Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Hasan Nasbi has advised counselling for a female university student arrested recently for uploading a meme featuring President Prabowo Subianto and the seventh president Joko Widodo.

"From the government's perspective, this young person deserves to be guided through counselling," he said on Saturday.

The student is quite young and was perhaps too enthusiastic about conveying criticism, he added.

In the context of democracy, expressions of criticism should be responded to with understanding and guidance, not punishment.

However, handling any legal violation is within the authority of the law enforcement agencies, Nasbi said.

"If the protest violates the law, we hand it over to law enforcement. However, if it is a matter of opinion (or) expression, it is better to give them understanding and guidance," he explained.

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Nasbi further said that President Prabowo has not reported the case; instead, he is continuing to encourage unity and embracing all parties for the sake of national progress.

The PCO head expressed regret over irresponsible expressions that can potentially insult or spout hatred.

"Of course, we regret the act. The space for expression must be filled with responsible action, not through ways that lead to insults or hatred. But still, the president never reports news or any expressions that cornered him," he said.

Earlier, the National Police confirmed the arrest of the student for uploading the meme on social media X.

"A woman with the initials SSS has been arrested and is being processed," Head of the National Police's Public Information Bureau Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko informed on Friday.

He said that SSS has been charged under the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE).

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Translator: Fathur Rochman/Pradanna P, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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