Strict Action and Sanctions Imperative

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Sympathizers welcomed the Purbalingga regent candidate M Sulhan Fauzi who was paired with the Purbalingga Deputy Regent candidate Zaini Makarim Supriyatno in Rembang, Purbalingga after registration at KPU Purbalingga, Central Java, Sunday (6/9/2020).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The three-day registration stage for candidates contesting the 2020 regional elections (Pilkada) to be held simultaneously in 270 regions has been deemed a showcase of noncompliance with the Covid-19 health protocol. Strict enforcement measures by state institutions, along with sanctions for violators, are badly needed to prevent more serious violations of the Covid-19 protocol in the upcoming stages of the 2020 Pilkada, including election campaigns.

The candidate registration for the 2020 Pilkada was held from Friday (4/9/2020) through midnight on Sunday (6/9). Data from the General Elections Commission (KPU) shows that 583 candidate pairs had registered in 240 regions by 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Large groups of people still crowded registration venues on Sunday, the last day for candidates to register. For instance, in Purbalingga, Central Java, the regent-deputy regent pair M. Sulhan Fauzi-Zaini Makarim Supriyatno, known as Oji-Zaini, declared their candidacy to a crowd of hundreds of supporters.

Also read: Candidate Registration for Regional Elections Begins with Mass Gathering Ban

Their supporters gathered en masse to welcome the Oji-Zaini pair, and the group followed the pair to the registration venue. “Actually, we invited people according to KPU’s [health] protocol. However, the crowd gathered on its own to witness Oji-Zaini’s registration,” said Oji-Zaini campaign chair Adi Yuwono.

In the city of Solo, the mayor-deputy mayor ticket of Bagyo-Supardjo, shortened to Bajo, traveled by horseback as their supporters accompanied the pair to register at the Solo KPU.

Two days earlier, other Pilkada tickets reportedly mobilized their supporters into mass processions. As the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) recorded on the first registration day, candidates of 141 regions held large processions or rallies. On the second day of registration, the candidates of 102 regions organized large public gatherings. The Bawaslu records also show that 16 candidates had tested positive for Covid-19.

Also read: Challenges of the 2020 Regional Elections

Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro

Prospective voters wearing plastic gloves, masks and face protection before voting during the simulation of voting in the 2020 simultaneous election at the KPU office, Jakarta, Wednesday (22/7/2020).

Director Aditya Perdana of the University of Indonesia Center for Political Studies said when contacted on Sunday that the risk of Covid-19 transmission during the candidate registration should serve as a lesson for the KPU to anticipate large gatherings in other stages of the 2020 regional elections.

“At present, all parties seem to be shirking their responsibilities. The KPU regulation (PKPU) itself doesn’t clearly indicate that [political] parties are responsible for dispersing any crowds [that gather] and for controlling their supporters during the registration [stage]. This situation, unless it is evaluated, will have the potential to reoccur in the next stage, which is the election campaigns,” said Aditya.

The campaign period for the 2020 Pilkada will last from 26 Sept. to 5 Dec. Voting day is set for 9 Dec., when around 100 million voters are expected to take cast their ballots.

Aditya underlined that it was not the time to evade public health responsibilities. Dispersing any crowds that gather amid the risk of Covid-19 transmission, whether they occur in connection with the regional elections or not, should be the police’s authority. For the sake of certainty, the election organizer should coordinate with law enforcement in assessing such incidents. In addition, neither the candidates nor political parties should neglect their responsibilities when large crowds of supporters gather.

Formulation of sanctions

During the campaign period, the KPU should impose a temporary administrative sanction on a candidate’s campaign or ban candidate pairs that allow the health protocol to be violated.

Titi Anggraini, a member of the Development Council of the Association for Elections and Democracy, said stringent actions and penalties were needed to enforce the health protocol for all parties. If law enforcement authorities needed to create a deterrent effect, they could arraign violators on general criminal charges that were applicable to violators.

The existing regulations for the regional elections die not include penalties for violators of the public health protocol, such as those that occurred the during candidate registration. “During the campaign period, the KPU should impose a temporary administrative sanction on a candidate’s campaign or ban candidate pairs that allow the health protocol to be violated. But the PKPU on campaigns should be adjusted,” said Titi.

Also read: Kinship (Politics) in Democracy

Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro

Trial of the Electronic Recapitulation (Sirekap) application in the 2020 simultaneous elections at the KPU office, Jakarta, Tuesday (25/8/2020).

Possible disqualification

Regional autonomy director general Akmal Malik at the Home Ministry said that sanctions had been imposed on six incumbent regional heads who had failed to comply with the health protocol in the initial stage of the regional elections. But the Home Ministry could not impose sanctions on nonincumbents who were running for election.

The Home Ministry’s politics and public administration director general of, Bahtiar, suggested that disqualifying candidates who violated the health protocol could be an option if a tougher stance was needed. “If necessary, a perppu (regulation in lieu of law) can be issued to disqualify candidate pairs that ignore the health protocol. The safety of citizens is above all else,” he said.

Bawaslu chairman Abhan said on Monday that the agency would coordinate with the police on handling health protocol violations, as apart from violating the PKPU, such behavior was also liable to criminal penalties.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Politics, Law and Security Minister Mahfud M.D. warned that the health protocols should be adhered to with strict self-discipline during all stages of the simultaneous elections. Candidates, political parties, supporters and members of the general public were expected to comply with the health protocol in the interest of public health safety. (REK/DEA/HRS/DKA/JOL/ITA/FLO)