Local Youth Ngo Mandiri Rejects Claims Linking It To Indo Protests

---

 


Youth group Mandiri denied allegations linking it to the recent protests in Indonesia, which have seen multiple deaths, injuries, and government buildings set ablaze.
Its executive director, Amir Hadi, said the group has heard claims that it is one of the masterminds behind the protests.
In a statement today, he claimed that friends of the group had been detained in Indonesia and were pressured to say they received training and funds from Mandiri to carry out the recent protest.
The group has been contacted by several Indonesians, including media practitioners from there, with the same question, he added.
Protest in Indonesia“Mandiri strongly denies these baseless and ‘absurd’ allegations. Mandiri has never been involved in any organisation or planning, directly or indirectly, related to the demonstrations in Indonesia.
“These allegations are not only baseless, but are clearly designed to find scapegoats for the failures of their own government. It is also an insult to the Indonesian people, who are certainly more knowledgeable about their domestic politics,” he said.
Amir urged the Indonesian government to release all detainees and stop scapegoating activities immediately.
Mass protests lit up Jakarta, Indonesia, starting on Aug 25, following a deeply unpopular move by the government to increase the housing allowance of lawmakers to the tune of 10 times the minimum wage.
The protest began peacefully but quickly turned deadly after the emergence of a video depicting an elite paramilitary police unit running over 21-year-old delivery driver Affan Kurniawan.
Since then, unrest spread from Jakarta to other major cities in a wave that saw Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto revoking some of the proposed perks for lawmakers.
Protest in IndonesiaAfter the protests, a local rights group said at least 20 people have gone missing, while Economy Minister Airlangga Hartarto said at least eight people have died.
Explaining and debunking Indonesian links
Commenting further, Amir, who was a co-founder of Muda, explained that Mandiri had gone to Indonesia in April to strengthen regional ties and study local issues.
“Friends from Indonesia also managed to make a visit to Kuala Lumpur in late July, and did the same.
“There was no discussion regarding organising any demonstrations either in Malaysia or Indonesia,” he added.
He said the claims against Mandiri include allegations that the group is funded by Riza Chalid, a fugitive Indonesian oil tycoon who is said to be residing in Malaysia.
“We have never met or contacted him, either directly or indirectly.
“If it is true that he is currently in Malaysia, we urge the Malaysian government not to protect this individual and send him back to face trial,” he said.
On Sept 17, the Indonesian police requested a red notice from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) for Riza, who is a suspect in a corruption case linked to state-owned energy company Pertamina.
Riza, the owner of PT Orbit Terminal Merak, is also facing money laundering charges.
Previously, Indonesia’s Immigration and Corrections Minister Agus Andrianto said Riza was detected in Malaysia after leaving Indonesia in February.
Meanwhile, Amir expressed Mandiri’s readiness to be investigated by the Malaysian police.
“Mandiri is also always ready to be investigated, and believes that the Malaysian police have all the information, including every meeting, as well as the flow of funds in and out of Mandiri’s account,” he said. - Mkini

---