JAKARTA - The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) highlighted the increase in COVID-19 cases in a number of regions in Indonesia during the 2020 simultaneous regional election campaign.
Komnas HAM commissioner Hairansyah said based on the data collected, there were 266,845 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of September 25, while during the campaign period it increased to 502,110 cases as of 23 November.
He said, in a coordination meeting with the General Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), it was conveyed that there were many findings of violations of health protocols during the campaign period even though written warnings had been issued, administrative sanctions and efforts to dissolve the campaign.
For this reason, within 15 days before the voting stage, Komnas HAM recommended that supervision be maximized accompanied by the application of strict sanctions with the support of a disciplinary task force.
"This is because health protocols in the election campaign stages have not run optimally. There is still neglect of health protocols that have the potential to spread COVID-19," said Hairansyah, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, November 24.
Komnas HAM also reminded the need to maximize prevention efforts because the COVID-19 pandemic character spreads through the crowd, while face-to-face campaign activities still dominate.
If face-to-face campaigns that do not apply health protocols are dissolved, Komnas HAM is concerned that the potential spread of COVID-19 has already occurred and is difficult to avoid.
The Indonesian KPU, through the regional KPU, is also encouraged to coordinate intensively with regional task forces and the health service and prepare emergency steps related to the impact of the spread of COVID-19 after the campaign and voting stages.
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