Tribratanews.polri.go.id - The appointment of the suspects of the defamation of the Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment of Indonesia, Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti, is an interesting matter in the study of communication perspectives.
Although this case is something that has often happened in the legal world, the magnitude and the number of statement wars surrounding the case make it interesting from the perspective of communication science. It can be said, this case has become a battlefield in the race to attract public sympathy.
The number of narratives or statements asking that this case not proceed to court, actually shows how the war has attracted public sympathy in this case. Instead, all parties should support the steps to seek justice in court, so that it is clear who is right and wrong at the court. Without a process in court, this case will only become a never-ending narrative war between the two parties, which would likely be hard to find a common ground.
Media observer, Rahmat Edi Irawan, said that prolonging the polemic in the mass media would only split the existing polarization in society. If it has not reached a common ground, the two must focus on fighting in the courtroom.
“The ways of influencing, especially provoking the masses through leading opinions in the mass media, can be interpreted as someone’s fear because of a lack of preparation to fight in court,” said Rahmat Edi, who is also a Communication Lecturer at Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta.
