Ilham Rian Pratama, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition commemorated five years since President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo "killed off" the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) during an action held in front of the KPK Red and White building in South Jakarta on Monday September 30.
The protesters, whose numbers were not very great, brought a banner with the Garuda Indonesia logo reading "Emergency Warning" – taken from a viral social media campaign against Widodo's efforts to perpetuate his family dynasty.
Under the Garuda Indonesia logo, a photo of President Widodo's family was displayed during the marriage of Widodo's youngest son Kaesang Pangarep's to Erina Gudono.
Then under the photograph, there were the words "Throw at the Mulyono Dynasty" (Timpuk Dinasti Mulyono), referring to Widodo's birth name Mulyono which his parents changed believed it brought bad luck and sickness and is increasingly being used by the president's critics.
Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) political corruption division staff member Seira Tamara Herlambang explained why the action was titled "Throw at the Mulyono Dynasty".
Herlambang underlined that the amendments to the KPK Law in 2019 marked the start of the decline in the performance of the anti-graft agency.
"The Corruption Eradication Commission was increasingly silenced, experienced a weakening and decline in performance. Yet at the start [claims that] President Joko Widodo would run [a clean] government and the promise of better corruption eradication were constantly echoed", said Herlambang in the courtyard of the KPK's dual-coloured building.
"But we cannot deny and forget how in the revisions to the KPK Law in 2019 there was also the interference of President Joko Widodo", he continued.
Herlambang also touched on the removal of dozens of experienced KPK employees who had integrity through the Civic Knowledge Test (TWK) in the context of transferring the status of KPK employees to state civil servants (ASN).
"Today we invite all friends who feel they are victims of the Mulyono dynasty, a dynasty formed by President Joko Widodo, we invite friends here to channel their anger, disappointment, we commemorate how the dynasty formed by President Joko Widodo also silenced and weakened as well as killed off the function of APH [law enforcement officials] in Indonesia", he said.
After giving an explanation of the purpose of the action, the Civil Society Coalition threw eggs and paint of various of colours at the "Throw at the Mulyono Dynasty" banner.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Gelar Aksi Teatrikal, Koalisi Masyarakat Sipil Peringati Lima Tahun Jokowi 'Bunuh KPK'".]
