Lecturer At UI To Founder Of Controversial NGO, Who Is Ade Armando Really?

Ade Armando (Source: Special)

JAKARTA - Lecturer of the Department of Communication, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Indonesia (FISIP UI), Ade Armando was highlighted for his comments on the criticism of the UI Student Executive Board (BEM) to the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi). Who is Ade Armando?

BEM UI critics call Jokowi the 'King of Lip Service'. The criticism was uploaded in the form of memes and visual illustrations on the BEM UI social media account. Ade said that BEM UI's criticism was not substantive and of no quality. Ade even brought up the issue of bribery to enter UI.

"This is the work of BEM UI. I really respect freedom of expression. But if you become an institution that represents UI students, don't look too stupid. You used to go to UI, can you bribe?" Ade wrote on his personal account @adearmando1.

Ade's tweet is considered to directly state that entering the UI can be done by paying bribes. In addition, Ade's tweets are also considered to have no respect for differences of opinion, even though Indonesia is a democratic country.

This is the work of BEM UI. I do value freedom of expression. But if you become an institution that represents UI students, don't look too stupid. You used to enter UI, did you take a look? pic.twitter.com/lq6I1fwRKZ

— ade armando (@adearmando1) June 27, 2021

The statement that matters

Ade's comments that have sparked controversy are not the only one. In mid-2020, Ade was judged to have insulted the Governor of West Sumatra, Irwan Prayitno, by writing to the Minister of Communication and Informatics asking that the Minang language Bible application be abolished.

Traditional leaders who are members of the West Sumatra Nagari Customary Density Coordinating Board, accompanied by 21 lawyers, reported Ade Armando to the police. Ade is considered to have uploaded hate speech and fake news.

Then in 2019, DPR RI member Fahira Idris reported Ade Armando for uploading a photo of the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan modified to look like the Joker. Ade was reported at that time for alleged changes to the form of documents and or electronic information on Anies's photo.

At that time Fahira Idris brought a number of evidences during reporting, including a screenshot of Ade Armando's Facebook account upload. Ade is suspected of Article 32 Paragraph 1 in conjunction with Article 48 paragraph 1 of Law Number 19 of 2016 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions.

Establish a controversial NGO

CSW formed by Ade Armando (Twitter/@adearmando1)

Apart from his profession as a UI lecturer, Ade Armando is also known as a communication expert. Ade Armando also later founded Civil Society Watch (CSW).

As written in a BERNAS article entitled Ade Armando Tells Us CSW Is Not the Enemy of Democracy, He Should Be Right to explain how this stance raises concerns about freedom of expression.

Ade Armando denied. He said that CSW was established to maintain community groups so that they remain a healthy force in democracy, as Ade explained the purpose of the group's establishment.

Ade Armando's Profile

Ade Armando (Source: Special)

Ade Armando Born in Jakarta, September 24, 1961. He was born to Major Jus Gani and Juniar Gani. Ade Armando's father was a diplomat who was forced to step down after being affected by the collapse of the Soekarno regime.

For education, Ade Armando attended SMP Negeri 2 Bogor in 1976. After that, he continued his education at SMA Negeri 2 Bogor in 1980.

Then in 1988, Ade Armando continued his undergraduate education at the University of Indonesia. After graduating from S-1, Ade Armando continued his studies in the United States at Florida State University in 1991.

Ade Armando then continued his studies at the doctoral level in 2006 at the University of Indonesia. Ade Armando was a member of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission for the period 2004–2007, Head of the Communication Studies Program at FISIP UI for the period 2001–2003, and was the Director of Development of the Television Journalism Training Program-Internews in 2001–2002.

Citing the official website of FISIP UI, Ade Armando was a journalist at the daily Republika (1993-1998), after previously being an editorial member of the journal Prisma (1988-1991). Ade also served as editor of the LP3ES book publishing (1991-1993).

Apart from CSW, Ade Armando was also involved in the formation of various NGOs. He is one of the founders of the Family Friendly Media Institute (MARKA, 1998), the Habibie Center's Media Watch and Consumer Center (MWCC, 1999), the Society for Rejecting Pornography (MTP, 2001), and the Communication and Information Society coalition (MAKSI, 2009).

In February 2005 Ade Armando was elected as Indonesia's representative in the 'International Visitor Leadership Program' organized by the US Embassy. Ade Armando was once elected as one of the 104 Names of Young Indonesian Leaders by the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), in November 2008.

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