Freedom Of Opinion And Threat Of Praise

Photo Illustration : Luthfiah VOI

JAKARTA - Freedom of expression is the fundamental right of every human being to be protected and protected together. Rights in which each individual can voice ideas, opinions as well as strong criticism of the government without fear of threats.

In the world of democracy, freedom of opinion not only strengthens public participation in political life, but also ensures the realization of a transparent, accountable, and responsive government to the needs of the community.

Unfortunately, as part of a democratic country, this nation is experiencing setbacks. Where the violence against demonstrators is countless and intimidation of a critical work of art also often occurs. Democracy is only a title and is only part of procedural practice. Do you still remember that the Sukatani Band is suspected of getting intimidation because the song "Pay Pay Pay" which strongly criticizes social phenomena in the police institution?

The Co-Founder of the Democracy Lab, Hilarius Bryan, emphasized that democracy in Indonesia is in crisis and backward. The reason is, harsh criticism of institutions is not part of a crime and should not be banned. "Our democracy is flawed if I can say it," said Bryan.

The Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR), Nur Ansar also spoke firmly, all silencing of works and arts could plunge this nation back into a dark world before reform. "As a work of art, this must be respected. Criticism of the song can also be used as input that can be used as fuel for institutional improvement," said Nur Ansar in a written message to VOI some time ago.

Criticality needs to be measured as long as possible and can be proven. So what about the case of a dispute involving the Director of the JakTV News which was named a suspect by the Attorney General's Office, and the buzzer or buzzer of its supporters?

Secretary General of Laskar Merah Putih (Secretary General of LMP) Abdul Rachman Thaha (ART) assessed that the Attorney General's Office is often faced with noise that buzzers or buzzers deliberately make when handling cases.

"The Prosecutor's Office handles cases, that's normal. That's the focus of the work of the Prosecutor's Office. However, law enforcement is indeed complicated. There is a lot of noise, both raised by buzzeRp (payment buzzer) and paid-off participants," said Abdul Rachman, Tuesday (22/4/2025).

The Term Buzzer And 'Trennya' In Indonesia

The term buzzer in the Oxford Dictionary is interpreted as an electric mechanism for producing an intermittent current and a buzzing sound or series of sounds; used chiefly as a call or signal. If translated freely, the meaning of buzzer is an electronic device used to sound the buzz to spread certain signals or signs.

Buzzer is an individual who disseminates, campaigns, or echo a certain message or content. Generally buzzers operate using fake and anonymous accounts. In a political context, buzzers echo the narrative they want.

In addition, buzzers can also be someone who has opinions that are heard, trusted, and make other people react after knowing the opinion. It can also be interpreted that buzzers are social media users who can influence others only through messages posted on timelines such as sentences, pictures, or videos.

Thus, buzzers can be in the form of anonymous accounts or fake accounts, and can also be the original account of someone who disseminates or campaigns for certain opinions, messages, or content for certain purposes. And in the world of politics, this buzzer has been in use since 2012.

Twitter is one of the main platforms for buzzers. This social media has been used in Indonesia since 2006 and was initially used by various brands for promotional purposes.

One of the accounts that had the phenomenon at that time on Twitter @triomacan2000 was fronted by Raden Nuh. However, the prestige of the @TrioMacan2000 account immediately dimmed after Raden Nuh was arrested at a boarding house on Tebet Barat Dalam Street, Tebet, South Jakarta, at 01.00 WIB in early November 2014.

Raden Nuh's arrest was after the police from the Cyber Crime Sub-Directorate of the Ditreskrimsus Polda Metro Jaya arrested Edi Syahputra also in Tebet. Edi was detained on suspicion of extorting PT Telkom officials through cyberspace. Raden Nuh is said to have received Rp275 million in cash at a cafe in the Tebet area, South Jakarta. This TM2000 admin is subject to Article 369 of the Criminal Code concerning extortion in conjunction with Article 3, 4, and 5 of the Money Laundering Law.

Criminal Threats For Buzzers

Seeing the incident of the arrest of the @TM2000 account should be a lesson that anyone who speaks out 'behind a blanket' can still be tracked. In general, is buzzer against the law? The action of buzzers that spread hoaxes, defame, disseminate information that creates hostility based on sara, or makes fake accounts a crime.

Buzzer, who often uses attacks on the spread of false information, usually occurs during elections or elections. Buzzers like this are usually called political buzzers. And Buzzer can be charged with the ITE Law, Here's the Explanation.

Meanwhile, specifically in the context of political buzzers within the framework of the election campaign, based on Article 521 of the Election Law it is explained that every election executive, participant, and/or election campaign team who deliberately violates the ban on the implementation of the election campaign as referred to in Article 280 paragraph (1) of the Election Law shall be sentenced to a maximum imprisonment of 2 years and a maximum fine of IDR 24 million.

Free Is No Obstacle To Talk

Freedom of opinion and expression is difficult to analyze indicators. However, these two things are universal properties of human rights (HAM). Campaigner Social Justice Indonesia, I Gede Oka Kertyasa said freedom of opinion is when there are no obstacles to speaking. Oka explained that freedom also requires protection and security. In cyberspace, the space civil liberties are getting narrower and may be translated as a setback for democracy.

"The criminalization that occurred in the #IndonesiaDurat 2024 action according to Kontras records there were 254 injured victims and 380 victims suffered arbitrary arrests. We can have freedom of opinion but are we given space?" asked Oka.

Secretary of the Komnas HAM Serious Human Rights Violation Team, Eko Dahana, explained that every time he had his own problems. The current situation has different challenges, so it is necessary to prepare good instruments in forming regulations to monitor freedom of expression.

"Freedom is of the opinion that the current period is sub priority. Actually, the current situation is learning from the 1997-1998 process," said Eko.

Eko also said that Komnas HAM since 2020 has had norm standards and arrangements such as general recommendations for civil rights. With national security above all else. "If we go directly to the point, resistance is tough. So we have to strategically face the current conditions," explained Eko.

According to him, Komnas HAM will accept the recommendation. However, Komnas HAM needs to study and prepare good instruments so that steps are not wrong. Procedures made also need to carry out checks and balances according to conditions that need to be considered.

At least so that freedom of expression will have good conditions. Meanwhile, Komnas HAM will still become a 'firefighter' if there is silencing in expressing opinions and expressing. "Everyone who has the right to have an opinion, if arrested, there is no permit for intimidation and violence. We Komnas HAM will intervene," he said.