Police to root out "hate groups" on social media

As read in the Jakarta Globe from 29/8/2017


Jakarta. The chairman of Jakarta-based human rights group Setara Institute, Hendardi, has urged police to step up their efforts to root out groups that spread hate speech online against certain ethnic and religious groups, arguing they may provoke future acts of genocide or ethnic cleansing.

Police recently arrested three members of a Facebook group, called Saracen, whose posts-for-hire police say pose serious threats to Indonesian national unity.

The police are charging the men with violating the country's electronic information and transactions (ITE) law — in practice the country's wide-ranging, and some say all encompassing, Internet law. If convicted, the three could face prison terms ranging from four to 10 years.

"What Saracen has apparently been doing is a serious crime. Hate speech can provoke social tensions, conflicts, discrimination, xenophobia and violence. The group reportedly has connections to political consultants. If this continues unchecked, it could lead to genocide," Hendardi said in Jakarta on Monday (28/08).

Hendardi said the rounding up of the group by the police's Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim) suggests that rising social tension in the country over the past year, especially in Jakarta, has been the product of a deliberate set-up.
"Social situations can be manipulated. Groups that want to seize power by all means will use syndicates like Saracen to spread hate," Hendardi said.

The police, according to Hendardi, should continue investigating the issue to stop the spread of hate speech on social media.

"This is not just to make sure the 2018 general election and 2019 presidential election go ahead without a hitch," Hendardi said. "The goal should be to prevent the spread of hate, discrimination and violence, and create a more tolerant public space."

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Jakarta. Police are investigating several individuals, including lawyer Eggi Sudjana, in connection with a syndicate suspected of spreading hate speech online against ethnic and religious groups, a police spokesman said.

Investigators recently arrested three suspected members of the syndicate, whose social media posts police fear might have threatened Indonesian national unity.

Religious and ethnic sentiments have posed serious challenges to the unity of the world's largest Muslim-majority country in recent months, with Islamist groups gaining ascendance in online and offline public debates.

Police are investigating the names of individuals included in a list purportedly showing the syndicate's organizational structure.

One of them is Eggi Sudjana, a lawyer known for representing Islamist groups.

"We'll follow up on the case. We won't issue a summons just yet, but invite them to explain themselves," National Police spokesman Chief Comr. Awi Setiyono told reporters.

Eggi is purportedly listed as one of the consultants for the alleged syndicate-for-hire, but he has dismissed the accusations as "slander."

"Police should carry out their preliminary investigation thoroughly. How come my name is listed there, what evidence have they got?" Eggi said. "Those are questions for the police to answer. If they don't have an answer for it, they shouldn't summon me. This is still a preliminary investigation," Eggi told the Jakarta Globe. "I understand legal matters and I'm not afraid. The onus is on the police to explain the allegations."

Another alleged consultant for the syndicate is retired military general Ampi Tanudjiwa. Nearly 40 more names also appear on the list holding various positions in the syndicate.

The syndicate, called Saracen, is suspected of having set up several Facebook groups containing posts police said
"tend to lead readers to develop negative views toward certain communities."

The Facebook groups have reportedly drawn more than 800,000 members since being set up late last year.

Police have charged the three suspected administrators of the Facebook groups under the electronic information and transactions law, and they could face prison terms ranging from four to ten years.

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Jakarta. Police have arrested another alleged member of an online syndicate suspected of spreading hate speech against certain ethnic and religious groups, a police spokesman said on Thursday (31/08).

Investigators have already arrested three alleged members of the "Saracen" syndicate, whose activities on Facebook have attracted attention in recent weeks.

The fourth suspect, like the other three, is alleged to have administered several Facebook accounts to spread hate speech and fake news.

Investigators arrested the suspect in Riau on Wednesday after observing the offending Facebook accounts for some time, National Police spokesman Chief Comr. Martinus Sitompul said.

"He [the suspect] took over Saracen, changed the layout [of the Facebook group], and kept uploading posts," Martinus said at his office in Jakarta.

Police said Saracen's various Facebook accounts have attracted more than 800,000 members since being set up in November last year. The first three suspects were arrested in Jakarta, West Java and Riau between July and early this month.

"There will most likely be other suspects in this case," Martinus said. "This [group] presents real danger for national unity. The police are taking this seriously."


siK.


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