Year-End Notes, Fadli Zon Calls Indonesian Democracy Declining And Oligarchy Strengthening

Deputy Chairperson of the Gerindra Party, Fadli Zon/ Antara

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of the Gerindra Party, Fadli Zon, explained a number of year-end notes for President Joko Widodo's administration. According to him, throughout 2021 Indonesia's democracy has declined and the grip of the oligarchs is getting stronger. Fadli summarized four things that became important notes. First, the suppression of civil liberties. "Throughout 2021, we recorded a number of prominent events related to this issue," said Fadli Zon, Friday, December 31.

The former deputy chairman of the DPR discussed the violation of the basic principles of democracy openly. This can be seen in the discourse of three presidential terms, as well as the strengthening of the “political coalition” in parliament.

"In general, the public perceives that the parliament's control function is getting less and less," he explained. Fadli also mentioned the incident with the rectorate calling BEM UI after criticizing President Jokowi on social media. Then, the case of criminalizing mural artists who dared to criticize the president and the government.

"This shows the increasingly narrow space for political expression and critical attitudes. Moreover, the number of criminalizations against citizens, journalists and activists using the rubber articles of the ITE Law also continues to expand," said the former activist.

Third, the rule of law is increasingly being eroded into "law-making supremacy". Constitutionally, the Head of the DPR's Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP) emphasized that Indonesia is a state of law (rechtsstaat), not a state of power (machstaat). However, in practice it is no longer the principle of the rule of law (rule of law), but rule by law or the supremacy of lawmakers. Law, said Fadli, was not drafted to serve the community and uphold justice, but could be made to serve the interests of the power or a few people.

"Rule by law has also placed law enforcement officers as if they were above the law. No wonder cases of human rights violations still often occur in 2021," explained Fadli.

Fourth, is the matter of the withdrawal of anti-corruption institutions in Indonesia. Citing the IDEA report, Fadli Zon said that in recent years Indonesia has recorded an alarming trend regarding efforts to eradicate corruption.

He said the conditions for eradicating corruption in Indonesia were only considered slightly better than Guatemala, which in 2019 dissolved its anti-corruption agency.

"Civil liberties must not die. Do not let the democracy that has been championed for a long time, again hijacked by the oligarchs," said Fadli Zon.