TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Speculations about the motive behind the attack on Hermansyah should stop. There is a rumor that he was stabbed because of his statement on the alleged pornographic act committed by Islamic Defenders Front leader Rizieq Syihab, which was not in agreement with police findings. Another subsequent allegation posted on social media was that the incident was triggered by a feud about a woman. Linking cases in this arbitrary fashion will only lead to unnecessary problems.
Hermansyah, 46, was attacked with a knife in the early hours of last Sunday. There were five perpetrators, four of whom have since been arrested. According to police, based on the statements of the attackers and Hermansyah's wife, the attack on the Jakarta-Bogor-Ciawi toll road was the culmination of an argument resulting from a glancing blow between Hermansyah's car and another vehicle containing the attackers.
Going by the police statement and several facts that have been verified, the attack on Hermansyah was a purely criminal matter. However, that has not stopped the spread of numerous postings on social media that place the Bandung Institute of Technology IT graduate in the center of a a conspiracy theory. According to those rumors, the police and groups opposing Rizieq are behind the attack, because in a talk show on TV One a month beforehand, Hermansyah claimed that the pornographic chat between Rizieq and Firza Husein was fake. He is also reported to have taken action against the police to defend Rizieq.
The politicization of this case is very worrying. Now, there is a rumor that the Army has become involved. This arose after Hermansyah was moved to the Gatot Soebroto Central Army Hospital, as if the move took place because the Indonesian Military wants to protect the 'key witness' in the Rizieq case. People spreading these rumors are trying to pit the Army against the police who in turn are accused of wanting to silence Hermansyah. The truth is simple: Hermansyah's transfer to the Army hospital was at the request of his family because it has equipment that the Depok Hermina Hospital lacks.
Therefore, all sides should exercise restraint. The attack on Hermansyah is a criminal matter. Let the police do their job. Hoaxes and disinformation must not be allowed to cause tensions between people—especially among the security forces. After all, the police have done well in this case. As of the end of last week, four of the perpetrators had been caught.
Given the high profile of the Hermansyah case, it is not enough to simply arrest the attackers. To stop all the speculation, the police must determine the motive behind the attack. Every lead must be followed up. A month after his appearance defending Rizieq on TV, Hermansyah claimed he received a threatening text message. Is this true? Who sent it? What is the link with the attackers?
The stakes are high for the police, since this is a case that is attracting widespread attention. If they can solve it, their credibility is enhanced. But if not, their image suffers. This is also true for other cases, such as the attack on Corruption Eradication Commission investigator Novel Baswedan. In the Novel case, the police are also under suspicion, because after two months, the perpetrators still have not been caught.
Law enforcement officers should use the revelation behind the Hermansyah attack, and those on Novel and other people, to start making people feel safe in public. Let's not forget that the important issue here is public safety.
Read the full story in this week’s edition of Tempo English Magazine
