A state possesses a high responsibility to serve the people, particularly to ensure their sense of security. This idea underlies Ministry of Communication and Information request Internet Service Provider (ISP) to block Domain Name System (DNS) belonging to Telegram. The blocking is considered to be able to secure this nation from radicalism, terrorism, and propaganda against the ideology of Republic of Indonesia.
An International Relations lecturer of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) Husni Amriyanto Putra, DRS., M.Si. told that not only telegram but also other media can be used to propagate radicalism and develop beliefs against a nation ideology. “Before social media existed, several parties have separated propaganda. Nevertheless, the telegram blocking is not quite appropriate to anticipate threats of a national security,” argued Husni.
He inserted that several approaches can be undertaken to respond the blocking. First, as national values, it can be resolved persuasively or through a dialogue. Second, if we uphold law, we can bring the issue to the court and see what is exactly going on, whether it appears from the users or the founder of telegram. The telegram blocking is an issue dealing with anti Pancasila. Government is supposed to focus on how to cope with the opponents and convince them that Pancasila is the proper ideology for Indonesia,” declared Husni in an interview on Wednesday (19/7).
According to Husni, an emerging issue nowadays is that the people doubt government. “There are several parties not employing Pancasila as their foundation to comply obligations. For instance, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) of Republic of Indonesia Setya Novanto a suspect in the electronic identity card (KTP) graft case, which reportedly caused 2.3 trillion rupiahs in state losses. In fact, he always promoted four pillars of nationality encompassing values of Indonesia such as Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution (UUD 1945), the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika,” mentioned Husni.
The telegram blocking and other social media were supposed to occur if government and the people trust one another. “The people should possess high sympathy to the leaders, and the leaders should seriously endeavor to grow people’s trust. Hence, Pancasila has been an appropriate and absolute ideology which devotes an agreement of this nation and should be upholded,” ended Husni.
