President Jokowi Tells TNI, Police to Address Any Issue Concerning Discontent

President Jokowi attends the Opening of the 2019 National Coordination Meeting between the Central Government and Regional Leadership Communication Forum, at the SICC, Sentul, Bogor, West Java, Wednesday (13/11). (Photo by: AGUNG/PR)

Interaction, communication, and social interaction between individuals in this era can be established easily through instant messaging apps like WhatsApp or SMS, according to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

He added that this condition can eventually change human behavior.

Therefore, President Jokowi called on his administration, particularly the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and Indonesian National Police, to address any issue, even the smallest one, because discontent has been traced in many countries.

The President cited Hong Kong’s protest as an example. According to the President, Hong Kong is starting to lapse into a recession due to the six-month-long protest caused by public discontent against the extradition bill.

Similar situation is also happening in Chile where a 4-percent transportation fare hike has sparked massive public protests, while in Bolivia, President Evo Morales has resigned amidst turmoil following his disputed re-election last month, President Jokowi added.

“Please be aware of such discontent. If we cannot solve small issues, it can snowball quickly,” President Jokowi said in his remarks during the Opening of the 2019 National Coordination Meeting between the Central Government and Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda), at the SICC, Sentul, Bogor, West Java, Wednesday (13/11).

President Jokowi also underlined the importance of harmony among Forkopimda.

Communication between governors and regional police chief (Kapolda), between governors and military command chiefs (Pangdam), between governors and heads of high court, according to the President, must also be well-established so that they sit down together to solve issues.

The Head of State further said that harmony will affect work tension in regions.

“If one official has bad relations with other, it will bring him problems in resolving a problem,” he said, adding that regents and mayors must also have good relations with military high-ranking officers, regional police chiefs, heads of courts in regencies and municipalities.

On that occasion, President Jokowi also instructed his administration to take preventive measures once an issue is identified and not to wait the problem till it becomes serious. (HIM/AGG/ES)

Translated by : Rany Anjany Subachrum
Edited by : M. Ersan Pamungkas