JAMIRA: Gibran Case Should Not Become a Battle of Opinions; Facts and Law Must Prevail

JAKARTA, STUPA NEWS — The Indonesia Raya Media Network (JAMIRA) has urged media organizations and the public not to turn social media into a “courtroom” over a case before Indonesia’s Constitutional Court concerning Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s educational qualifications.

JAMIRA Chairman RM Gusti Haes said public interest in the case was understandable, but the intensity of debate online should not replace the legal process and evidentiary standards applied by the Constitutional Court.

“JAMIRA is not in a position to judge Gibran. Nor are we here to determine whether the parties bringing the case are right or wrong. Our position is clear: the public sphere and the media must remain grounded in facts, evidence and the law,” Gusti Haes told reporters in Jakarta on Saturday (Oct. 3, 2026).

His statement came two days before the court is scheduled to deliver its ruling on the case concerning Gibran’s educational qualifications. The court has completed its examination of the case and is scheduled to announce its decision on Monday, Oct. 5.

Gusti Haes said the case had generated intense debate across digital platforms, where video clips, statements, documents and competing legal interpretations were circulating rapidly.

He urged the public to distinguish between evidence presented in court, opinions, allegations and conclusions that have not been established through legal proceedings.

“Something that goes viral should not automatically be treated as fact. At the same time, criticism of a public official should not automatically be dismissed as an attack simply because it challenges a particular interest,” he said.

Gusti Haes said one of the biggest challenges facing digital journalism was the tendency to turn news coverage into a battle of competing narratives.

In cases involving public officials and constitutional proceedings, he said, media organizations should instead strengthen their verification standards.

“Media organizations should not act as judges. Their role is to filter information. Facts must be separated from opinion, documents from interpretation, and allegations must not be presented as established facts,” he said.

Gusti Haes said JAMIRA did not want its member media outlets to become caught up in political polarization that could obscure the substance of the case.

“The public has the right to ask questions. The public has the right to be critical. But a court decision must ultimately be based on legal proceedings and evidence, not pressure from the digital sphere,” he said.

Gusti Haes also said that whatever decision the Constitutional Court reaches, the public should receive a clear explanation of the legal reasoning behind it.

He said public attention should not be limited to whether the petition is accepted or rejected, but should also focus on the legal basis for the court’s conclusion.

“The public needs to understand how the judges assess the facts, how evidence is evaluated, how legal provisions are applied and how the court reaches its conclusion. A ruling involving matters of public interest must have reasoning that can be understood by the public,” he said.

The court on Friday examined testimony from officials at Indonesia’s Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, as well as education attachés from Indonesian diplomatic missions in Singapore and Australia, concerning Gibran’s educational records and the recognition of his qualifications.

The proceedings have attracted significant public attention because of questions surrounding documents related to Gibran’s educational background.

The Constitutional Court is scheduled to deliver its ruling on Oct. 5.

JAMIRA Warns Against Linking the Police Chief Change to the Case

Gusti Haes also commented on Indonesia’s recent change in police leadership.

Suyudi Ario Seto was sworn in as national police chief on Oct. 1, replacing Listyo Sigit Prabowo.

Gusti Haes said the change in police leadership and the Constitutional Court case were separate institutional matters and should not be linked without evidence.

“The change in police leadership is an institutional matter. The case before the Constitutional Court is a constitutional matter. They should not be conflated simply because the events happened around the same time,” he said.

He warned that narratives linking the two events without supporting evidence could further complicate an already polarized public debate.

“JAMIRA chooses facts over insinuation. If there is a connection, it must be demonstrated. If there is no evidence, conclusions should not be built simply on the coincidence of timing,” he said.

Gusti Haes said that as an organization representing a network of media outlets, JAMIRA had a responsibility to contribute to a healthier information environment.

He said JAMIRA would not take the side of either party in the case.

“We do not stand behind Gibran. Nor do we stand behind those challenging him. We stand behind facts, the law and the public’s right to accurate information,” he said.

He said the position was important to ensure that media organizations continued to serve their core function of informing the public and helping audiences understand complex issues.

“In an environment flooded with information, the media’s job is not to add to the noise. Its job is to help people understand,” Gusti Haes said.

He expressed hope that the Constitutional Court’s ruling would help shift public discussion back toward the legal substance of the case.

“The loudest voice should not automatically be considered the most truthful. The standard must remain facts and law. If there is evidence, disclose it and test it. If there is an argument, examine it. If there is a conclusion, explain its legal basis,” he said.

Gusti Haes added that JAMIRA would continue encouraging its member media organizations to uphold verification, balance and editorial independence when covering cases with broad public implications.

“JAMIRA wants Indonesian media to be strong not because they are the loudest, but because they are trusted,” he said. (Janne Sinten)