CNN Indonesia
Friday, 08 Sep 2023 16:36 IWST
The presence of academics and political experts Rocky Gerung and Refly Harun as speakers in Sleman was rejected by a number of people, Friday (9/9) afternoon. CNN Indonesia/Bump
Yogyakarta, CNN Indonesia —
The presence of academics and political experts Rocky Gerung and Refly Harun as a speaker at Sleman received rejection from a number of people, Friday (9/9) afternoon.
Rocky was invited to be a speaker at a national discussion event entitled ‘The Future of Democracy amidst the Current of Corruption’ at Kopi Nuri, Condongcatur, Depok, Sleman.
The event, which was organized by the HMI FEB UGM Commissariat and the Head of the Bulaksumur-Karangmalang Muhammadiyah Student Association Branch (PC IMM BSKM), also presented Refly Harun, Saut Situmorang, and Awalil Rizky, as well as Gielbran M. Noor as Chair of BEM KM UGM.
In the flyers circulating, the event is scheduled to start at 14.00 WIB. However, until the time came, the event never started. Meanwhile, from the north came a group of people calling themselves the United Indonesian Archipelago Fighters (PNIB).
They came carrying banners that read ‘Yogyakarta City of Students, Dignified Culture. Reject & Expel Rocky Gerung & Refli Harun – Insulters of the President, Destroyers of the Nation’s Honor & Destroyers of the Morality of the Nation’s Children’.
This group then entered the parking area of the event location and there was an argument with the committee. Meanwhile the police were the mediator. The crowd of people who refused admitted that they had no problem with the discussion event being held as long as Rocky Gerung and Refly Harun were not the speakers.
The situation calmed down until the PNIB crowd discovered that Rocky CS had entered through the rear access of the event location at around 15.30 WIB. The crowd then stormed the front door of Kopi Nuri and entered via a side road.
The presence of academic and political observer Rocky Gerung as a speaker in Sleman was again rejected, Friday (9/9). Photo: CNN Indonesia/ANGKAL
They asked that this event be stopped immediately when Refly Harun was taking his turn to speak.
“Wow, an illegal event,” shouted one of the crowd.
“Hey, Rocky. Get out here. Jogja doesn’t need intellectuals like you,” said another.
However, the speakers seemed to pay no attention and the event continued while the committee appealed to the participants to focus on following the discussion.
“We are as clear today as yesterday about banning Rocky Gerung from the event in Jogja, because Jogja is a cultural city and Jogja is special. We don’t want to be messed with in this way. (Refly Harun was rejected) yes, it’s the same, both are the same,” said Fajar Yoga as a representative from PNIB before Rocky CS arrived at the location.
Regarding Rocky Gerung’s apology for his remarks in the alleged case of spreading the hoax ‘Jokowi is a stupid bastard’, PNIB has its own view. “What we are doing is also for this, the continuity of the law,” he continued.
“We are committed to protecting DIY from individuals who say it is inappropriate for state symbols. So to make Jogja conducive, don’t let there be wrong lessons,” he said.
Meanwhile, the General Chairperson of PC IMM BSKM Sulchan Fathoni appreciated this rejection effort as a form of freedom of opinion. However, he hopes that his freedom to study will not be disturbed.
“We just want to learn, here we just want to hear what academics and practitioners have to say. Because this is a public discussion. We just want to learn, this country has gone too far for money politics, corruption and so on. We are students. I’m embarrassed,” said Sulchan before raiding the crowd.
The presence of academic and political observer Rocky Gerung as a speaker in Sleman was again rejected, Friday (9/9). Photo: CNN Indonesia/ANGKAL
Sulchan claimed that this public discussion event had been preceded by notification and was protected by law. He appreciated the police for providing security.
This discussion discusses corruption as the root of problems in all sectors of this country. Second, efforts to deal with corruption through new approaches. Third, explore how corruption destroys democracy in Indonesia.
“Inevitably, Mr. Rocky is an academic who is highly respected in academic circles,” he stressed.
Until this news was published, the protestors were still standing in the event area. Meanwhile, dozens of police officers were seen securing the event by forming barricades.
Rocky Gerung’s rejection occurred in Banyuraden, Gamping, Sleman, DI Yogyakarta, Wednesday (2/8) evening. At that time, Rocky failed to attend the discussion after the event location was raided by the crowd who considered Rocky’s words to Jokowi inappropriate.
(kum/gil)
Watch the Video Below:
2023-09-08 09:36:45
#Crowds #riot #Rocky #Gerung #Refly #Harun #discussion #event #Sleman
