The most suitable term is `whop` if I use the term `Tweak the ears` it will be considered not assertive."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has pledged he will crackdown on groups and organizations that oppose the state ideology Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution according to the law.

"I told the national police chief not to be influenced by other calculations (considerations). If there is evidence please just take the action. If they think they should whop them just do it. Do not hesitate. Organizations that are clearly against Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution and the existing laws must be prosecuted," the president reiterated at the Merdeka Palace, here, Wednesday.

The head of state made the remarks in a meeting with editorial in-chiefs of the national media, here, adding that he had urged the national police chief (Kapolri) to act strictly in accordance with the existing law, if some parties are found disrupting the people, threatening the state with the ideology which is contrary to the law, the state ideology, including that of the banned communist party (PKI) movement.

The President did not specifically say which organization he meant but stated this included the PKI. "If the PKI appears, just whop (it)," he asserted.

When asked why he used the term "whop" instead of the other one such as "tweak their ears", the President said that he wanted to show the need to be firm to deal with it.

"The most suitable term is whop if I use the term Tweak the ears it will be considered not assertive," Jokowi explained.

On the occasion, the president also said that he respected the right to freedom of expression and democracy, but Indonesia is also a state based on law.

Jokowi further reminded that he was elected by the people, and was sworn-in as president, thus he should hold and maintain the constitution.

On Tuesday (May 16), the president called on all parties to stop all frictions that have caused tension in the national life.

He made the statement in a press conference, here, after meeting with eight interfaith figures along with the commander of the defense forces General Gatot Nurmantyo and Indonesia Police chief General Tito Karnavian.

"From now on all frictions between community groups must be immediately stopped," he said.

He said he did not want to hear any more people insulting, slandering, rejecting or demonstrating each other.

"Do not slander each other because we are brothers. Do not insult each other because we are brothers. Do not reject each other because we are brothers and do not conduct demonstrations against each other. Our energy will only be used up for unproductive things. We are all brothers of the same nation and country," he said.

President Jokowi said he had ordered the chiefs of the defense forces and the police to not hesitate to take an action against any speech or action that disrupts unity and brotherhood as well as any activity that disrupts the integrity of the unitary state of Indonesia and runs against state ideology Pancasila and the constitution.

The religious figures attending the meeting with the President came from the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), the Indonesia Bishops Conference (KWI), the Indonesia Communion of Churches (PGI), the Indonesia Budhist Council, the Indonesia Hindu Council (PHDI) and the Indonesia Khonghuchu (Confusianism) Supreme Council.

President Jokowi said the meeting was held to discuss current national dynamic that has drawn common concern.

"I am glad to hear the commitment of all religious leaders and their followers to continue to preserve, maintain and strengthen Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution in the framework of the Unitary State of Indonesia and the principle of unity in diversity," he said.

He said he was also glad to hear the commitment of all religious followers to continue to keep the national unity and brotherhood, peace and tolerance between different religious followers and groups.

He said that indeed freedom, freedom to associate and gather is guaranteed by the constitution but he reminded that it must be implemented within legal corridor.

(Reported by Meidyatama Suryodiningrat/Uu.B003/H-YH)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2017