Denny JA: The Spirit Of Solidarity Makes This Senior Journalist Not Lose His Home

Photo: Special

JAKARTA - The dispute between PT Bank Tabungan Negara Tbk (BTN) and senior journalist Satrio Arismunandar almost resulted in Satrio and his family losing their only home. Now the dispute has ended peacefully. The loan to BTN, which used Satrio's house as collateral, has been repaid. So that Satrio's home affairs with BTN have been completed.

Satrio Arismunandar met with Ari Kurniaman, Corporate Secretary of BTN, in Jakarta, Wednesday, June 29, to negotiate the peace agreement. Also present was Denny JA, as the party who guaranteed Satrio's ability to pay off the arrears at BTN.

The total remaining principal loan that must be paid by Satrio to BTN is Rp422 million. The amount was far beyond Satrio's ability to pay it off.

Fortunately, there are friends who volunteer and are willing to help. On their own initiative, they worked together to raise funds to help Satrio save his house. As of Tuesday evening, June 28, they had a commitment of Rp153 million in aid.

The remaining amount to be repaid is IDR 269 million. Denny JA handled this remaining amount, of which Rp0 million was given by Denny JA as personal direct assistance.

"Even in the era of economic difficulties during the pandemic season, activists, writers and journalists showed solidarity, jointly donating funds to save senior journalist Arismunandar from losing his house," said Denny JA, in a written statement.

While the remaining Rp209 million will be repaid by Satrio to Denny JA, without interest. The debt to BTN is paid off, and the notarial deed or certificate of Satrio's house is now held by Denny JA.

The remaining Rp209 million will be paid in installments of Rp5 million per month, for 41 months xRp5 million, which will be paid by Satrio through work for the DJA through the program at Orbit Indonesia. In 41 months or 3 years 5 months, the notarial deed (house certificate) will return to Satrio.

As part of transparency to the public and various groups who have supported it, Satrio explained the amount of assistance or commitments from various groups, as of Tuesday night, 28 June.

Specifically for housing repayments, there is a commitment for assistance from: (Alumni) FTUI & Cross-Faculty of the Republic of Indonesia Rp 60,763,608; Electrical Engineering FTUI Alumni = IDR 20,000,000; and friends in the Department of Electrical Engineering '80 FTUI Rp 6,873,112.

Also, there is a IDR 65,500,000 SAVE SATRIO Fundraising. This is a group of individuals from various backgrounds: lecturers/academics, 1998 activists, volunteers, ministry officials/expert staff, Indonesia Maju activists, KAPT, etc.

In addition, there is individual/organizational support and assistance, which are not specifically aimed at paying off debt at BTN. But only as a form of sympathy/togetherness/solidarity for Satrio and his family, who actually really need this help.

The assistance included: the AJI Indonesia organization and journalists from AJI members, friends from Kompas, Trans TV, the Proclamation/Guntur 49 Study Group, alumni of the Warta UI Campus Newspaper, friends in the Whatsapp group, friends at the Indonesian Movement for All. (PIS), and others, which cannot be mentioned one by one.

Not to mention counting prayer assistance, moral support, probono attorney services, and various other forms of support from many friends.

"I was surprised and really didn't expect so much attention and help from friends from various circles to me and my family. Even people who didn't really know me helped," said Satrio.

"If it wasn't for the will and power of Allah SWT, who moved all of their hearts, this kind of outpouring of aid would not have been possible," Satrio continued. We are grateful and we respect it," he said.

Satrio expresses his deepest gratitude to all friends and circles, who have helped and provided support.

"I am not able to repay all of their kindness. I can only pray, may Allah SWT repay all of their kindness with abundant rewards, blessings, grace, and sustenance," he said.

Satrio also apologizes, if there are parties who have not been mentioned in this thank you note, because there are so many of them.