TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Citing the latest finding from pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia, the Indonesian National Police HQ (Mabes Polri) on Monday strongly denies police personnel have been cracking down on those with different opinions.

“The Polri highly respects the results of the survey,” said Police spokesperson, Brigadier General Awi Setiyanto to Tempo on Monday, October 26.

However, he said in principle, the police institution questions allegations of police ‘expeditiously’ arresting people as he believes the institution continues to adhere to procedures overseen by the law.

He then explained that there is the pretrial mechanism for those who disagree with the criminal justice system and encourages the public to take that route if they argue that the police have acted above the law.

“There will be a team from the National Police, let the judges decide and not let it remain as an opinion,” said the police spokesperson.

Earlier today Tempo reported that the survey by the pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia shows 47.7 percent respondents ‘slightly agree’ that people are getting more afraid to express their opinions while 21.9 percent have outright agreed freedom of expression is starting to erode.

“The survey shows a growing threat towards civil liberties where the majority of people tend to agree and strongly agree that people are afraid of voicing their opinions (79.6 percent),” said Indikator Politik Indonesia executive director Burhanuddin Muhtadi in a virtual press conference on Sunday, October 25.

The poll also found 20.8 percent of respondents agree that Indonesian citizens are facing more difficulties to conduct demonstrations with another 53 percent slightly agreeing to this notion.

The survey from September 24 - October 30 reveals that only 19.6 percent slightly disagree that taking it to the streets have been hampered and merely 1.5 percent believe the freedom of expression is not being hampered by authorities.

Also Read: Pollster Finds Freedom of Expression Eroding in Indonesia

EGI ADYATAMA | DEWI NURITA