Refly Harun The Value Of Democracy In The Jokowi Era Is Increasingly Repressive And Damaged

AMIN National Team Spokesman Refly Harun at a press conference on the Leaded Opposition Spectrum (SPOT) at the MPP ICMI Office, South Jakarta, Monday, March 4. (Nailin-VOI)

JAKARTA - Constitutional Law expert Refly Harun criticized the course of democracy under the leadership of President Joko Widodo. According to him, the democratic era of Jokowi is increasingly backward, repressive and destructive. Refly initially emphasized that his statement today was in his personal name, not as a spokesman for the National Team for winning candidate pair number 2, Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar (AMIN).

"I am not here on behalf of 01. So it is clear, on behalf of myself. So yesterday I demoed on behalf of myself," Refly said at a press conference on the Leaded Opposition Spectrum (SPOT) at the MPP ICMI Office, Warung Buncit, South Jakarta, Monday, March 4. Refli emphasized that democracy must always stand. He is concerned, since the 1998 reform, Indonesian democracy has not developed substantively but has even become more repressive.

"Especially in the second era of President Jokowi's administration. There are many indicators. One of them is, the more activists are reported and then imprisoned, it's just because of different opinions. And usually what is used is two instruments of law. One Law 1946 on criminal law regulations and the other Law of ITE," explained Refly. "Imagine, people just write, people can only be arrested. It's also because it is considered spreading public lies that are Habib Rizieq. So we can imagine how horror our country is," he added. Refly revealed, in fact, he has also been repeatedly complained to the authorities for all his comments. But he said, because he had conveyed something constitutionally, it was difficult to process. "If I say impeachment, self-resignation, it's all constitutional, which should not be an extension of the term of office. So we can argue, it can be impeachment and so on," he said. "Therefore, this is concerning. Because what is called democracy if he repressively his sudden authoritarianity will be difficult for us. Not only for us, for journalist friends, what else to write is trying," he continued. Refly also protested the implementation of the 2024 election which was allegedly colored massively. He considered, election fraud has tarnished democracy. As different recapitulation of votes in Sirekkap data. "We have to fight against the election and the cheating presidential election," he stressed. According to Refly, the cheating of the 2024 election has been seen since Jokowi wanted to extend his term of office of 3 terms. Then the resignation of the election schedule, until finally left the crown son through his uncle's decision at the Constitutional Court.

"So that's what made this election from the start really dishonest and unfair. The question is 'how come you refuse now', who said? From before the voting we had already protested. So the protest was not only after voting, but before voting we had protested," he explained.

Refly also mentioned the issue that Jokowi said he would join the Golkar Party. Refly assessed that Jokowi would take over the leadership in the banyan party. "There is a take over of the leadership of certain political parties. We have read in the news, for example, how did President Jokowi want to take the leadership of Golkar. In the first place, his fate with his son Kaesang has been enough for two days to join to control the party, yes, maybe he will not become chairman but chairman of the coach," he said.

"Well, these methods are very damaging to democracy. That's why we don't want to be silent here, we want to continue to speak up, tell us what it's like, maybe it's legal to die," he said. Refli emphasized that his statement just wanted to speak up, not fight back. Because votes are considered more constitutional and democratic for the Indonesian people.

"Tomorrow if democracy is lost, I'm sure there will be no more like this, all press spaces will be controlled. Now that it's controlled, the mainstream media, there's a big demo that can be ordered, the control has already happened, but we want this not to continue," he concluded.