Gatot Nurmantyo Accused Of Masterminding Student Demonstration April 11: It's Usual, That's A Struggle

Gatot Nurmantyo/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Former TNI Commander Gatot Nurmantyo has been accused of being the mastermind behind the April 11 student demonstrations. This allegation was widely circulated on social media. On the Hersubeno Point Youtube channel, he admitted that he was used to being accused of being an intellectual actor in an incident in Indonesia.

Because, this is not the first time that the initiator of the Indonesian Rescue Action Coalition (KAMI) has been accused of initiating a massive demonstration related to Omnibuslaw in 2020. There are even WE sympathizers who are still being tried because they are suspected masterminds of the riots.

“In a democracy it is normal to be suspicious. If the problem is caught, it is a risk of struggle," said Gatot Nurmatyo.

Gatot explained that he had no problem being accused of being critical, but that his criticism was a constructive aspiration, not just slander.

Gatot gave an example of a family head named Usman who was arrested by Paspampres for protesting President Jokowi about the price of cooking oil.

“Usaman saw that some of the mothers who lined up (cooking oil-red) died, even the most recent ones lined up with lunch supplies. Usman only conveyed that he knew he was protected by the law, he knew the law," he said.

Gatot also regretted the attitude of the apparatus which was too repressive in responding to the right of a citizen to express an opinion which was guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution.

As is known, BEM throughout Indonesia took to the streets to demonstrate related to several things, including rejecting the extension of President Jokowi's term of office and protesting against the high price of cooking oil and rejecting the increase in fuel prices.