The Election Bill Prohibits Ex HTI Members From Participating In The Election, Undana Academy Opens Votes

Illustration (Photo: Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - In the General Election Bill (RUU), there is a clause that invites polemic. This clause prohibits former members of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) from participating in democratic parties or elections, whether the pilkada, pileg, or the presidential election.

According to Dr. Johannes Tuba Helan, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Nusa Cendana (Undana) Kupang, said the prohibition in the Election Bill was excessive.

"In my opinion, from the point of view of our rule of law and democracy, the prohibition against former HTI members running for election is excessive because this is like punishing them repeatedly", Johannes explained, Wednesday, January 27, quoted from Antara.

He said that those who were members of HTI might not think that the organization was dangerous. The reason was that the organization originally had an establishment permit. So when HTI was dissolved, its former members did not need to be banned when they wanted to participate in the political contestation.

He continued, it is possible that the former HTI members have changed and are obedient to the consensus of the nation and state in Indonesia. Their political rights, added Johannes, should not be too restrained.

"So, don't feel like they are being punished over and over again because in the end the people themselves choose or don't choose them", said the Undana academic.

Moreover, former HTI members also did not immediately qualify when running for office. There is still a selection that must be undertaken if you want to take part in the decoration party.

"If it is found that there are still opposing ideologies, their candidacy can be dropped", said Johannes.