By: Agung Sudrajat *
In the period leading up to the 2014 presidential election event, the public was shocked by the emergence of the People’s Torch Torch Tabloid, a “propaganda” tabloid whose contents attacked the Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla couple. The presence of the People’s Torch in the 2014 Presidential Election is known to spread a lot of hoaxes or hoaxes, since the first edition of the tabloid entitled “Puppet Puppet” was published in May 2014, where the front page was Jokowi’s caricature kissing Megawati’s hand. It didn’t take long for this tabloid to become viral and become a hot conversation in the political universe.
A few moments after that, followed by the appearance of the second edition entitled “1001 Jokowi Mask”. This at that time forced the winning team of Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla to report the People’s Torch Tabloid to the police. Two people behind the People’s Torch tabloid, Setiyardi Budiono and Darmawan Sepriyossa were found guilty and sentenced to 8 months in prison. They are considered to violate article 310 paragraph 2 Jo of article 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code concerning defamation.
Now, after nearly five years, the People’s Torch is known to rise again. This was stated directly by Setiyardi Budiono as Editor in Chief of the People’s Torch. Although at this time Setiyardi stated that he was preparing a new People’s Torch and would not be like the People’s Torch before, the impact of the black campaign through the People’s Torch tabloid still exists today. Especially the most felt is the issue of Jokowi’s connection with the PKI and Chinese descent and issues as foreign accomplices. The issue is continuously exhaled and it is difficult to eliminate the issue that has developed from mouth to mouth. Jokowi-Ma’ruf’s National Campaign Team (TKN) has data that there are 5 to 6 percent of the people who believe that Jokowi is a communist stooge, so President Jokowi often provides clarification and explanation to people in the regions on several occasions.
Now a surprising fact is circulating and proves that the issue of the PKI and the foreign stooge accused of Jokowi is only a hoax, since the recognition of former General Chair of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) La Nyalla Matalitti some time ago. La Nyalla claimed to be one of the disseminators of the People’s Torch in East Java. The position of La Nyalla who was a Prabowo-Hatta support strengthened the conclusion that this issue was made for the sake of the presidential election contestation and the issue was also aimed at defeating Jokowi in the 2014 Presidential Election.
During the Solo Mayor’s election twice, there was never an issue that called Jokowi a communist or PKI member. Likewise when the 2012 DKI Regional Election when Jokowi was nominated as governor because the Gerindra Party led by Prabowo Subianto became the bearer of Jokowi and Ahok at that time. At that time, there was no issue of communist stooge being exhaled to Jokowi. The issue only arose when Jokowi fought Prabowo in 2014. Certainly it is not wrong if we conclude that the issue was indeed created by the Prabowo camp with the aim of frightening the people of the rise of the PKI if Jokowi called PKI descendants will lead Indonesia.
Through La Nyalla’s confession, hopefully it can open the eyes of the heart and mind of all readers that the issue of lying or hoax alleged to the Indonesian President is currently an agenda setting made by the Prabowo camp since the time of the 2014 presidential election until now. That is how they go to politics to go to the Republic of Indonesia chair 1 by poisoning people’s views and thoughts with false news, attacking them by dropping others because they actually realize that Prabowo has no achievements and a track record that is capable of being a leader.
) * FISIP Student at Udayana University