Bawaslu To Polri Form A Working Group For Handling COVID-19 Protocol Violations In Pilkada

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) Abhan announced the formation of a working group (pokja) to handle health protocol violations at the 2020 Pilkada stage.

In this working group, Bawaslu collaborates with the KPU, the Honorary Council of Election Administrators (DKPP), the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri), the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, the Attorney General's Office, the TNI, and the Police.

"Those given the mandate to form this working group are Bawaslu to become chairman, and members consisting of the KPU, DKPP, Ministry of Home Affairs, TNI, Task Force, Attorney General's Office and the police," Abhan said in a virtual press conference, Thursday, September 17.

The working group for handling violations of the COVID-19 protocol has a basic task of conducting massive outreach to the public to continue to carry out health protocols at every stage of the 2020 Simultaneous Pilkada.

Later this working group will involve political parties and campaign teams for candidate pairs to play an active role and strive to improve compliance with health protocols.

"The Working Group will hold a declaration related to compliance with the COVID-19 protocol, starting from provinces to city districts, so that the implementation of the 2020 Pilkada will not cause a COVID-19 cluster," Abhan explained.

Meanwhile, with regard to prosecution for protocol violations committed by pilkada participants, Bawaslu will hand over potential criminal acts to the police.

"The police will take firm action against violations of the COVID-19 health protocol in accordance with the level of SOPs that have been implemented by the Police," he said.

So far, the only action that can be taken by Bawaslu when there is a 2020 Pilkada candidate who violates the health protocol is only a direct warning or written warning.

Then, Bawaslu also forwarded 243 recorded health protocol violations to the police. Because, only law enforcement officials can impose heavier sanctions, namely criminal.

The criminal threat is included in Law Number 4 of 1984 concerning Infectious Disease Outbreaks and Law Number 6 of 2018 concerning Health Quarantine.