Declared It Is Against The Law To Slow Down Internet In Papua, The Minister Of Communication And Information: The Infrastructure May Be Damaged

Menkominfo Johnny G Plate (doc. Kominfo)

JAKARTA - Minister of Communication and Informatics (Menkominfo) Johnny G Plate assessed that the slowdown which led to the blocking of internet access in Papua in 2019 was due to infrastructure damage.

This was conveyed by Johnny in response to the Jakarta PTUN decision. In the verdict, he and President Joko Widodo, who sat as defendants, were ordered to take legal action related to the slowdown and blocking of internet access in Papua.

"There could be damage to the telecommunication infrastructure which will cause internet disruption in the area," Johnny told reporters, Wednesday, March 3.

This NasDem Party politician said that he did not find policies or decisions at the cabinet meeting level or within the Ministry of Communication and Information regarding the termination of internet access.

Johnny admitted that his party would not take further steps regarding this decision. Despite respecting the Jakarta PTUN decision, Johnny said he would read the verdict and consult with the prosecutor as the state lawyer.

"We will talk with the State Attorney General to determine the next legal steps," he said.

Previously, the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) decided that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and the Minister of Communication and Information had violated the law. This decision was related to the slowdown and blocking of internet connections in Papua in 2019. The Minister of Communication and Informatics who served at that time was Rudiantara.

"Stating that the defendants' actions were illegal by the agency and / or government," said the PTUN Judge while reading out a copy of the verdict, Jakarta, Wednesday, June 3.

In the case number 230 / G / TF / 2019 / PTUN.JKT, the defendants were President Jokowi and the Minister of Communication and Information, which was held by Rudiantara at that time. Meanwhile, the plaintiffs are the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) and SAFEnet.

Through this decision, the PTUN then ordered the plaintiffs to stop and no longer repeat the act or act of disconnecting the internet throughout Indonesia.

The ruling also stated that the defendants had to carry out the decision even though they filed an appeal.

"Stating that the verdict on this lawsuit can be implemented first, even though there are legal remedies," said the ruling.

It is known that the internet blocking in West Papua was carried out under the pretext of suppressing hoaxes on August 19, 2019. Prior to the blocking, the government initially implemented internet slowdowns in several areas in Papua.

The delay that led to the blocking was carried out until August 21, 2019.

YLBHI, who is one of the coordinators of the advocacy team for the lawsuit, said this decision shows that the government, especially the President, has violated the constitution.

Chairman of the Advocacy Division of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Muhammad Isnur assessed that as a head of state, the President should obey the prevailing constitution.

"The president who is sworn to obey the constitution, he must ensure that the implementation of the government is good governance, does not violate laws, and does not violate good governance," said Isnur to reporters.

He assessed that this decision could also eliminate legitimacy and lead to disobedience to regulations carried out by the community. In the future, Isnur hopes that the DPR RI can monitor this kind of policy through the right to inquiry.

"Politically, the DPR, for example, supervises. It can use the right of inquiry and this can eventually become a policy change. Of course, an evaluation for the government should not be taken lightly like that," he concluded.