Home Minister Bans Mass Rallies during 2020 Regional Elections
Pairs of candidates in the 2020 regional elections have been warned against organizing large-scale mass rallies or convoys amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
By
NIKOLAUS HARBOWO
·4 minutes read
DOKUMENTASI KEMENDAGRI
Home Minister Tito Karnavian holds a coordination meeting with all regional heads in Indonesia by teleconference on Monday (10/8/2020) at the Home Ministry in Jakarta. The minister disseminated information and instructions on changing public behavior as regards the Covid-19 health protocol.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Pairs of candidates in the 2020 regional elections have been warned against organizing large-scale mass rallies or convoys amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This warning is intended to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 with the potential to spawn new clusters in each phase of the elections.
Home Minister Tito Karnavian at a national coordination meeting on regional governance supervision on Thursday (3/9/2020) said all candidate pairs should abide by COVID-19 health protocols during any stage of the regional polls. Specifically, he prohibited crowds of people, processions and convoys in order to check the spread of the virus.
He issued the warning because the registration of candidates running for regional heads will last from Friday to Sunday (4-6/9/2020).
There will be no mass rallies accompanying candidate pairs as was the case in previous years,
“I affirm that there must be no processions, no convoys during registration, which are in violation of health protocols. Otherwise, they will have the potential to generate new clusters triggered by jam-packing people,” said Tito.
According to Tito, candidate pairs should sufficiently be accompanied by small teams to prepare documents of registration administration. Later, the processing and results of registration can be amplified via mass media or by virtual means.
“So, there will be no mass rallies accompanying candidate pairs as was the case in previous years,” added Tito.
Several men gesture on the back of a pickup truck as part of a victory parade on 18 June 2018 for the Makassar mayoral ticket of Munafri Arifuddin-Andi Rachmatika Dewi in the South Sulawesi capital.
Apart from the registration of regional head candidates, masses of people are also prohibited from forming crowds in the other stages, especially during the period of campaigning (Sept. 26 to Dec. 5) and on voting day (Dec. 9).
Earlier, the home minister reminded the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) as an arbitrator in upholding the General Elections Commission’s regulation that it should not hesitate to impose tough sanctions on and even disqualify candidates disobeying the appeals.
“Just take a strict stance, no parades, no convoys, so that Bawaslu can blow the whistle (impose sanctions); if the same mistake is repeatedly made, disqualification may be needed, and we can also inflict social sanctions, so can the media,” said Tito.
Tito stated that candidate pairs should be able to serve as role models for the public in the application of health protocols already stipulated in regional elections rules.
“I wonder how they can be leaders if they’re unable to handle campaign team supporters totaling only 200 to 300 people, how they want to become leaders capable of controlling COVID-19 with their tens of thousands and even millions of people,” queried Tito.
Motorists and street vendors wear masks on Sunday (16/8/2020) along a busy street in the East Java capital. The municipal administration, particularly Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini, has been consistent in issuing public reminders for all residents to adhere rigorously to the Covid-19 health protocol.
Written warnings
Previously, on Aug. 14, the home minister reprimanded two regents who had ignored COVID-19 protocols in their regions. They were West Muna Regent Laode Muhammad Rajiun Tumada and Muna Regent Rusman Emba. Written warnings were conveyed through the Southeast Sulawesi Governor.
The incident occurred on Aug. 9 when thousands of residents packed the Port of Raha, Muna regency, Southeast Sulawesi. Without observing health protocols, they were thronging to welcome Rajiun Tumada, who was running for regent in West Muna’s 2020 regional election.
Four days later, on Aug. 13, masses of people again crowded the port. This time they were greeting Rusman Emba, who was contesting the same post in Muna’s 2020 regional election. Ironically, more than just gathering at the port, they were marching along as far as Tugu Jati monument, accompanied by a convoy of vehicles with the flags of political parties supporting Rusman.
“Certainly, any activity involving a lot of people, with many of them wearing no face masks, is opposed to the government efforts to control and break the chain of COVID-19 transmission,” said Tito.
DOKUMENTASI KEMENDAGRI
A crowd of thousands jostles without regard to the Covid-19 health protocol as West Muna Regent Laode Muhammad Rajiun Tumada arrives on 9 Aug. 2020 at Nusantara Raha Harbor in Muna regency, Southeast Sulawesi.
Separately, Regional Autonomy Director-General Akmal Malik said the warnings were based on Article 67, paragraph 1, letter b of Law No. 23/2014 on regional administrations. It is stipulated that regional heads and their deputies shall comply with all provisions of the legislation.
Besides, Article 4, paragraph 1, letter c of Government Regulation No.21/2020 on large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) for the rapid control of COVID-19 stipulates that the PSBB shall at least cover the restriction of activity in public places and facilities.
“Referring to the two rules, we requested the Southeast Sulawesi governor as a central government representative to deliver the written warnings to the Muna regent and West Muna regent and report their results to the home minister,” said Akmal.
