Uphold Regional Election Protocols

KOMPAS/WILIBRORDUS MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

The crowd welcomes the pair of Purbalingga regent candidates M Sulhan Fauzi who is paired with the Purbalingga deputy regent candidate Zaini Makarim Supriyatno or the Oji-Zaini pair after registering at the KPU Purbalingga, Central Java, on Sunday (6/9/2020).

Two out of three countries have postponed general elections in 2020. However, Indonesia has chosen to carry on, and the spread of Covid-19 is at stake.

Many parties have reminded of how dangerous it is to hold elections in the pandemic, considering that citizen awareness on the dangers of Covid-19 is still low. However, the government, the House of Representatives (DPR), the General Elections Commission (KPU), and political parties do not care, and agree to continue the elections for governors, regents/mayors simultaneously in 270 regions on 9 December 2020.

Also read: Strict Action and Sanctions Imperative

As a form of social responsibility and proof of their seriousness in protecting people from the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, all stakeholders should strive to implement Covid-19 protocols. In practice, the reality is far from what is expected. Disobedience seems to continue.

Paying attention to the implementation of the registration stage for prospective candidates, which took place on 4 September 2020, is really worrying. Covid-19 health protocols have been completely ignored. Crowds were seen in many areas, without masks, and without keeping their distance. Kompas presented the photos on the front page for two consecutive days.

Home Minister Tito Karnavian, at the coordination meeting to supervise the implementation of regional governments nationally, has reminded all prospective pairs of candidates to comply with Covid-19 health protocols at every stage of the regional elections. However, a reprimand is not enough. Strict sanctions need to be imposed on anyone for endangering public safety due to the spread of Covid-19.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian (center) is preparing to give a briefing regarding the 2020 Pilkada in Indramayu Regency, West Java, on Wednesday (5/8/2020).

The Home Ministry asked the General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) to enforce the health protocol rules contained in KPU Regulation No.10/2020, starting from sanctions to disqualification. Meanwhile, Bawaslu feels it does not have the authority to impose sanctions, but only as an appeal. According to Bawaslu, the parties that can take action are law enforcement officers, such as the police or public order police units by referring to the Health Quarantine Law or the Health Ministry Regulation, which regulates large-scale social restrictions or regional/regional head regulations that regulate the same things. Parties as participants have no votes, let alone punish candidates who violate Covid-19 protocols.

The study emphasized that elections may indeed be held in the Covid-19 era, but they are very difficult to do. Can we?

This unpreparedness is reminiscent of the study of the implementation of elections in Mongolia, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. The study emphasized that elections may indeed be held in the Covid-19 era, but they are very difficult to do. Can we?

In the midst of the unpreparedness of the organizers, referees, or participants to curb the election stages, as citizens we must be more vigilant in the midst of the increasingly widespread spread of Covid-19. We should not be careless about protecting ourselves and educating the people around us. Punish candidates who do not comply with health protocols by not casting votes for them. They’ve proven to be only eager to gain votes, regardless of the health of citizens.