Old Issues Of Resemining

Photo by Luthfiah VOI

JAKARTA - His term as 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo seems to be enjoying his quiet period. But calm is again disturbed. Not because of retirement or policy heritage, but the old issue that resurfaced: the authenticity of his diploma.

This issue is nothing new. It has been blowing since Jokowi first ran for president in 2014. Like a swift current that never really receded, he came and left, spreading back on the sidelines of the national political dynamics.

Social media is the main stage. There, everyone can speak out loud. Some really want to know, some just blow old coal to keep it on.

One of the most striking voices came from Bambang Tri Mulyono, author of the book Jokowi Undercover. In his book, he not only doubts the authenticity of Jokowi's diploma, but also mentions the sensitive past: the alleged connection with the PKI family.

The book was not the best seller, but exploded due to controversy. The state reacted quickly. Bambang was arrested and sentenced to three years in prison in 2017, on charges of spreading false news and causing public unrest.

Previously, the public was also shocked by the People's Torch, a tabloid that was deployed massively, especially in rural areas. The tabloid also attacked Jokowi with slanted narratives, from issues of Chinese descent to accusations of PKI sympathizers. The difference is, although similar to controversial, People's Torches did not immediately receive legal responses such as Bambang.

Now, after Jokowi is no longer in office, the issue resonates again. As if there is a historical debt that has not been paid off. The public also wondered: is it possible for someone to be imprisoned just for writing a book?

Bambang Tri Sentenced To 3 Years In Prison For Hate Speech Against President Jokowi

The Blora District Court sentenced Bambang Tri Mulyono, the author of the controversial book Jokowi Undercover, to three years in court reading the verdict held on May 29, 2017.

The panel of judges led by Makmurin Kusumastuti, SH, MH, with members of Dwi Ananda Fajarwati, SH, MH, and Rr. Endang Dewi Nugraheni, SH, MH, and substitute clerk Puryanto, SH, alternately read out the verdict against special criminal cases Number: 47/Pid.Sus/2017/PN Bla.

Bambang Tri was declared legally and convincingly proven to have committed a criminal act of spreading hateful information based on SARA. The action was carried out through a number of uploads on his Facebook account in November 2016, which were deemed to have attacked the honor of President Joko Widodo.

The defendant Bambang Tri Mulyono Bin (late) Suradi was found guilty of committing a crime of violating Article 28 paragraph (2) Jo. Article 45 A paragraph (2) of Law of the Republic of Indonesia number 19 of 2016 concerning Amendments to Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions in conjunction with Article 64 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code as stated in the indictment of the Public Prosecutor.

In the upload, Bambang referred to President Jokowi as a child of the PKI and used racist terms such as crazy cina'. He also accused Jokowi of falsifying his identity in order to run for president. All of these statements were conveyed without the basis of data that could be accounted for and without clarification from related parties.

The panel of judges stated that the contents of the upload fulfilled the elements of hate speech based on SARA and was carried out continuously. The opinions of the experts presented in the trial also strengthen that the words in the upload contain elements of hatred and hostility towards certain groups.

The things that incriminate the defendant included his actions aimed at the President as head of state, causing unrest in the community, the attitude of the defendant who was disrespectful during the trial, and showing no remorse. While mitigating things, the defendant has never been convicted and is the backbone of the family.

The Public Prosecutor in his claim stated that Bambang's upload had caused unrest, especially among the people who supported Jokowi. The post is considered to be able to divide society and create ethnic and group-based hatred.

Based on this decision, Bambang Tri Mulyono stated that he would file an appeal. He was immediately taken to the Blora Detention Center by Blora District Attorney's officers using a detention car.

Answer Book Don't Use Criminalization But With Books

Constitutional Law Observer from the Center for Community Legal Aid (PBHM), Ralian Jawalsen, assessed that the issue of validity of Jokowi's diploma should be answered openly, not in response to criminalization.

"What is very unfortunate is that Jokowi actually responded with power. He should have proven himself to be a UGM alumni," said Ralian, a Legal Master from the Indonesian Christian University, Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

According to Ralian, if Jokowi is proven not to have graduated from UGM, then not only will his image collapse, but also the integrity of the Indonesian education world. Campuses and officials who have been calling Jokowi alumni must also be ethically responsible even if there is a criminal element.

"If this is just slander, of course it can be brought to the realm of law. But if there is evidence, don't silence it. Jokowi can take a more civilized path, he can answer it if not true. Gather his Angkatan alumni to give information or together with UGM leaders to make press conferences. Or if he wants to make a white book, he just collects his Angkatan alumni to provide a ceremony that he is an UGM alumni, as SBY has done before," he said.

Ralian referred to the 2009 case, when George Junus Aditjondro published the Cikeas Octopus. Although the book contains sharp accusations against the 6th President of SBY, George is not imprisoned. SBY chose to argue through a counter book entitled Cikeas Answer.

The cover of the reply book is dominantly blue, with SBY's picture sitting on a chair, his handspaling. Under the chair, small cartoons support his seat. Unlike the Cikeas Octopus, which has an octopus image of the throne, Cikeas Responds to show six squid, two of which stick to SBY's feet and knees.

The issue of silencing writers and media is not new in this republic. Names such as Raden Tirto Adhi Soerjo and Pramoedya Ananta Toer are classic examples. Tirto, the pioneer of the national press through Medan Prijaji, was imprisoned by the colonial government because of his sharp writing for defending the indigenous people.

These stories show a recurring pattern: when criticism or questions are not answered with arguments, but with power. Now, with the return of the issue of Jokowi's diploma to the surface, the public is not only waiting for an answer to an old question.