Legal Aid Slams Govt' for Stigmatizing Anti-Omnibus Law Demonstrations
Translator
Editor
8 October 2020 23:39 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Head of Advocacy of the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta), Nelson Nikodemus Simamora, challenged the statement made by Coordinating Minister of Economics Airlangga Hartarto, claiming the anti-omnibus law demonstrations held on Thursday, October 8, 2020, was "funded".
"The demonstration was actually peaceful, moreover it's a constitutional right, why is it then spun by Airlangga as a 'funded' protest," said Nelson to Tempo on Thursday, October 8, 2020.
Nelson also urged Airlangga to reveal the individuals claimed to be the sponsors of the protests and highlighted how the minister claims to have obtained the identities of the demonstration's financial backers.
Nelson also expressed his concern that such a statement made by a public figure would stigmatize demonstrations in the eyes of the public.
"Don't intentionally make people think negatively about demonstrations," Nelson asserts. "If the demonstrations were indeed sponsored, then maybe [Airlangga] should just immediately reveal it publicly. Don't fool the public [with such statements]," Nelson concluded.
LANI DIANA WIJAYA
