Pilkada Health Protocol Working Group Begins To Detect Potential Crowds

DOCK. Diah Ayu Wardani / VOI

JAKARTA - Member of the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) Ratna Dewi Pettalolo said the working group for handling violations of the 2020 Pilkada health protocol began working today.

According to Ratna, the working group consisting of Bawaslu, KPU, DKPP, Ministry of Home Affairs, the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, the Attorney General's Office, TNI and Polri will conduct early detection of potential crowds related to the pilkada stages.

"We have instructed the working groups for all provinces. Today, the working groups have started to work on early detection of risk of mass buildup," said Ratna in a virtual discussion, Wednesday, September 23.

Dewi continued, if there were mass gathering activities carried out by pilkada participants, namely pairs of candidates, political parties, and the campaign team, it would be immediately disbanded.

"The point is, during the campaign, there was a mass gathering, so they could be disbanded. The regional governments have also issued a letter from the regional head which is used to enforce laws against health protocol violations," he explained.

For information, the Head of Bawaslu Abhan announced the formation of a working group (pokja) to handle health protocol violations at the 2020 Pilkada stage.

The working group for handling violations of the COVID-19 protocol has a basic task of conducting massive outreach to the public to continue to carry out health protocols at every stage of the 2020 regional elections.

Meanwhile, with regard to prosecution for protocol violations committed by pilkada participants, Bawaslu will hand over potential criminal acts to the police.

"The police will take firm action against violations of the COVID-19 health protocol in accordance with the level of SOPs that have been implemented by the Police," he said.

So far, the only action that can be taken by Bawaslu when there is a 2020 Pilkada candidate who violates the health protocol is only a direct warning or written warning.

Bawaslu also forwarded 243 recorded health protocol violations to the police. Because, only law enforcement officials can impose heavier sanctions, namely criminal.

The criminal threat is included in Law Number 4 of 1984 concerning Infectious Disease Outbreaks and Law Number 6 of 2018 concerning Health Quarantine.