Outrage in Indonesia at bid to revive presidential insult law

JAKARTA:  A bid by the Indonesia  government
to revive an authoritarian era law that makes the
president a crime sparked outrage last week with
thousands taking to social media to denounce the
plan.

The administration of President Joko Widodo,
commonly known as Jokowi ,this week proposed
reinstating legislation which was used by former
ditcator Suharto to silence critics during his three
decades in power.

The constitutional Court revoked the law in 2006
,eight years after the downfall of Suharto and the
introduction of democracy ,ruling that it undermined
freedom of speech.

The move to reintroduce the law,which could
see those who insult the president in public
jailed for up to five years ,sparked anger online.

Shameless said Twitter user SangPemburugg.
"The president should and must be able to be
criticised because he as the head of the government
,is running an agenda that concerns the public
,"tweeted Harris Azhar ,chairman of prominent
rights group Kontras.

The proposal has also faced criticism in parliament
,with most lawmakers opposing ,meaning it is
unlikely to be come law.

Widodo,whose popularity has fallen after a series
of policy missetps ,has argued that the revive of
the law is aimed at protecting presidents as the
symbol of the state.

Teten Masduki ,a presidential spokesman ,also
insisted the law would not be used to suppress
criticism>--AFP