Bawaslu: Apdesi Gathering Enters As A Finding Of Violations

Bawaslu Chairman Rahmat Bagja gave a statement on the sidelines of the Global Network on Electoral Justice (GNEJ) in Bandung, Tuesday (5/12/2023). (ANTARA/Ricky Prayoga)

JAKARTA - The General Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) revealed that cases of alleged violations of village head neutrality in the simultaneous event of the All-Indonesian Village Government Association (Apdesi) have been included as findings of violations.

"The case of the Apdesi gathering has been included as a meeting, it has been registered by the DKI Jakarta Bawaslu," said Chairman of the Indonesian Bawaslu Rahmat Bagja to the media crew on the sidelines of attending the Global Network on Electoral Justice (GNEJ) event in Bandung, West Java, reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, December 5.

At the case tracing stage, Bagja revealed that from the findings of the DKI Jakarta Bawaslu after visiting the Apdesi office in South Jakarta, it was discovered that there were two village government organizations.

"We have called Apdesi's friends. Yesterday, the DKI Jakarta Bawaslu conducted a search, it was discovered that there were two Apdesi, so we checked both," he said.

Bagja also ensured that Bawaslu would continue to monitor the progress of handling the Apdesi case carried out by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Bawaslu so that the type of violation could be determined.

"If the village head is involved, it will violate the Election Law and the Village Government Law. Who will be able to reprimand him? Yes, we or then the Minister of Home Affairs or the government," Bagja explained.

Previously, there were allegations of violations of the neutrality of village heads who were members of the Apdesi which were suspected to have been carried out at the United Village National Declaration event at Istora Senayan, Jakarta, on November 19, 2023.

During the event, the village heads planned to declare support for a pair of presidential and vice-presidential candidates, namely Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

The declaration was canceled, but Gibran was present at the event with the capacity as Mayor of Solo.