Jokowi Is A Good Regime That Is Not Anti-critic, People Say

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) casually responded to The King of Lip Service meme of the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI). There was not the slightest bit of annoyance. He even asked the university not to forbid its students from criticizing.

"I think this is a form of student expression, and this is a democratic country. So criticism is okay. And universities don't need to prevent students from expressing themselves. But also remember, we have a culture of etiquette, a culture of politeness. I think it's normal." Jokowi said.

The statement was immediately flooded with praise. Culturalist Sudjiwo Tedjo, for example, said he saluted Jokowi's wisdom. "Salute, Mr. Jokowi, admitted that he was okay with the criticism against him and even asked the university not to restrict students' freedom of expression."

Although Sudjiwo added a little criticism that it would be even more applauding if Jokowi immediately canceled the article on insulting the president in the draft Criminal Code, this did not invalidate his appreciation. "It's even more applaud if you make this sincerity manifest in a real way by gently canceling the article on insulting the president in the draft Criminal Code."

Salute, Mr. Jokowi, admitted that he was okay with the criticism against him and even asked the university not to restrict students' freedom of expression. It's even more applaud if you make this sincerity manifest in a real way by gently canceling the article on insulting the president in the draft Criminal Code. Thank you https://t.co/1Q7QoLA7h5
— Jack Separo Gendeng (@sudjiwotedjo) June 29, 2021

Not only cultural, but appreciation also comes from academics. Lecturer of Communication at the University of Indonesia Ade Armando for example, he said "how can this nation not be proud of you, Mr. President?" Ade said via his Twitter account.

President Jokowi asked the University not to prevent BEM from insulting him. How can this nation not be proud of you, Mr. President? https://t.co/fB3wBWJUE9
— ade armando (@adearmando1) June 29, 2021

Criticism, joke, and even ridicule are not new to Jokowi. In his statement he said he had received such criticism for a long time. Starting from someone calling Jokowi was not strict, didn't know what to do, authoritarian, and so on. Again at his discretion, Jokowi considers it normal.

"It's been a long time. In the past, someone said I was not strict, someone said I didn't know what to do, change again, someone said I was authoritarian, then someone said I was a lame duck, recently someone said I was Mr. Bipang, and finally, someone said the king of lip service. I think this is a form of student expression," Jokowi said with a smile.

Miss being demoed

Nothing has changed from the wisdom of the former mayor of Solo. He still characterizes his closeness to the community. Egalitarian. He has also had a personality that is open to criticism for a long time.

The proof is that we are still very familiar with Jokowi's remarks that he misses the demonstration. The iconic statement came out even when he was still Mayor of Solo, a few months before being sworn in as Governor of DKI Jakarta.

"I really miss demonstrations. Why? Whatever... whatever... the government needs to be controlled," said Jokowi in a video that was first uploaded on July 18, 2012.

Jokowi blusukan (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

He holds this principle to this day. He never ordered his staff to prevent the public, including students, from expressing their aspirations.

Even if there were riots at some of the demonstrations, perhaps it was the work of intruders. For example, at the demonstration against the Omnibus Law on Job Creation on August 14, 2020. There were hundreds of people arrested during the action.

As stated by the Head of Public Relations of the Metro Jaya Police, Grand Commissioner Yusri Yunus, at that time the police were indeed conducting raids on mass demonstrations at several points around the DPR/MPR Building. It is suspected that they were not participants in the mass action who wanted to demonstrate. The police said they were young and not students or workers.

"They are still young. They are not people who want to demonstrate. Not workers and students, they are the ones who plan to create chaos," said Grand Commissioner Yusri.

Want more proof? We can see when people demonstrate against the Draft Criminal Code (RKUHP) and the revision of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law. From that incident, at least more than 200 people became victims of the demonstrations that took place in various areas such as Jakarta, Bandung, South Sumatra to South Sulawesi.

The student demonstration held in South Sulawesi ended in chaos. As a result, about 37 students and 3 journalists became victims.

At first, the action in front of the South Sulawesi DPRD building went smoothly. But when he was busy giving speeches, suddenly a stone was thrown. Students scattered and police fired tear gas.

The protesters who had scattered were chased by the police. There were about 37 students who received injuries to the head and face due to being hit. In addition, three journalists who were covering were also victims.

Doesn't have an authoritarian look

In the era of Jokowi's administration, we almost no longer see any activist arrests that occurred during the New Order era. He was born from the womb of the civilian population, who succeeded in defeating a former general during the reign of President Soeharto twice, in the last two presidential elections. It is true that the people have high hopes for him to carry out the mandate of the Reformation.

Since three years ago, President Jokowi has made it clear that he has absolutely nothing to do with being an authoritarian leader. "I just wonder why it's called authoritarian. An authoritarian leader doesn't have any cut. My appearance is also not scary, I always smile everywhere," said Jokowi, March 10, 2018.

So what about the arrests of former journalists Dandhy Laksono and Ananda Badudu? It is true that they were arrested. But in the end, they were released again.

In 2019, Dandhy Laksono, a former journalist, was arrested by the police. He was arrested after writing about Papua on his Twitter account. At that time, he was named a suspect on suspicion of spreading hatred but the police decided not to arrest him.

After Dandhy, the police again arrested Ananda Badudu. The singer, activist, and journalist was arrested in connection with the fundraising for the September 23-24 demonstrations. However, Ananda was soon released.

If it is true that Jokowi is so open with all the aspirations of the people and is not anti-criticism, then why is there a record that says democracy under Jokowi's regime has declined, and the threat of a return to the authoritarian regime is emerging? It is possible that one of the factors why this perception appears is the behavior of its supporters.

Polluting supporters

BEM UI criticism that calls President Jokowi the king of lip service has a long tail. One of the reasons is because of the reaction from parties known as supporters of the president.

The first controversial comment regarding the BEM UI meme came from UI Lecturer Ade Armando. Ade said that if you become an institution that represents UI students, don't look stupid or stupid. And the expression that became controversial was when he said "I used to enter UI, did you bribe?"

Executive Director of Indonesia Political Review (IPR) Ujang Komaruddin assessed that Ade's defense for Jokowi was actually detrimental to Jokowi. "What the AA did to defend Jokowi had the effect of looking like a blunder and harming Jokowi," Ujang told VOI.

In fact, according to Ujang, what Ade did is contrary to reality. "Because that's all they can do to defend their boss. Even though what he did was contrary to reality. And ended up turning around on their own."

What he did actually invite sympathy for BEM UI. "That's why many other BEM support and the people also support it," said Ujang.

A similar reaction which is no less controversial was also carried out by a person known as Jokowi's supporter, namely Denny Siregar. Through his Twitter account @dennysiregar7 he insinuated that BEM UI was not 'manly' for criticizing Jokowi by hiding behind an institution.

"For younger students, try to criticize or insult the president even if you use your own name instead of hiding behind the name of the institution. Be gentle, you're still a teenager, how come you're obnoxious," said Denny.

And most recently, another controversial tweet came from the Commissioner of PT Pelni who had been on Jokowi's social media team during the 2019 Presidential Election, Kristia Budiyarto or Kang Dede. His tweet was considered to be insinuating the status of BEM UI Chair Leon Alvinda Putra eight years ago, when he was still in junior high school.

In his tweet, Kang Dede asked Leon when he would return to the Palace. "When are you going to the Palace again, @Leon_Alvinda?" he said.

*Read other information about JOKO WIDODO or read other interesting articles from Ramdan Febrian Arifin.