TheJakartaPost
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The reported police action against punk band Sukatani and its 2023 track, "Bayar Bayar Bayar", is a clear instance of constitutional violation that illustrates the enduring power of music as social critique and the police's remaining journey to transform into a democratic institution.
The incident attracted widespread public attention, with artists and netizens expressing their support for the band on social media using the hashtag #KamiBersamaSukatani (we are with Sukatani), often accompanied by the slogan “ACAB,” which stands for “all cops are bastards”.
The police station and the Regional Representative Council’s (DPRD) building in Purbalingga, Central Java were spray-painted with messages, some of which referred to punk band Sukatani, which was allegedly intimidated into making an apology video for making a song criticizing corrupt cops.
Fellow artists and human rights activists decry the alleged intimidation of punk rock band Sukatani for their song that criticizes corrupt police officers, calling the incident a censorship act that threatens freedom of expression in the country.
