Asking For OCCRP Claims To Be Proven, Jokowi Failed To Understand The Understanding Of Corruption

Jokowi gave a statement to reporters in Solo, Central Java, Tuesday (3/12/2024). (ANTARA/Aris Wasita)

JAKARTA Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Poject (OCCRP) suddenly became a concern in Indonesia after including the Seventh President of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in the list of nominees for the 2024 Organized Crime and Corruption figures. Jokowi called this slander and framing of evil that was not accompanied by evidence.

This news clearly shocked the Indonesian people. Moreover, the OCCRP released the announcement shortly after Jokowi completed his position as president for two terms.

Jokowi is one of the five other finalists selected this year. The former mayor of Solo is juxtaposed with four other figures, namely Kenyan President William Ruto, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Hasina, and Indian businessman Gautam Adani.

OCCRP leader and co-founder Drew Sullivan said corrupt state leaders needed to be published because they were considered to have violated human rights (HAM). He said corrupt government would make conflict because the country became unstable.

Meanwhile, Jokowi was judged to have failed to understand the meaning of corruption, after he demanded evidence of the corruption he was accused of.

OCCRP is a global investigative medianalytic network based in Amsterdam with staff on six continents. The organization was founded in 2006 and specializes in organized crime and corruption.

OCCRP published its news through local media and in English and Russian through its website. OCCRP cooperates and supports more than 50 independent media on six continents including Europe, Africa, and Central Asia. In 2017, NGO Advisor placed them at 69th in the world on the annual list of the 500 best non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Jokowi, along with four other figures, entered as finalists based on the most voting votes from readers to journalists in the world.

"We ask for (voting) nominations from readers, journalists, personnel of the Year judges, and other parties in the global OCCRP network. The finalists who received the most votes this year are: Kenyan President William Ruto, Former Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Indian Entrepreneur Gautam Adani, "said the OCCRP report.

Despite placing former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as an Organized Crime and Corrupt Figure this year, ORCCP emphasized that it does not mean that five other nominations have fewer crimes than Al-Assad.

The inclusion of Jokowi's name in the nomination of the most corrupt figure in 2024 certainly made the Indonesian people noisy. The Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), led by Jokowi's youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, said that the publication of the OCCRP seemed to reflect the voices of the rows of heartache.

"That's the voice of the hurt line, those who haven't been able to move on from defeat in the presidential election. There is a digital footprint that OCCRP opens up to the public to nominate hurt that mobilizes votes," said PSI Deputy Chairperson of the DPP Andy Budiman in a written statement.

In addition, Andy assessed that methodologically, the publication could not be accounted for.

"This is clearly different from scientific surveys with very careful sampling to avoid bias," said the former journalist.

Secretary General of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Bayu Wardhana said foreign media reports and the publication of OCCRP cannot be called the voice of the row of heartache. Because according to Bayu, the media and journalists have no direct interest in Indonesia.

In addition, they are also not part of the elites who try to seize power from the government. "In fact, because they have no interest, they can actually be said to be relatively independent in their [OCCRP] assessment," explained Bayu.

"The response is not a skill the messenger (killing or attacking news carriers) but this is a criticism that must be responded to by evaluation," he added.

Bayu added that this should be a good input for President Prabowo to be careful because OCCRP has been reminded.

Meanwhile, criminal law observer Masykur Isnan emphasized that corruption has a broad understanding, not just giving and receiving money for a disgraceful or unlawful act. Among them is the use of authority and power which ends not in the public interest.

"Whether then Jokowi does this or not, then the main reference is a sense of justice in the public, maybe this is a barometer of public voices and the attention of the international community," said Isnan when contacted by VOI.

Jokowi's main painting and important notes are about the destruction of democracy and the decline in the spirit of naked reform in place towards the end of the Jokowi era, he added.

Regarding Jokowi, who seems to be actively evaded regarding recent slanted news, following he was named one of the 2024 corruption figures, Isnan said that the former governor of DKI Jakarta should not have been too resistant.

Jokowi's attitude, which is like this, feels slandered and there is potential for political content, it is feared that it will actually strengthen the negative sentiments of the public and the international community.

"The request for proof of this freedom of opinion is very inappropriate, maybe a more strategic one can be chosen, for example, what were Jokowi's success achievements during his tenure?" he concluded.