KIP: Objection To Ricuh Debate The Aceh Gubernatorial Election Has Been Reported To The KPU

The Aceh Independent Election Commission (KIP) stated that the incident of contesting the three candidates for the Governor and Deputy Governor of Aceh had been submitted to the Indonesian KPU, including objections from the winning team of candidate pairs.

"KIP Aceh has submitted a report on the course of the third debate to the KPU following up on the objection letter from the winning team candidate pair number 1 (Bustami-Fadhil)," said Head of KIP Aceh Agusni AH in Banda Aceh, Friday, November 22, as reported by ANTARA.

Previously, the debate over the candidates for the three pairs of candidates for Governor and Deputy Governor of Aceh for the 2024 Pilkada had to be stopped due to a riot between supporters on Tuesday (19/11) night at around 20.50 WIB.

The riot occurred when candidate pair number 1 Bustami Hamzah - M Fadhil Rahmi conveyed his vision and mission. Then a number of supporters of pair number 2 Muzakir Manaf - Fadhullah (Mualem - Dek Fadh) went up to the debate stage.

Mualem-Dek Fadh supporters took to the stage for protesting allegations of electronic devices in the form of a microphone/clip on attached to the collar of Bustami's clothes. Finally, there was a riot until the public debate was stopped.

Agusni emphasized that the two candidate pairs intend to submit reports of alleged campaign violations in the third debate, so it is advisable to convey them to the Aceh Electoral Supervisory Committee (Panwaslih).

For this reason, the reporting party is reminded to prepare supporting evidence for claims of violations, which are followed by reporting which explains the perpetrators of violations, types, times and places of occurrence of violations.

"The submission of the report to Panwaslih Aceh. For complete technicalities, we can consult further with Panwaslih Aceh," he said.

In addition, regarding further debates, he said, in accordance with KPU Decree Number 1363 of 2024 of the Aceh KPU/KIP, they can only facilitate the implementation of public debates between candidate pairs three times that have been completed.

In the aftermath of the termination of the debate, the Aceh Governor candidate team number 1 Bustami Hamzah - Fadhil Rahmi asked the KPU to take over its duties and authorities and freeze the KIP commissioners in Aceh.

"We ask the Indonesian KPU to immediately take over duties and authorities and freeze the role of the commissioner of the Aceh KIP to save the democratic process in Aceh," said Bustami-Fadhil spokesman Hendra Budian.

According to him, the 01 team was disappointed with the accusation that the candidate pair had violated the rules for using electronic devices during the debate, resulting in a commotion.

In fact, in a meeting with the supporting party and supporters of Bustami on Thursday afternoon (21/11), another KIP commissioner, Hendra Dermawan, admitted that there were no violations of this matter in the rules and regulations.

"The information about lies conveyed by the chairman of the Aceh KIP has misled the people of Aceh and harmed us," he said.

In addition, related to the unilateral cancellation of the third debate, it is considered to have damaged democracy in Aceh. This incident adds to a series of attitudes that show the neutrality of the Aceh KIP as the organizer of the Aceh Pilkada.

"Previously, KIP Aceh had also stated that TMS (did not meet the requirements-Red) of the Bustami-Fadhil pair," he said.

Therefore, Hendra asked the KPU to immediately freeze the commissioners and take over the duties and responsibilities of the Aceh KIP to save the democratic process in Aceh.

"If the KPU does not take over the duties and authorities of the Aceh KIP, in the future the same thing will also likely happen again. Two times the authority has been displayed in Aceh, and the people are silent," he said.