Selected Regent Sabu Raijua US Citizen, House Of Representatives: Shame On The Indonesian

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission II of the DPR, Luqman Hakim, regretted the case of the elected regent in Sabu Raijua Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Orient Patriot Riwu Kore, who turned out to be an American citizen.

"The passing of a candidate for regional head recognized by the American Embassy as an American citizen is a big mistake and embarrasses all Indonesian people," Luqman said in his statement, Thursday, February 4.

The Continuous Profesional Development (PKB) politician considers this incident to be a cause for concern and at the same time shows that the Indonesian population data system is still in shambles.

Luqman admits that he will ask the Chairperson of the Commission on Domestic Affairs, the State Secretariat, and the Election to ask for clarification from the government so that this case can be resolved immediately.

"Regarding the possibility of a criminal element, in this case, I ask Bawaslu, KPU, and the Police to take follow-up steps in accordance with the authority of each institution", he said.

Previously, the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) of Sabu Raijua Regency received the fact that the elected regent of Sabu Raijua, Orient Patriot Riwu Kore, turned out to be a US citizen.

In fact, Article 7 of Law Number 10 of 2016 concerning Pilkada, the requirement to become a candidate for the regional head is an Indonesian citizen (WNI).

Based on a report from the East Nusa Tenggara General Election Commission (KPU), Orient, when he registered as a candidate for Regent of Sabu Raijua last September, he submitted the requirements for population data, namely an electronic KTP as an Indonesian citizen.

Orient population data has also been verified to the Department of Population and Civil Registration (Disdukcapil) Kupang City. As a result, the Kupang Disdukcapil confirmed that Orient was a resident of Kupang City.

During the registration process, Bawaslu Sabu Raijua has also cross-checked Orient's citizenship status with the Head of the NTT Provincial Immigration Office and the United States Embassy in Jakarta since September 10, 2020.

After a time, Orient, who was paired with Thobias Uly, won the most votes in the election for the Regent-Deputy Regent of Sabu Raijua with 48.3 percent of the votes. They have been appointed as regents and deputy regents elected by the KPU.

Until finally, the US Embassy just replied to Bawaslu's letter on February 1, 2021. As a result, the US Embassy stated that Orient was a US citizen.

"Based on the reply letter, the United States Embassy in Jakarta informed that Orient Patriot Riwu Kowe is indeed an American citizen", said Head of Bawaslu Sabu Raijua, Yudi Tagi Utama in his statement.