Minus the attention to the world of sports, but crazy respect and applause from sports activists. What spectacular things did he do that made it important for applause?" Eddy said.

Choki also denied leaving the room because he was kicked out. Leaving was his choice because he felt humiliated. According to Choki, it was not only him who was the target of Edy's anger, but many other people in the room.

Furthermore, Choki also questioned why he had to applaud when Edy spoke. According to Choki, there was nothing special about Edy's mouth that made him have to applaud.

"I'm confused about what to applaud from him? After all, everything is normal. So why just because you don't get applauded you get angry in front of the crowd?" said Choki.

The signature applause of the dictatorship of Kim Jong Un

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. (Source: KCNA)

In the middle of this year, a rumor circulated. On the issue of North Korean Defense Minister Ri Yong-gol, who disappeared after being caught failing to applaud Kim Jong-un's presence at a workshop for North Korean military commanders held in June.

The publication of 48 photos of the workshop released by Rodong Sinmun, a Labor Party newspaper, shows the figure of Ri still sitting in his chair when the other audience seemed to give a standing ovation to Kim Jong Un. Ri, in the photo looks just looking at the floor.

After the circulation of the photo, Ri disappeared. Quoted by UPI, a source, who is a defector, said the possibility that Ri was executed was very high. Yes, although the source also expressed the view that the conclusions drawn from Ri's photo were unfair.

"What if the photo was taken when Ri didn't have time to stand up yet?" said the source.

Out of the context of Ri's applause, the Defense Minister is known to have a problem with Kim Jong Un. Ri was previously dismissed from his position, which is equivalent to the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

The rumors later died down after Ri's name appeared on the list of Politburo members. Executing officials is nothing new for Kim ong Un, since he came to power in 2012. In 2013, Kim Jong Un even ordered the execution of his own uncle, Jang Song-thaek.

And the position of Minister of Defense also has precedent. In 2015, Defense Minister Hyon Tong-chol was executed by Kim Jong Un.

Kim Jong Un (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Another defector, who is a military officer, was interviewed by Sky News about the importance of applause for Kim Jong Un's regime. Sky News asked the defector about the pictures of celebrations and rapturous applause that were broadcast from Pyongyang that had gone viral. According to him, applause is a way to stay alive.

"If you don't clap, if you nod, you're marked as not following Kim Jong-Un's doctrine. You have to do it because you don't want to die. You sing 'Long Live' and clap because you don't want to die," he said.

In the context of Kim Jong Un's leadership, the applause itself is actually a sign of dictatorship. This is a small picture of a broader dictatorship. For example, about how the government is used to executing someone in public.

"In our unit, when I was a lieutenant, we saw one of our soldiers executed by gunfire. Public executions. I have seen many public executions. Under Mr Kim, people are more afraid."

The defector described Kim Jong Un's entire leadership, including mandatory applause, as a pseudo-loyalty built on fear. When Kim Jong Un made a mistake, he would point at someone else and throw the blame on that person.

“Because of that, people were punished, or executed. It's not their fault."

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