Reports Of Election Violations Not Followed Up Due To Different Opinions Often, Gakkumdu Center Try To Equalize Perceptions

The Integrated Law Enforcement Center (Sentra Gakkumdu) consisting of the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), the police, and the prosecutor's office tried to share perceptions about technical understanding of the Pilkada Law.

Member of the Indonesian Bawaslu Puadi said that this perception was made so that law enforcement could run effectively and fairly, especially on September 25, the 2024 election entered the campaign period.

Puadi realized that there were frequent differences in the interpretation of legal rules between election supervisors, police, and prosecutors, making the law enforcement process based on reports of alleged election violations.

This makes reports from the public or findings of alleged election crimes from Bawaslu hampered, even unable to be followed up due to formal defects or insufficient evidence.

"Hopefully there will be no more disagreements between Bawaslu, the Police, and the Prosecutor's Office because the orientation of handling the election crime aims to restore political rights that are disturbed from an unfair or fraudulent act so that action is needed," Puadi said in his statement, Thursday, September 26.

Reflecting on the implementation of the 2020 Pilkada, Puadi said there was a trend of election crimes that often occurred. Puadi is worried that this condition will repeat itself in the 2024 Pilkada.

"At least we will be faced with an alleged criminal act of violating the campaign ban; the neutrality of regional heads, village heads, and civil servants; the practice of money politics," he said.

On the one hand, Puadi also said the important role of the police and prosecutors in handling election crimes. Intensive, Bawaslu's authority in the election is limited. Apart from the short time of handling for three days, Bawaslu also cannot force the summons for questioning.

"The election supervisors also cannot confiscate evidence so that the shortage can be completed by the authority of the police and prosecutors," said Puadi.