Criticism Of The Prohibition On Demo, This Is The Police's Answer

Karo Penmas, Police Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Awi Setiyono (Photo: Police Public Relations)

JAKARTA - The National Police denied that they were not in accordance with their function and authority when the National Police Chief Idham Azis issued a Secret Telegram (STR), one of which ordered the authorities to counter-narrative issues that discredited the government.

Karo Penmas, Police Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Awi Setiyono said that his party is still in accordance with its function as law enforcer. Meanwhile, the police chief's order was said to be an effort to prevent hoaxes related to demonstrations.

"Polri in accordance with its main task of protecting, protecting and serving the community and law enforcement, of course, has an interest in relation to the spread of information on the massive demonstrations on October 6-8," Awi told reporters, Monday, October 5.

In addition, the police chief's telegram was also aimed at preventing the chaos arising from the demonstration. Thus, it is the duty of the National Police to take anticipatory steps.

"The police have an important role in managing (regulating) so that things that are not desirable, such as the incident last year (chaos), do not occur," said Awi.

Moreover, currently COVID-19 is being transmitted. In this way, the National Police has the authority to protect the safety of the public by prohibiting demonstrations.

"This is when we are entering the COVID-19 pandemic era, from the TR's direction, you can read that the duty of the Police here is to protect the public and maintain the safety of the people of the COVID-19 pandemic tekrait," Awi said.

Previously it was reported, the Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police, Inspector General Argo Yuwono, said that in this program the National Police Chief also ordered all his staff to conduct cyber patrols on social media. The goal is to prevent the spread of false or hoax information related to the Ombibus Law issue.

"The issue of conducting cyber patrols on social media and media management aims to prevent hoax news," he said.

The contents of the Chief of Police's order regarding counter-narrative were listed in points 5 and 6 on the telegram.

In point 5, the National Police Chief ordered cyber patrols on social media and media management to build public opinion that disagreed with the rally amid the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Then, point 6 contains the question of carrying out counter-narrative issues that discredit the government.