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NasDems under fire for alleged exploitation of demo photo
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Dede Luthfi Alfianda is pictured protesting against controversial bills at the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Sept. 25. (KOMPAS.com/GARRY LOTULUNG) (KOMPAS.com/GARRY LOTULUNG/KOMPAS.com/GARRY LOTULUNG)
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ocial media users have been outraged after discovering that the NasDem Party has reportedly been using a photo of Dede Luthfi Alfiandi, a protestor who is currently in prison, for advertising purposes.
The party has been widely condemned for its lack of empathy for the 20-year-old man who testified in a hearing session at the Central Jakarta District Court about physical torture he endured while in custody at the West Jakarta Police office. Luthfi was accused of hurling rocks at the police during student protests over controversial bills at the House of Representatives in Jakarta last September.
The viral photo, in which he clutches an Indonesian flag to his face, has become an emblem of the protests. The photo was reportedly used by NasDem to publicize its coordination meeting (rakor) held recently in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
Twitter user @hadijoban posted a photo of the advertisement on Monday, saying "NasDem edited Luthfi's photo for an advertisement. Does it have the copyright? Does the party even care about Luthfi's poor state?"
Nasdem mengedit foto Luthfi untuk iklannya. Apakah Nasdem sudah minta izin? Apakah Nasdem selama ini peduli nasib Luthfi?
Bener ngga sih? @AlghifAqsa@haris_azhar @YLBHI
Kawal ketua @sandalista1789 pic.twitter.com/CwvLeB76e7
— 🤡 (@hadijoban1) January 27, 2020
In the edited photo, Luthfi seems to be holding NasDem's blue party flag, instead of the original Red and White flag. The advertisement also has a text reading "Loyalty in the name of friendship will not break apart easily, only through differences in political stance or social status. Friendship is a timeless bond."
The ad further says "Conscience for the country! Congratulations to NasDem in holding its special coordination meeting."
Another Twitter user Irman Abdurrahman said NasDem had taken advantage of the people’s spirit merely for the sake of a party meeting. "It's very objectionable of them."
NasDem executive Willy Aditya, on the other hand, shrugged of the accusation saying that the advertisement was posted by someone "unrelated to the party" as a friendly gesture.
"The ad wasn't posted by NasDem, but someone outside the party to congratulate it for successfully holding the event [in Makassar]," Willy said. (vny)
