Jokowi Clarifies His Intelligence Data on Political Parties in Line with Law

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi said the intelligence reports that he received were not limited to just political parties. He said this in response to criticism over his remarks that he has full access to intelligence information on political parties, including their directions and strategies. 

“I receive regular reports from both intelligence units of the police and the Indonesian Military (TNI), and the State Intelligence Agency (BIN). I get regular reports. Whether it's political, economic, or social matters,” he said during a visit to PT Pindad, Bandung, West Java, on Tuesday, September 19, 2023.

Previous presidents also received such intelligence information, he added. 

When asked about public concerns over the disruption of democracy, Jokowi claimed he was surprised. “The law says that [intelligence agencies] must report it to the president. BIN has to report to the president. It's all there. So it's normal,” Jokowi said.

Previously, speaking at the national meeting of his volunteer group, Jokowi Seknas, on Saturday, September 16, Jokowi said he possessed complete intelligence data regarding political parties.

“I know the insides of political parties. I also understand the direction they are planning to take,” he said.

He thus reminded volunteers not to choose the wrong leader in the 2024 general elections. According to him, the next three presidential elections would really determine Indonesia's fate as to whether it would become a developed country or not.

Jokowi’s statement sparked controversy. A group of civil society coalition for security sector reform condemned the actions of state intelligence agencies that made political parties their objects and targets of surveillance.

The group consisting of Imparsial, PBHI, Amnesty International, YLBHI, Kontras, Centra Initiative, Elsam, Walhi, ICW, HRWG, LBH Masyarakat, and Setara Institute also saw it as a threat to democracy.

“This is a serious problem in Indonesia’s democratic life. It is not allowed and cannot be allowed in a democratic country,” said the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) chairman Julius Hebrew in his statement, on Saturday, September 16, 2023.

AHMAD FIKRI (CONTRIBUTOR)

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