TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute or LBH Jakarta urged President Joko Widodo or Jokowi and the House of Representatives (DPR) to evaluate ‘rubber' articles — articles that are vague — in the Electronic Information and Transactions or ITE Law that ensnared workers of Holywings bars who were named suspects following the nightclub’s marketing campaign.

Six workers of the popular bars were named suspects following its free alcoholic drinks promotion for visitors named Muhammad and Maria which ignited public fury and led to a police report.

“Starting from the articles on 'hate speech', blasphemy, and false news which are often applied excessively,” the institute’s head of advocacy Nelson Nicodemus Simamora said in a written statement on Monday, June 27, 2022.

According to Nelson, this violates the freedom of expression and opinion, so the provisions need to be removed in accordance with human rights standards.

LBH Jakarta also slammed the actions of the South Jakarta Metro Police who named the workers as suspects under various rubber articles. The legal process was considered a reactive act due to mass pressure and also premature.

“And it adds to the long list of victims of the excessive application of the rubber articles, starting from articles on hate speech, blasphemy, and false news,” he said.

LBH Jakarta thus asked the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo to order the South Jakarta Metro Police Chief to immediately stop the case investigation. The National Police Chief and staffers must evaluate and impose strict sanctions on members who conduct unprofessional investigations into this case.

“For violating the Criminal Procedure Code, the Circular Letter of the Police Chief No: SE/2/11/2021, and the Guidelines for the Implementation of the ITE Law,” Nelson outlined, adding that the National Police Chief should also ensure there will not be a recurrence of similar cases in the future.

MOH. KHORY ALFARIZI

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