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Bima Yudho Saputro, an Indonesian studying in Australia, was criticised by Lampung governor Arinal Djunaidi, after the student shared a video that drew attention to the lack of development, including stalled infrastructure projects and inadequate education facilities, in his home province. Photo: Bima Yudho Saputro
This Week in AsiaPolitics

TikTokker vindicated, Indonesian governor berated in internet row over Lampung provincial infrastructure

  • Bima Yudho Saputro was reported to police for breaching the information and electronic transactions law after he was critical of Lampung province’s infrastructure
  • Police said no evidence of a crime was found, and Indonesia’s law ministry berated the Lampung governor who accused Bima of violating internet law
Indonesia
SCMP’s Asia desk
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Indonesia’s law and human rights ministry has berated a governor in south Sumatra for criticising a TikTokker who highlighted the region’s shoddy infrastructure under his administration.

Bima Yudho Saputro, an Indonesian student studying in Australia, shared a video earlier this month that drew attention to the lack of development, including stalled infrastructure projects and inadequate education facilities, in his home province of Lampung.

The clip later went viral on social media, infuriating governor Arinal Djunaidi who lashed out at Bima by accusing him of violating the country’s stringent internet law that critics say is designed to stifle free speech.
Bima Yudho Saputro is an Indonesian student in Australia. Photo: Bima Yudho Saputro
Dhahana Putra, the law ministry’s director general of human rights, denounced Arinal’s decision. “Criticism is a key element of the freedom of speech which is guaranteed under the constitution,” he said on Tuesday.

Last week, a lawyer supposedly linked to Arinal reported Bima to police for breaching the information and electronic transactions (ITE) law.

But as uproar over the governor’s action intensified, police in Lampung dropped the case on Tuesday, saying they found no evidence to prove the video “constituted a crime”, the Kompas news website reported.

Activists, politicians and coordinating minister for legal, political, and security affairs Mahfud MD rallied behind Bima before police decided to scrap the investigation against the student.

According to the digital advocacy group, the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet), there had been about 97 cases involving the ITE law in 2022.

In 2019, prominent musician Ahmad Dhani was sentenced to one year in prison after calling President Joko Widodo’s supporters “idiots” in a video.

Bima also claimed that his family in Lampung was threatened by local officials and police who showed up at his mother’s office.

His parents were called to a senior regional official’s residence where Arinal chided them on phone for “failing to educate” their son, The Jakarta Post reported.

Minister Mahfud urged authorities not to intimidate Bima’s parents. The governor denied the harassment allegations, saying he was open to criticism.

“Listening to feedback and even criticism when meeting and having dialogues with the community have been done for a long time. Also, we don’t always have to show our works on social media,” Arinal wrote on Instagram.

Arinal’s deputy Chusnunia Chalim directed officials to ensure the safety of Bima’s family as Indonesians targeted the governor for his strong-arm tactics.

Governor Arinal Djunaidi meets residents in Lampung province. Photo: Instagram/arinal_djunaidi

Some have called for Arinal to be voted out in the next election, while others accused him of “stealing” public funds.

“You know how powerful a netizen is? Be patient sir, 2023 might be your last year in office to have fun,” said a social media user.

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