KIP Assembly Reprimands Surakarta KPU Regarding The Destruction Of Jokowi's Candidate Archives

Court illustration (ANTARA)

JAKARTA The session of the Central Information Commission (KIP) strongly rebuked the Surakarta KPU who claimed to have destroyed Joko Widodo (Jokowi)'s nomination archive while advancing as Mayor of Surakarta. The warning was conveyed in a statement dispute trial related to the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia's diploma which was held at the KIP Office, Central Jakarta, Monday 17 November.

The trial was tense and was also attended by the Unloading Coalition of Jokowi's Diplomas (Bonjowi) as the applicant, as well as representatives of UGM, DKI Jakarta KPU, Surakarta KPU, and Polda Metro Jaya. The chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Rospita Vici Paulyn, immediately urged the explanation of the Surakarta KPU regarding the reasons for destroying the nomination document.

"What number is the PKPU trying to declare it destroyed?" asked Rospita.

PKPU Number 17 of 2023. There are archives that are extinction and permanent. This includes destroyed archives, with a period of one active year and two inactive years," replied the representative of the Surakarta KPU.

Rospita then questioned the legal basis and the logic of the time to destroy the document.

"Is that the provisions? One year immediately destroyed?" he said.

The Surakarta KPU representative argued that the regulation was part of the Archive Retention Schedule, but admitted that he had not learned any further provisions. "It's just that we haven't learned it because this is outside our main duties and functions. We'll explore it again later," he said.

Rospita's anger became even more visible when she emphasized that the nomination document was a state archive that should not be destroyed as long as it still had the potential to be disputed.

"This is a state document. As long as it has the potential to be disputed, it cannot be destroyed. I am confused, one year? I don't know what archive was destroyed after one year," he said.

Rospita then highlighted another irregularity: a new PKPU regulation was issued in 2023, while the culling was said to have been carried out before the archive's retention period was met.

"The PKPU is in 2023. This is only 2025. The three-year retention period has not been completed. So now it is not controlled? Do you have no documents?" asked Rospita.

"It is no longer controlled," replied the Surakarta KPU.

During the trial, the Surakarta KPU also stated that the results of the verification of the validity of Jokowi's diploma had been stated in KPU Decree Number 270/08/SK/5/2005 regarding the placement of serial numbers for mayor and deputy mayor. The document is referred to as open information.

"How is the information on the results of the diploma verification?" asked Rospita.

"It has been stated in KPU Decree Number 270/08/SK/5/2005," replied the KPU.

"Open or closed?" asked Rospita.

"Open," replied the respondent.

The trial continued with an in-depth investigation into the Surakarta KPU's accountability for the loss of the nomination archive and its implications for requests for public information.