Responding To Protests Against Election Recapitulation, KPU: Part Of Election Travel

Commissioner of the Indonesian General Elections Commission (KPU) Auguzt Mellaz (DOK ANTARA)

Commissioner of the Indonesian General Elections Commission (KPU) Auguzt Mellaz responded to a demonstration in front of the KPU office which was held ahead of the completion of the national 2024 election recapitulation. According to Mellaz, demonstrations, both pros and cons of the results of the 2024 General Election, are part of the democracy contestation. "For demonstrations, yes demonstrations. That's normal. I mean, I also don't shrink, don't raise the aspirations that develop outside the KPU building. But this is part of the facts that are indeed on the way throughout the election," said Mellaz at the KPU RI Office, Central Jakarta, Monday, March 18. However, Mellaz admitted that he could not comment on what the action participants and accusations such as the election were subject to fraud. This is because he claims that the KPU organizes elections in a transparent manner, starting from the initial stages, the voting process, to the recapitulation of election results. "The KPU does not want to deny these polemics and does not enter the polemic. But what is clear is that the public can witness the occurrence of this process by the KPU," said Mellaz. "Then the dynamics are also known and if there is a note it can be traced," he added. It was informed that a number of elements of society held demonstrations from Monday, March 18 to Wednesday, March 20, which coincided with the announcement limit for the recapitulation of the 2024 General Election vote results. Today, two different mass groups held a demonstration at the same time in front of the Indonesian KPU Office, Jalan Imam Bonjol, Central Jakarta. They carried two large banners bearing the words of the resignation of the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi). "Fall and Justice Jokowi. Fire the Chairman of the Indonesian KPU and the Chairman of the Indonesian Bawaslu," read the inscription on the banner of the command car. "Reject the Cheating Presidential Election! Destroyer of the Constitution, Criminals of Democracy. Displace Jokowi! A gang of master fraudsters, fire the Chairman of the Indonesian KPU, the Chairman of the Indonesian Bawaslu, and the Constitutional Court Judge!" read another banner. In the banner, there is a photo of President Jokowi with a shadow resembling a Pinocchio doll with a long nose.

In addition, there are also photos of the Chairman of the Indonesian KPU Hashim Asy'ari, the Chairman of the Indonesian Bawaslu Rahmat Bagja, and the Constitutional Court (MK) Judge Anwar Usman in the banner. The crowd also burned used tires in front of the Indonesian KPU Office. Orator continued to shout the demands of 'piery' through loudspeakers.