Mass organizations should uphold lawful and ethical behavior. Shouldn't this be the norm, and not the exception, for those who form social cohesion? We, Almas (XI1), Lugas Farrel (XI1), Musyaffa Arafa (XI2), M. Dzaki Yudanto (XI3), Jacqueline Levana (XI5), and M. Alfin (XI5) as students of SMA Pradita Dirgantara, have been discussing this topic as part of our civics assignment. This article will further discuss our views on the application of the law in Indonesia.
What Happened?
On May 24, 2025, a shocking act of violence unfolded in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, when Prosecutor Jhon Wesli Sinaga and a staff member of the Deli Serdang District Attorney's Office, Asensio Silvanov Hutabarat, were brutally attacked by two men wielding lethal weapons. The assault occurred on Jhon's palm oil plantation in Desa Perbaungan, Kotarih District, where both victims sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the hospital for intensive medical treatment.
The main perpetrator of the attack was identified as Alpa Patria Lubis, also known as Kepot, who serves as the Deputy Commander of the Pemuda Pancasila (PP) paramilitary wing in Deli Serdang. He carried out the attack along with an accomplice, Surya Darma alias Gallo, both of whom were apprehended by police within 24 hours of the incident on the night of Saturday.
The motive behind the attack is suspected to be linked to a legal case involving Edi Suranta Gurusinga, also known as Godol, a former police officer previously charged with illegal possession of firearms. Prosecutor Jhon Wesli Sinaga was reportedly involved in handling the case and had filed a cassation appeal following the court's decision to acquit Godol in August 2024. It is believed that Kepot, having close ties with Godol, launched the assault as an act of retaliation or intimidation against the prosecutor for pursuing legal action that threatened his associate's freedom.
Moral Dilemma
The moral dilemma in this case can be seen from the victim's perspective, who is a public prosecutor. The victim faced a choice, which is to remain committed to their duty as a prosecutor by upholding the truth, despite the high risk of endangering their own life. On the other hand, the victim could have chosen to comply with the demands of the assailants by halting the investigation involving both the victim and the perpetrators. By doing so, the victim could have ensured their safety and continued living a normal life. However, abandoning their duty as a prosecutor could weaken the rule of law in the region and potentially lead to similar cases recurring in the future.
Tracing the Lines of Responsibility
A number of actors were involved in the background of this incident, namely the institution responsible for establishing the mass organization (ormas), the organization itself, Pemuda Pancasila, and the individuals affiliated with it.
Kesbangpol's Oversight Failure
The initial responsibility lies with the Badan Kesatuan Bangsa dan Politik (Kesbangpol), as the institution authorized to oversee the establishment and supervision of Community Organizations (ormas). According to Legislation No. 17 of 2013 concerning Organisasi Kemasyarakatan (ormas), Kesbangpol holds the mandate to ensure that the processes of establishment, supervision, and evaluation of ormas are carried out properly. However, in this case, Kesbangpol is deemed to have failed in fulfilling its role effectively. This is evident in the absence of serious oversight measures regarding Pemuda Pancasila. Such failure ultimately led to a criminal act of violence committed by Alpa Patria Lubis, a member of Pemuda Pancasila who was involved in the stabbing of a public prosecutor, and is known as a recidive in similar criminal acts.
