REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Election Watch Advocates filed a report against President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and some of his campaign team members to the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) in Jakarta on Wednesday (Feb 6). The report was about Jokowi's statement on "Russian Propaganda" or "Firehose of Falsehood".

"We also report National Campaign Team (TKN) spokesman Ace Hasan Syadzily, TKN Secretary Hasto Kristiyanto and Deputy Chairman of TKN Arsul Sani," said Mohammad Taufiqurrahman from Election Watch Advocates, on Wednesday (Feb 6).

Taufiq assessed that Jokowi's statement-- on February 2, 2019 in East Java  regarding existance of a campaign team which prepared Russian Propaganda-- was misleading and caused public unrest. Furthermore, the statement was then followed with another statement from TKN members. Therefore, he also reported three other TKN members.

"Because it is not clear and it is misleading. This also creates unrest and polemics in the community," he said.

Taufiq said that the statement allegedly violated the provisions of Law Number 7/2017 concerning article 280 Election paragraph (1) letters C and D juncto article 521. In article 280 paragraph 1 letter c states that election participants are prohibited from insulting someone, religion, ethnicity, race, class, candidate and other election participants. While the letter d states the prohibition against inciting and pitting individuals or communities.

Article 521 states that the acts that violate Article 280 is threathened for imprisonment for a maximum of two years and a maximum fine of Rp. 24 million. He said, the report was submitted with video evidence and also print out of publication of Jokowi's statement on February 2 to 3, 2019.

Incumbent President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has clarified his statement on Russian propaganda. He reiterated that he did not refer to Russia as a country.

"Yes, we did not talk about a country, yes," President Jokowi said here, Tuesday evening.

The terminology of Russian propaganda was mentioned in an article issued by Rand Corporation, a US political consultant institute, in 2016, he said. The Russian propaganda means a technique of firehose of falsehood, according to Rand Corporation.

A firehose of falsehood, lies and hoaxes could affect and create uncertainty, Jokowi said. The President said the bilateral relations between Indonesia and Russia are very sound.

"I and President Putin have very very good relations," Jokowi said.

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