REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA —  Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Wiranto said the spreading of hoax (fake news) during 2019 election is kind of terror act. He has plan to use terrorism law, in order to handle this problem.

“I think hoax is a terror, it can terror psychology of society. Therefore, we face this as terror threat. We will immediately handle this with strict ways, but still refer to the law,” Wiranto said on Wednesday (March 20).

Wiranto said hoax has caused fear among the society. He added it was same like terrorism which caused people feel threatened.

“If people threatened with hoax, they will be afraid to come to polling stations (TPS) and it is a threat and an act of terrorism,” Wiranto explained.

Wiranto asked authority to aware of the spread of hoax and arrest the perpetrator. He also said, the apparatus must also be able to invite people and make they believe if 2019 election is safe.

Wiranto condemned people who want to disturb election, as part of democracy process. The former Indonesian Military (TNI) commander asserted hoax was a threat, which appeared in a number of recent elections.

The threat is considered dangerous because it more easily change people’s attitudes due to political interests. Wiranto said hoax actually is a new threat in election.

“We are facing a new threat, which doesn’t exist in the recent elections," Wiranto added.

Wiranto said there were issues that said 2019 election will not be safe. The election was also said will cause riots. He stressed that people who spreaded those issues want to make public feel afraid and do not want to stay in this country when election comes.

“Election will run safely, security forces will ensure that. People should invite others to not abstain when election comes,” Wiranto said.

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