From Jokowi To Regional Heads Remind Officials To Be More Humane When Supervising Emergency PPKM

Illustration (Angga Nugraha/VOI)

JAKARTA - Violence by law enforcement officers while supervising the recent implementation of Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) has attracted the attention of a number of parties, including officials including President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

There have been a number of cases of violence and one that has attracted attention was when a member of the Gowa Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) assaulted a married couple who owned a coffee shop or warkop some time ago.

Seeing these conditions, officials then reminded law enforcement officers to be more humane when carrying out supervision. In fact, President Jokowi in a video description uploaded on Saturday, July 17 reminded them to remain polite even though they must remain firm.

"Be careful in lowering the mobility index, regarding blocking and handling the community, traders, street vendors, shops, I ask the Police and later the Minister of Home Affairs, to the regions not to be harsh and rude. Be firm and polite, while socializing, giving invitations while for rice. That's the message," said the former Governor of DKI Jakarta in a video uploaded to the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube.

He said that the persecution in Gowa by Satpol PP officers should not have happened. Moreover, the victim is a woman who is eight months pregnant.

"Events in South Sulawesi, such as the Satpol PP hitting shop owners, especially women, are for the people to heat up the atmosphere," he said.

A similar warning was also conveyed by the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian. To the local government, he reminded the joint team that carried out supervision of restrictions due to the increase in COVID-19 to be more humane.

The officers, continued Tito, should not be provoked by emotions, let alone resort to violence when carrying out their duties.

"Regarding PPKM, the President emphasized that it should be carried out in a humanist, polite, and then humane way. It is not excessive, although it is still firm because it disciplines people in the midst of a society with different cultures," said the former National Police Chief.

Carrying out these directives, the Governor of East Java Khofifah Indar Parawansa ordered his staff, especially the Satpol PP, to prioritize the side of empathy in the supervision of Emergency PPKM.

This is at the same time following up on the Circular of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 40/3929/SJ on controlling PPKM and accelerating the provision of vaccines for the community.

In the SE addressed to the regional head, one of the points was to order the Satpol PP ranks in their respective regions to prioritize professional, humanist, and persuasive steps in the implementation of PPKM.

"To all Satpol PP personnel in East Java, I instruct them to remain humane and human in the supervision of emergency PPKM," said Khofifah in a post uploaded to her personal Instagram account, @khofifah.ip quoted on Sunday, July 18.

He asked all personnel to approach well but remain firm. In addition, the former Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) reminded that there should be no officers who are arrogant and excessive towards the community.

This post then received a positive response from netizens. One citizen, @albar.nia.52 commented on his support and hoped that the Satpol PP would be more trustworthy and embrace the community.

"Amen YRA. Hopefully, the Satpol PP gentlemen are more trustworthy, embrace the community. Put forward communication & education, not arrogance. East Java can," he wrote in the comment column.

So what happened to the Gowa Satpol PP who carried out the persecution?

Mardani Hamdan, who is the Secretary of the Gowa Satpol PP, was removed from his position after committing an act of violence that went viral on social media on Saturday, July 17 yesterday. This removal was only done because he had to be investigated for his actions.

In addition, Mardani Hamdan has also been named a suspect in the case of persecution by the Gowa Police. Later, the district government will review its employment status again if the decision has permanent legal force (inkracht).

"Why didn't I just remove the person concerned? That's because we are a state of law, upholding the principle of presumption of innocence. That's why an inspection was carried out by the Inspectorate, as well as fulfilling the right of the person concerned to defend his actions," said Gowa Regent Adnan Purrichta Ichsan, Saturday 17 July.

In addition, in the aftermath of this incident, the Gowa Regional Secretary PJ has also been given a warning.

"I have also given the Gowa Regional Secretary PJ a warning for his position as Gowa Regional Secretary," said Regent Adnan.

He hoped that his follow-up action by removing Mardani and reprimanding the PJ Secretary of Gowa could provide a deterrent effect for other officers in carrying out their duties.

"I took this decision based on my authority as regional head. This decision is also a warning to government officials in carrying out their duties," he concluded.