Ahead Of The Verdict, Jumhur Hidayat Speak Up, Palu Judge Determines The Future Of Freedom Of Expression In Indonesia

Labor activist Jumhur Hidayat (left) awaits the verdict reading hearing in the Court Room (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Labor activist Jumhur Hidayat believes that the verdict of the South Jakarta District Court (PN Jaksel) in his case will determine the future of citizens' freedom of expression which is guaranteed by statutory provisions.

Therefore, Jumhur hopes that the panel of judges can think clearly so that the case can be decided fairly.

"I remain of the opinion that the knocking of the judge's hammer is not solely for judging me and my friends in the same fate throughout the country, but for judging freedom of expression which has actually been guaranteed in the 1945 constitution," said Jumhur as quoted from his written message received in Jakarta, reported by Antara. , Thursday, November 11th.

Jumhur, who was present in the Oemar Seno Adji courtroom in the South Jakarta District Court, Jakarta, accompanied by his wife also asked for prayers to his friends and colleagues so that the panel of judges handed down an acquittal against him.

The panel of judges, led by Hapsoro Widodo along with two member judges, namely Nazar Effriadi and I Dewa Made Budi Watsara, postponed the reading of the verdict two weeks ago, on October 28 to be exact.

Hapsoro conveyed that the panel of judges needed to explore the thoughts and considerations of Agus Widodo, who had served as the presiding judge before he was transferred to Pontianak, West Kalimantan, in June 2021.

Jumhur Hidayat, a senior member of the Action Coalition to Save Indonesia (KAMI) and vice chairman of the Confederation of All-Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPSI), was charged with a criminal case after he criticized the Omnibus Law on Job Creation on his personal Twitter account @jumhurhidayat on October 7, 2020.

Jumhur, via his personal Twitter account, tweeted: "This law is for PRIMITIVE INVESTORS from China and GREEDY ENTREPRENEURS. For CIVILIZED INVESTORS, it is as follows: 35 Foreign Investors Express Their Distress against the Ratification of the Job Creation Law. Click to read: kmp.im /AGA6m2".

In his tweet, Jumhur quoted a news link broadcast by Kompas.com entitled "35 Foreign Investors Express Anxiety About the Ratification of the Job Creation Law".

As a result of the tweet, the police arrested and detained Jumhur at the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit Detention Center on October 16, 2020.

However, on May 6, 2021, the panel of judges granted the attorney's request to postpone Jumhur's detention period due to several considerations, including that he still has a child who is still a toddler and he is also guaranteed by 17 community leaders.

Thus, Jumhur has languished in the Bareskrim detention for approximately 7 months.