Ratification must be postponed due to curbing democracy
An alliance spokesman said the draft Criminal Code, which is currently being ratified by the House of Representatives, had many problematic articles.
According to him, although the spirit of the formation of the law wanted to change the legacy of the former colonial government, a number of articles actually contradicted that spirit. One of them is the article on insulting the president.
"The Criminal Code is indeed a colonial legacy but the amendment must prioritize the interests of the people. We want this RKUHP to be postponed and the discussion involving all civil society," he said.
Demonstrators who staged an action in front of the Parliament Building gave speeches on command cars mounted with prison bars.
This is to symbolically symbolize the RKUHP will curb the community.
The alliance noted that in the draft regulation, articles appeared that the colonial government used to suppress criticism. Like the article on insulting the president (Politics of Endorsement), insulting the legitimate government (articles 240-241), and insulting public bodies (articles 353-354).
Another note, among others, the Alliance assesses the criminal act of form of intercourse outside of marriage that is determined as a criminal form will criminalize the private space of citizens. The article also has the potential to criminalize victims of rape and is considered to perpetuate child marriage because it is considered a solution outside of punishment.
Meanwhile, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) who took part in the action also rejected the RUKHP. AJI Chair Asnil Bambani Amri assesses that the law will curb the press members of the country.
AJI noted that there was a potential to curb the press. First is lasal about insulting the president. Second, insulting the government. Press criticism of the Head of State and the government, he said, could potentially be criminalized.
Third is the article about incitement against the authorities. Fourth, the article about broadcasting lies.
"If this law applies, the press can be said to spread false news. The prison will also threaten us," he said.
Fifth, the article about reporting is uncertain. Sixth, the article on contempt of court. Seventh, the article about insulting religion. Eighth, the article about insulting public authority or state institutions. Ninth, lasal about defamation. Finally, he continued, the article about defamation of people who have died.
"There is a matter of the good name of the dead which is regulated in this article. When we criticize people who are not there, for example the President then the family does not accept then it can be subject to the defamation of the dead. This rule (RKUHP) is called to revise the colonial rule but its contents are also more colonial than colonial, "concluded Asnil