Paspampres Denies Residents' Issues Driven While Escorting Jokowi In Wonosari

Illustration of the Presidential Security Forces (Paspampres) training efforts to save the head of state. (Between)

DIY - The Presidential Security Forces (Paspampres) ensured that none of its members encouraged civilians while escorting President Joko Widodo in Wonosari, Gunungkidul Regency, DI Yogyakarta (DIY), Tuesday, January 30.

Assistant for Intelligence (Asintel) Paspampres Colonel Kav Herman Taryaman dismissed reports that members of Paspampres encouraged residents and ensured the news was not true.

"Regarding the incident of acts of violence by encouraging residents who unfurled banners during the working visit of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Joko Widodo, to the Wonosari area on Tuesday, January 30, 2023, which was carried out by Paspampres members, is not true," Herman said when contacted in Jakarta, Wednesday, January 31, confiscated by Antara.

He explained that Paspampres members work to oversee presidential activities as regulated in Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the Indonesian National Army (UU TNI). In that regulation, one of the tasks of Paspampres members is to maintain the physical security of the Indonesian president in close proximity.

"If we look at the video circulating, that was what prompted residents to unfurl banners using ordinary civilian clothes; while the Paspampres was clearly seen wearing an official uniform in the form of a tactical shirt, which at that time was wearing a blue tactical shirt and TNI service uniform from a motorized escort," said Herman.

President Jokowi visited Wonosari, Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta, Tuesday, January 30. The presidential entourage had passed in front of Argosari Market and was recorded by residents and the video was shared on several social media.

In the video, it appears that the car Jokowi was traveling in stopped near a crowd of residents in front of Argosari Market.

Then, a resident approached the crowd that Jokowi allegedly approached and unfurled a banner that read "Welcome Mr. Jokowi. We're Smart, We Choose Ganjar!".

Not long after, two people believed by the authorities approached the male resident who unfurled the banner and took him away from the crowd.

The chairman of the PDI-P DPC Gunungkidul Regency, Endah Subekti Kuntariningsih, said that the residents who brought the banner later became victims of persecution. Two officers who were known to have banned residents from approaching and helping the victim were believed to be the perpetrators of the persecution.

The victim of the persecution is known to have suffered lacerations to the nose.