Secretary-General M. Guntur Hamzah with Acting Head of the Pancasila and Constitution Education Center Imam Margono at the closing of the constitution awareness program for citizens for the board and members of the Alumni Association of the GMNI virtually, Thursday (6/16/2021). Photo by Humas MK/Teguh.

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Friday, June 17, 2022 | 09:52 WIB

JAKARTA, Public Relations—The constitution awareness program for citizens (PPHKWN) for the board and members of the Alumni Association of the Indonesian National Student Movement (GMNI) organized by the Constitutional Court (MK) through its Pancasila and Constitution Education Center was officially closed on Thursday, June 16, 2022 by Secretary-General M. Guntur Hamzah alongside Acting Head of the Pancasila and Constitution Education Center Imam Margono.

In his remarks, he said the GMNI is one of the Court’s partners in guarding the Constitution and exercising its authorities.

“Of course the Court’s position within our administration system is a prerequisite to improving our administration as a democratic law-based state and a constitutional democracy,” he said.

For this, the Court has a strategic role in promoting values based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution. In addition, Guntur said, the Constitutional Court is the last stronghold in resolving general and regional election disputes besides being the guardian of the state ideology.

“So, no wonder the Court is named the guardian of the state ideology. Pancasila is enshrined within the 1945 Constitution, so upholding the Constitution equals upholding Pancasila, as both are inseparable,” Guntur said.

Also read: Court Holds PPHKWN for GMNI Board and Members

Public Access

Acting Head of the Pancasila and Constitution Education Center Imam Margono said in his report that in order to expand public access to justice, the Court through the Pancasila and Constitution Education Center carry out PPHKWN programs for all elements of society.

“As an institution obligated to provide constitutional interpretation for upholding the rule of law and the Constitution, the Constitutional Court also has a vision to improve constitutional awareness among the citizens and state administrators. The Court’s commitment is continued to uphold through various activities. Today, the alumni of the activities by the Pancasila and Constitution Education Center throughout Indonesia have reached 32,856 people,” he said.

Guntur said the current program could provide with the participants insights on the citizens’ constitutional rights that are guaranteed in the Constitution. He believed the more people are aware of those rights, the better the state administrative system and the national law would be.

Also read: GMNI Board and Members Learn Constitution and Constitutional Court’s History

Participants’ Impression

Participant Adi Febrianto shared his impression and suggestion for the program. He said that the participants had been introduced to the Constitutional Court and the citizens’ constitutional rights that they can fight for when any violation to the Constitution occurred.

“This training has provided more insights. There are specific materials that are not only for law graduates but lighter for non-law graduates,” he said.

Also read: Justice Arief Hidayat Talks Implementation of Pancasila Values

The program was attended by around 372 online participants. It is aimed at improving GMNI cadres’ strategic role in advancing a plural Indonesia through improving the understanding of Pancasila values ​​and awareness of the Constitution and the citizens’ constitutional rights and constitutional efforts in fighting for those rights. The participants received materials regarding Pancasila, the Constitution, the citizens’ constitutional rights, the Constitutional Court, and the procedural law of judicial review from constitutional justices, constitutional law experts, as well as the Court’s substitute registrars, researchers, and IT staff.

Writer       : Utami Argawati
Editor        : Lulu Anjarsari P.
Translator : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 6/17/2021 15:40 WIB

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian version, the Indonesian version will prevail.

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