Scientific Research Cannot be Criminalized

Criminal charges cannot be laid against the research by Widjo Kongko, a scientist at the BPPT, on the potential for tsunamis along Java’s southern coastline that was presented at a scientific forum.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Anggota staf Badan Meteorologi Klimatologi dan Geofisika (BMKG) membaca simulasi potensi tsunami dengan perangkat Tsunami Gauge di ruangan Pusat Gempa Nasional di kompleks BMKG, Jakarta, Jumat (2/3). PGN memonitor tsunami melalui 142 perangkat "tide gauge tsunami monitoring".

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Criminal charges cannot be laid against the research by Widjo Kongko, a scientist at the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), on the potential for tsunamis along Java’s southern coastline that was presented at a scientific forum. The police have been deemed to threaten the principle of academic freedom and hamper efforts to raise public awareness on disaster risks if it continues with its investigation.

Kompas gathered information that the Banten Police special crimes unit had summonsed Serang Class I Meteorological Station chief Sugarin to provide a statement on the matter. On Apr. 3, 2018, Widjo presented his research findings at a scientific seminar titled “Sources of Potential Earthquakes and Tsunamis in Western Java” organized by the Geology, Climatology and Meteorological Agency (BMKG).