September 2, 2025 | 06:49 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, or LBH Jakarta, criticizes President Prabowo Subianto's remarks on permission for people who wish to protest. According to LBH Jakarta's Director, Muhammad Fadhil Alfathan, citizens who wish to stage a demonstration are only required to submit a notice, not obtain permission.
According to Fadhil, freedom of expression is part of citizens' constitutional rights; thus, obtaining permission is unnecessary before staging a protest, as Prabowo said.
"(The statement) is wrong, it's nonsense. When permission is required, it no longer serves as a right," said Fadhil over the phone on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
According to Fadhil, a permission is applicable for activities that require consent of an authorized party, such as mining permits or driving licenses.
Meanwhile, under the Freedom of Speech Law No. 9 of 1998, protests only require a prior notification. "Because it is a right, informing security forces, in this case, the police, is sufficient," he said.
Fadhil mentioned that there are several limitations in staging protests, in which protesting near certain vital national objects such as the Presidential Palace or military installations is prohibited.
Fadhil also criticized the time limit set under the police regulations, as such restrictions are not provided under existing law.
Despite some limitations, Fadhis said, freedom of expression remains the right of every citizen that requires no permission.
"So it is wrong if the president said permission is required, especially in a country that claims to be based on the rule of law," he said.
President Prabowo previously said demonstrations must request permission and must stop precisely at 6:00 p.m. According to the Head of State, the right to express opinions is guaranteed by the law.
However, he reminded that demonstrations must follow the rules and comply with the law. "The law says if you want to demonstrate, you must request permission and permission must be given, and it must stop at 6:00 p.m.," said Prabowo during his visit to the Police Hospital, Kramat Jati, Jakarta, on Monday, September 1, 2025.
Prabowo made that statement after a wave of demonstrations that took place in several cities since late August 2025, which at times resulted in riots and clashes between protesters and the police.
Eka Yudha Saputra contributed to the writing of this article
Editor’s Choice: Jakarta Protests Turn Violent; Police Arrest 370, Including Minors, LBH Reports
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