The Minister Of Home Affairs On The Apdesi Silatnas Attended By Jokowi: No Declaration For 3 Periods

JAKARTA - Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian explained about the All-Indonesian Village Government Association (Apdesi) which was asked by the Deputy Chairman of Commission II of the DPR from the PDIP faction, Junimart Girsang. Tito denied any support for an extension of the presidential term of office to three terms.

Tito also explained about the existence of two Apdesi. Apdesi led by Surtawijaya is registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Apdesi led by Arifin Abdul Majid is registered with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.

"There was a declaration of 3 periods, I was there. There was no declaration of 3 periods. We know that there are two Apdesi, the first is registered with the Kumham, it's called an association," said Tito in a Working Meeting with Commission II DPR, Senayan, Jakarta , Tuesday, April 5th.

"On average, most of its members are former village heads. Because this section is village heads, they also don't want to leave. Real village heads don't want them to be led by exes. Moreover, they are ex-village heads and clashes. It's just that the governor and regent have a lot of political opponents," Tito continued.

Because of this, Tito continued, Apdesi, who did not want to be led by a former village head, registered with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights in 2016. Whereas previously there had been a real association of village heads registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

"Well, right now, Mr. Surta, I attended the National Conference about six months ago and then the time of the inauguration was also here at the DPR. I was also the one who inaugurated because of the coach," explained Tito.

Tito said that within the organization's household they have the right to appoint advisors and coaches. At that time, they asked Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan as chairman of the advisory board.

"Maybe because of my abilities and other things, I myself as a coach with the minister of underdeveloped villages," said Tito.

"After their inauguration, they wrote an official letter to the president and I, Mendes PDTT, there were a number of aspirations they wanted to convey, not declarations but aspirations. I'll send the letter later," he continued.

Tito then explained, the aspirations requested by Apdesi. Among other things, asking for an operating budget of 5 percent of the DAU. The reason is that there is a budget but the operational budget itself.

"But in the end, many people stole the budget from the program so that they were caught, many of whom were caught by police prosecutors," he said.

Second, it is a matter of salary. At first they were paid three months and then asked to be the same as the others per month. "Well, apparently it will depend on the district for the third third of this month. Many regions still rely on central transfers," he said.

Third, ask for increased village funds. Tito said the village heads thanked President Joko Widodo for agreeing to his aspirations.

Tito said, there has been a budget per year since 2015 with a total until 2021 of approximately IDR 400 trillion plus IDR 8 trillion in 2022.

"So, there is a blessing, there is also a request. That's about it, so I asked for a large audience with the president. But I can't answer financial problems, it's not my authority," he said.

Tito also explained the chronology of the Silatnas event at Istora Senayan. He said, there were two sessions in the event. First, regarding village development, the speakers were the Minister of Des PDTT and the moderator from the DPD RI.

"The two events introducing the president were started by the anthem Indonesia Raya. The speech contained aspirations by Mr. Surta. Then the president fulfilled 3 percent, but not 5 percent. In the third month he also just found out, he agreed to order me and the finance minister to give them a salary a month," he said.

"The next thing that was rejected was the addition of the village budget. Now the financial condition is depressed after the pandemic. At first I wanted to ask for a percentage of the DAU," he added.

The event, said Tito, ended with applause. "After that, the president, as usual, turned around, said hello. When I wanted to go out, there was a crowd outside the village head shouting for 3 periods, Pak Jokowi just smiled, but in the media there were 3 periods. I think it's only natural to want to talk spontaneously," said Tito.

According to Tito, the Silatnas event was not a political event. However, if it was said that the village head should not engage in practical politics, Tito actually questioned the status of the village head himself. Because the Village Law does not regulate the status of the village head, whether ASN or civil servants or non-civil servants.

"In the village law, this is what the lawmakers in 2014 did not realize what the status of the village head was. In Law number 6 of 2014 the point was to develop the village but there was never a single article that listed the status of the village head. So, is he an ASN or not? ? Civil servants or not who have to follow the rules of civil servants cannot participate in politics, practically there is no. So this law has an important spirit for advanced villages. Their status is not called ASN, they are not government employees who must obey the ASN Law which prohibits political activities, "explained Tito .

Tito said that the Village Law does state that village heads cannot be administrators of political parties. Article 29 is the only one that regulates political issues. Second, they may not be involved in election campaigns or regional heads, the sanctions can be dismissed.

"I think this needs to be considered, they are no longer ordinary community leaders. Now bureaucrats. But the law doesn't regulate that. If I make a statement from the village head, they can't declare what they say. I violate the law unless the law is clear," he said.

"I prohibit them from campaigning but doing activities that smell politically not during the campaign, what is the basis for my prohibition. I actually violate the spirit of reform, freedom," said Tito.