HMI Will Demo Jokowi Because It Considers It Failed To Fulfill Citizens' Rights During The COVID-19 Pandemic, The Palace Invites Dialogue

Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The Executive Board of the Islamic Student Association (PB HMI) led by Acting Chairman (Pj) Abdul Muis Amiruddin, plans to hold a demonstration because he thinks that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin have failed to fulfill the rights of Indonesian citizens. in the COVID-19 pandemic

The demonstration called the #AgustusMerdeka movement will take place on August 6, 13 and 16, 2021. They promise to comply with the COVID-19 prevention health protocols while holding rallies.

"Of course, the first is to obey the health protocols," said Abdul Muis Amiruddin to reporters, Wednesday, August 4.

The HMI led by Muis has issued an instruction letter numbered 144/A/Sek/12/1442 containing their demonstration plan. The instruction contains, first, an order to examine all the problems of the nation due to the failure of President Jokowi-Vice President Ma'ruf Amin.

Second, holding demonstrations simultaneously on 6, 13, and the peak action on August 16, 2021. Even though they are still in the PPKM level 4 in Java-Bali and PPKM outside Java-Bali, they still want to hold demonstrations.

"If this situation continues, then who is going to reprimand the power? There must be someone who has to take the role of reminding the government that this country is managed properly," said Muis.

"So far, we have often criticized via the media and others but have not received a response. This choice is the last choice we made because the previous choice was not responded to," he added.

The instruction letter was addressed to the General Chairperson of the Indonesian HMI Coordinating Board and the General Chairperson of the Indonesian HMI Branches. The plan is for HMI in the regions to demonstrate in their respective DPRD areas.

In Jakarta, the location of the demonstration is still being closed. The candidate locations are the parliament building area (DPR, DPD, MPR) or around the Merdeka Palace.

"We have sent a letter of notification to the Polda Metro Jaya. To temporarily prepare for the demonstration point whether the Palace or the DPR is being discussed, there are several options, including on the secretariat page to make it more controlled, that is also one option," said Muis.

Palace Response

Presidential Staff Expert Ali Mochtar Ngabalin responded to the demonstration plan for the Executive Board of the Islamic Student Association (PB HMI) led by Acting Chairman (Pj) Abdul Muis Amiruddin against President Jokowi who was considered a failure in handling COVID. Ngabalin then invited HMI to have a dialogue rather than a demonstration.

According to him, HMI as academics must set an example of good things. So that dialogue is a way rather than a demonstration in the midst of a pandemic.

"Let's have a dialogue, friends of PB HMI must create quality human beings as an academic community who have qualifications, have knowledge and intellectual abilities, and have a strong Islamic background. HMI must set an example of responsible behavior so that new students can see that this is a good organization. can be responsible," said Ngabalin to reporters, Wednesday, August 4, evening.

Ngabalin asked HMI to explain in detail what the government had failed in handling COVID. Because he doesn't want HMI to be downgraded like a hoax spreader.

"If you look at the position of the Indonesian Islamic student association, it's a cadre organization whose contents are student friends, if HMI also has the government's assessment that it has failed, then what must be done is that it must explain where the failure they mean is," said Ngabalin. .

"So that the top management of HMI is not on the same level as the spreaders of hoax news, or like people who are hurt, or people who hate, ridicule, slander, he must explain it," he continued.

Ngabalin also mentioned Rocky Gerung and Rizal Ramli, who often insulted the government without clear evidence. According to Ngabalin, HMI is more qualified than the two.

"I object if HMI has the same views as people who like to be cynical. How can HMI have the same views as Rocky Gerung and Rizal Ramli who cornered the government as failing. -that trash mouth," he explained.

Ngabalin also reminded that demonstrations during this pandemic are detrimental because they have the potential to create new clusters. He said that his party was ready to have an audience with HMI.

"The basic nature of HMI is dialogue, we can tell stories, we can talk. Don't let PB HMI create a new cluster of demonstrations, crowd and then later create a new cluster in the spread of the corona virus. Too many of our important people, our seniors at HMI have died because of COVID," he said.

"When does he want to have a dialogue, we will have a dialogue later, when does he make suggestions, we will hold it later, when they want, don't take to the streets," added Ngabalin.