Surya Paloh Not Proud Of "Lutfi Bringing NasDem Flag" Advertisement

Chairman of the NasDem Party Surya Paloh (Special Doc)

JAKARTA - NasDem General Chairman Surya Paloh denied that his party wanted an advertisement containing a picture of Dede Alfiandi alias Lutfi holding the Nasdem flag. He is also not proud of the appearance of the ad.

"If there is an advertisement, he (Lutfi) uses the flag, who knows who made it. I also don't understand it, and we don't have any pride in things like that," said Paloh when met at DPP NasDem, Gondangdia, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, January 29th.

In the advertisement, the words' Conscience for the Country 'and' Loyalty for Friendship Will Not Be Dissolved Because of Differences in Political and Social Status are displayed). Friendship is a Link of Conscience in Any Situation 'and features the hashtag #katanone. In the lower left corner of the ad, listed the source of the photo.

The image was edited from the original photo of Lutfi carrying the Red and White flag during a demonstration against the ratification of a number of controversial Bills.

This advertisement was posted in a newspaper after the Nasdem Day 2020 event held in South Sulawesi. The ad was uploaded on Twitter and a lot of criticism came from netizens.

On the other hand, the Head of the NasDem DPP, Taufik Basari, has denied that NasDem made an advertisement by displaying Lutfi's edited photo carrying a flag. Taufik admitted that he only learned about the ad design after it was published in the newspaper.

Nasdem uses Lutfi's photo. Titiek Soeharto quotes Wiji Thukul. Get ready, Jokowi wears a Munir shirt or Prabowo uses the "Kamisan Action" umbrella. pic.twitter.com/xzhF4NLlNJ

- Dandhy Laksono (@Dandhy_Laksono) January 27, 2020

"The advertisement was made by someone in order to congratulate NasDem on the event. We do not know anything about the sudden appearance of the advertisement," said Taufik, Monday, January 27.

Moreover, said Taufik, the advertiser had never previously coordinated with NasDem administrators when he wanted to publish the advertisement in the newspaper.

"When creating the advertisement, that person never coordinated with the party institutionally or with the NasDem board," he explained.

For information, Dede Alfiandi alias Lutfi Alfiandi is a young man whose photo went viral because he was carrying a flag in the middle of a demonstration by STM students.

He is currently involved in a legal case because he is suspected of being a rioter in a demonstration against the ratification of a number of controversial bills in front of the DPR building, Monday, September 30 2018.

At the trial, Lutfi admitted to being electrocuted by investigators to admit to throwing stones at the police during the action. The admission was presented before a judge during a trial at the Central Jakarta District Court, Monday, January 20.

Lutfi said the electrocution carried out by the investigators lasted for about 30 minutes. Apart from electric shocks, Lutfi also admitted to experiencing other torture while undergoing questioning at the Central Jakarta Metro Police.

The National Police's Professional and Security Division (Propam) has investigated five West Jakarta Metro Police investigators and Alfiandi alias Lutfi Alfiandi for alleged assault during the interrogation process. Lutfi admitted that he was electrocuted by investigators when he was questioned in the case of throwing stones at the police during a demonstration at the DPR compound last year.

"So the team now wants to lay out the case. The title of the case is based on the findings," said Head of Public Relations DivHumas Polri Kombes Asep Adi Saputra in Jakarta, Wednesday, January 29.

He explained that Lutfi was a suspect in the stone-throwing case at the police. Determination of this suspect is based on the evidence found as well as the testimony of witnesses, and CCTV footage at the scene of the incident.

"Digital evidence is undeniable, there is CCTV footage showing Lutfi's activities. So, his determination as a suspect is indeed supported by various evidence, not random," said Asep.