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Secretary General M. Guntur Hamzah and Press Council Chairman Yosep Adi Prasetyo signing an MoU, witnessed by Chief Justice Anwar Usman in the Program to Improve Understanding of Constitutional Rights of Citizens for Indonesian Journalists, Monday (22/4) at the Pancasila and Constitution Education Center, Cisarua, Bogor. Photo by Humas MK/Lulu Anjarsari.

CISARUA, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—As a strategic step to revitalize, re-actualize, and re-internalize the implementation of Pancasila values, the Constitutional Court (MK) is holding a Program to Improve Understanding of Constitutional Rights of Citizens for Indonesian Journalists on Monda–Thursday Kamis (22-25/4/2019) at the Pancasila and Constitution Education Center, Cisarua, Bogor.

In his welcome and keynote address, Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Anwar Usman explained that the 2019 Elections were extraordinary elections. In addition to the complexity, the 2019 Elections have had casualties. "The 2019 Elections were the most difficult election in the world even compared to elections in the United States," he said in front of 118 journalists from all over Indonesia.

In addition, Anwar said that the Constitutional Court will face a difficult task, especially in relation to the authority to examine and hear disputes over election results. The Constitutional Court hopes that all parties will accept the Court\'s decisions regarding the legislative and presidential elections with open hearts.

"[The Court hopes] that all parties can accept [the Court’s decisions]. We hope the legislative or vice-presidential candidates will not submit petitions to the Constitutional Court. But even if [that wish] doesn\'t happen, it will be the Court’s and the press’ heavy duty to report accurate news even though it is bitter in reality," he explained.

Justice Anwar said the press has an important role to convey information to the public. The community, he added, find out about the Court also due to the press. He also hoped that the press would help in socializing Pancasila and the Constitution to the general public.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Constitutional Court M. Guntur Hamzah in his report, said that journalist is a profession as old as human civilization. The press is a counterweight to democracy among the pluralistic Indonesian people. According to him, the press has the right to be taught of their rights and obligations, especially as citizens.

"Therefore, the press can play a role optimally by understanding their constitutional rights. The press has the power to lead public opinion. This [program] aims to improve understanding, awareness, obedience to Pancasila, the Constitution, and the procedural law of the Constitutional Court and to increase awareness of nationalism and national awareness," he explained.

Press Council Chairman Yosep Adi Prasetyo said that the 2019 Elections felt different as they were carried out simultaneously and the community had to elect the president-vice president and legislative candidates (DPR, DPD, and DPRD). General elections are supposed to be a direct, open, and mass means of public education. The role of the press is mainly two: to disseminate information in real terms, to check and data and facts, and the press must focus on elections management in the KPU, Bawaslu, DKPP, and of course the Constitutional Court.

In this activity, the Court also signed an MoU with the Press Council for the next five years. The Constitutional Court was represented by Secretary General M. Guntur Hamzah and the Press Council by Yosep Adi Prasetyo, witnessed by Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Anwar Usman. The MoU is to establish cooperation between the Constitutional Court and the Press Council regarding the improvement in understanding of the constitutional rights of citizens, especially among journalists.

In the program that will take place four days, journalists will conduct experimental learning about improving national insight and reactivating and implementing Pancasila values. In addition, they will also receive materials on Pancasila and the Constitution, the Constitutional Court procedural law, and press dialogue. (Lulu Anjarsari/Yuniar Widiastuti)

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