Bawaslu: Election Campaign Music Concerts Have Not Been Banned, But They Can Be Disbanded

JAKARTA - Member of the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) Rahmat Bagja said that the 2020 Pilkada campaign in the form of organizing music concerts is still allowed by the KPU.

However, according to Bagja, there is another way to block the holding of a music concert in the election campaign, namely by not issuing crowd permits by the local police.

"In my opinion, music concerts in the campaign can be canceled. Why? Because the concert must have a crowd permit, permission from the crowd to stay is not granted," said Bagja in a webinar discussion, Thursday, September 17.

If a candidate pair, political party, or campaign team persists in holding a music concert without a license, the police can dismiss the activity.

"For a concert, which invites dangdut singers, for example, it is difficult to discipline and keep the distance, so it can be dissolved," said Bagja.

Bagja also regretted that the KPU did not discuss permits for music concerts when discussing the preparation of KPU Regulation Number 10 of 2020 with Bawaslu, the DPR, and the government.

"The general meeting may, for example, mention the form of the concert. However, is there no deviation (to the COVID-19 protocol)? That question has not been resolved at the RDP (hearing meeting)," said Bagja.

A campaign in the form of a music concert is allowed by the General Election Commission (KPU) because it is regulated in KPU Regulation Number 10 of 2020 concerning the implementation of regional elections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the pandemic, the KPU still allowed campaign activities with physical gatherings. This is regulated in Article 63 PKPU Number 10 of 2020. The following reads the regulation:

Art 63

(1) Other activities that do not violate the Campaign prohibition and the provisions of laws and regulations as referred to in Article 57 letter g can be carried out in the form of:

a. general meeting;

b. cultural activities in the form of performing arts, big harvest, and / or music concerts;

c. sports activities in the form of leisurely walks, and / or relaxing bicycles;

d. race;

e. social activities in the form of a bazaar and / or blood donation;

f. Political Party birthdays; and / or

g. through social media.