Listyo Sigit on ITE Law: 'Police in Unwinnable Position'
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19 February 2021 09:27 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit said that his institution faces a situation that is unwinnable in regards to the Information and Electronics Transaction Law (ITE Law) - a law which critics argue is often abused and provisions ‘stretched’ for multiple interpretations - and the authorities are often seen to side with people who arguably abuse the law.
“It’s unwinnable for police as we are often deemed to side with people filing police reports [ under the ITE Law],” said the police chief in the virtual Dies Natalis of the Islamic Students’ Association (HMI) on February 18.
He believed many people lack caution in expressing their views in online platforms and said it is due to the political polarization caused by past elections that has yet subsided.
However, General Listyo said one of the sources of problems that need to be solved soon is to establish an official guideline on how to implement the ITE Law properly. “There is a fine line between hoaxes and criticism. Blasphemy and criticism is not far apart. This can potentially divide the nation,” he said.
Listyo also asked for direct victims of cases to file the complaint in person rather than filed by a representative. He argued that fiasco often arises after a police complaint is filed under the ITE Law by a representative of the victim and causes the polarization to continue.
“We don’t need that anymore, we need unity,” said the police chief.
Read: Jokowi Tells Police to Use ITE Law Wisely
HENDARTYO HANGGI