Jokowi Signs Presidential Decree Amnesty Baiq Nuril In Today's Memory, July 29, 2019

The recipient of President Jokowi's amnesty, Baiq Nuril, showed off a copy of his presidential amnesty on August 2, 2019. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA Memories of today, five years ago, July 29, 2019, President Joko Widodo signed a Presidential Decree (Keppres) regarding granting amnesty to Baiq Nuril. The presence of the amnesty became the legal basis for Nuril who was charged with the ITE Law to be released. Jokowi asked Nuril to immediately take the Presidential Decree to the Palace.

Previously, the former honorary teacher of SMAN 7 Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) was verbally abused by his principal, M. Nuril had the idea to record the conversation and spread it. M did not accept it. Put Nuril in prison under the ITE Law.

The case of Baiq Nuril increasingly shows the bad side of how the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE) works. The ITE Law actually becomes an example to ensnare people who should be victims, instead of being forced to sit in a prison seat. This condition is a bad portrait of Indonesian law.

The case began with Nuril, who was often harassed by the Principal of SMAN 7 Mataram, M from 2012. Baiq was often contacted by M and then freely shared his experiences of having sex with other women who were not his wives by telephone. The tones of abuse are often accepted by him.

Rumors circulated. Nuril is considered to be having an affair with M. However, Nuril did not accept it. He proved himself not having an illicit relationship. The idea of recording M's conversation emerged. Nuril recorded the conversation with M. However, the recording of M's conversation was not based on his control in 2015.

M, who knew he was recorded, did not accept it. He reported Nuril with the ITE Law in 2015. Baiq was in prison in 2017. Nuril was released when the Mataram Court found him innocent on July 27, 2017.

The Public Prosecutor did not remain silent. They tried to appeal to the Supreme Court. As a result, Nuril was found guilty at the cassation stage on September 26, 2018. Nuril also faces up to 6 months in prison and a fine of Rp. 500 million. If the fine is not paid, it will be replaced with imprisonment for 3 months.

"I think it's unfair because I feel... It's not that I feel, I make sure I'm not guilty at all. From the District Court's decision in Mataram I was proven innocent. I beg you to hopefully there will be light relief, or I hope I don't get arrested," said Nuril as quoted by the CNN Indonesia page, November 13, 2018.

There have been protests from everywhere. The Supreme Court's cassation decision was opposed by many parties. People think Nuril is a victim, not a criminal. The Nuril case also reached President Jokowi's circle.

President Jokowi expressed his sympathy. However, he revealed that he could not intervene in the law. Jokowi supports Nuril to conduct a review (PK). As a result, Nuril's PK was rejected. Jokowi began to be moved.

Jokowi gave a letter to the DPR containing a request for consideration for an amnesty request for Nuril and was raised. Finally, Jokowi officially signed the Presidential Decree on amnesty for Nuril on July 29, 2019. This means that Nuril can breathe free air. Nuril's sentence was officially abolished.

"This morning I signed the Presidential Decree for Mrs. Baiq Nuril. So, please Mrs. Baiq Nuril if you want to take it at the Palace, please. Whenever it can be taken," said President Jokowi as quoted on the website of the State Secretariat, July 29, 2019.