Rahmat Bagja Remembers The Indonesian Bawaslu Building As Witness To Identity Politics

Chairman of the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) RI Rahmat Bagja recalled his institution building located on Jalan M. H. Thamrin Number 14, Menteng, Central Jakarta, as a witness to identity politics.

"The Thamrin 14 building is a building that witnessed the existence of the Election Supervisory Body facing the challenge of politicizing its identity in 2019. Applause for our building," said Bagja at the peak of the commemoration of the 16th Anniversary of Bawaslu, at the Indonesian Bawaslu Building, Jakarta, Sunday.

Bagja explained that although the institution's building does not include cultural heritage, it is the only building that has been thrown by bombs.

"This building is a witness, and there has never been a possible election organizer building that was thrown by Molotov cocktails other than the Thamrin 14 Bawaslu building," he said.

In addition, he said that the Bawaslu building was a historical witness that the implementation of election supervision also had its own risks.

"So, it's not safe. Not only the General Election Commission (General Election Commission) was demonstrated, but also the Bawaslu building during administrative violations at our level at that time in the 2019 Presidential Election.

He then reminded, "identity politicization does not start in 2019. It must be remembered, identity politicization, SARA politicization began in 2017 for the election of the Governor-Deputy Governor of DKI."

On Wednesday, May 22, 2019, there was a riot in front of the Indonesian Bawaslu office, Jakarta. At around 20.15 WIB, the masses at the Indonesian Bawaslu and Mandiri Tower intersection began to provoke just before Brimob's troops who were on guard in front of Bawaslu would make changes to the front row. Throwing stones, firecracker bottles, and Molotov cocktails were directed at the security forces.