YLBHI: Attempts to Delegitimize Students' Protest Exists
Translator
Editor
26 September 2019 07:27 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta -The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) said that there are means to delegitimize the nationwide students’ rally against the passing of the criminal code draft bill (RKUHP). They claimed that it is to steer the public’s sympathy away from the movement.
“I think there are attempts to delegitimize [the movement] that is meant to draw people away from participating,” said the Head of YLBHI, Asfinawati on Wednesday, September 25.
Last Tuesday, a large number of university students held a massive protest in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) headquarters demanding legislators cancel the amendment of a number draft bills. Unfortunately, the protest ended in chaos.
She said that there are two signs to prove her claims; first is the attempt to connect the students’ protest with results of the 2019 Presidential Election and accusations claiming that the students movement had been funded.
“I would like to assert that debate on the presidential election no longer exists,” said Asfinawati.
University of Indonesia’s students’ association chairman Manik Margamahendra shared the same sentiment and suspects there are micro-movements meant to discredit the students’ rally.
M ROSSENO AJI