Jokowi's Traditional Appearance in MPR Speech Deemed 'Superficial'

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago (AMAN) on Monday criticized President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo for wearing a traditional clothing of the Baduy tribe during his speech at the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) annual meeting today.

The group argues that the President only wears it for visual ‘superficial’ reasons and does not actually guarantee the rights of traditional customary society in the country. 

“The traditional society attire only wraps the body but Indonesia is far from the development paradigm ala traditional society. [It is] very very superficial,” said Rukka Sombolinggi, AMAN secretary general to Tempo on August 16.

Rukka argues that the President has yet fulfilled his promise on the Nawacita (nine-pont development programs) Jokowi pledged early into his second term and mentioned the Traditional Society Draft Law that has yet to be passed by the government and House legislators.

“Wearing the traditional clothing but customary areas are robbed and the draft law on customary society remains rusty at the House of Representatives (DPR),” said Rukka. 

The AMAN secretary said the government and DPR tends to pass laws weakening the existence of customary society by passing mineral and coal law revisions and Job Creation, all while the customary society draft law stagnates. 

“The deprivation of customary areas still continues today. The coronavirus handling and vaccines are inaccessible to customary society,” she said.

Read: Jokowi Reveals Country's 'Serious Weaknesses' amid the Pandemic in MPR Speech

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