Komnas HAM: The Song 'Pay Paying' Sukatani Band Is A Fundamental Right, Must Be Respected

Member of the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Anis Hidayah said the Sukatani Band case through the song "Pay Payment Pay" should be a lesson for all institutions not to be allergic to criticism voiced by the public.

"From the beginning, Komnas HAM has emphasized that freedom of expression is fundamental rights. So, this is the constitutional right of every citizen to be protected, respected and fulfilled," said Komnas HAM Commissioner Anis Hidayah in Padang, West Sumatra, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, February 26.

According to Anis, if there is a group or individual who creates a work in any form including songs and so on, it should be part of a shared fundamental right.

"Whether the work is critical to the government, state policies or institutions, then it must be respected because it is part of human rights," said the 2014 Yap Thian Hien Award winner.

According to him, the parties criticized in this case should not be reactive, let alone repressive. Instead, the police must answer the criticism by showing good performance so as to restore public trust and muruah institutions.

"So, because this is fundamental rights, there are three obligations of the country, namely respecting, protecting and fulfilling," he explained.

Anis also regrets that cases that intersect with freedom of expression are still happening. Before the Sukatani Band case emerged to the public, the same thing happened to artist Yos Suprapto, who canceled showing his work at the Indonesian National Gallery in December 2024.

Anis, who is also active in the issues of migrants and laborers, asked the government, officials or stakeholders not to be anti-criticism, and not to interpret criticism as a citizen's love for Indonesia.