Yogyakarta – Scores of students from the Student Struggle Centre for National Liberation (PEMBEBASAN, formerly LMND-PRD) held a protest action in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on Thursday against the enactment of the Draft Law on Intelligence and State Security (RUU Intelijen) saying it will kill off democracy in Indonesia.
Pembebasan General Secretary Arif Hasibuan said that based on a press release by coalition of advocates, the draft intelligence law will threaten the people’s freedom of expression and right to organise. Moreover in the articles related to information, intelligence officials will be able to carry out arbitrary arrests in the name of state secrecy.
“Without control mechanisms in any shape or form, in the name of state secrecy, there will be no information about people who have been arrested, which will be used by the state to terrify the people. Moreover there will be an increase in the level of repression and monitoring of social activities through this draft law”, said Arif during an action at ‘point zero’ in front of the central post office in Yogyakarta on Thursday June 23.
Arif said that the draft intelligence shows that the regime of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono and the House of Representatives is insincere about upholding democracy in Indonesia and are even threatening the implementation of democracy itself. Because of this the protesters reject its enactment.
“We are well aware that the basis of the policy [behind] making this draft law is to emasculate the progressive forces of the people’s movement and increase the state’s control in regulating and enforcing the continued existence of capitalism in Indonesia”, asserted Arif.
During the action, the protesters also brought a bier covered in a black cloth with the writing “The death of democracy”. The bier was then set alight as a symbol that democracy in Indonesia is truly dead. (Ran)
Source: ‘Pembebasan’ Tolak RUU Intelijen – KRjogja.com. Kamis, 23 Juni 2011
[Translated by James Balowski.]
