Bawaslu Expected to Be More Agile in Monitoring Fajar Attacks

As an anticipatory measure against dawn attacks, Bawaslu will carry out surveillance patrols entering the quiet day of the election.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Bawaslu Diharapkan Lebih Gesit Pantau Serangan Fajar

KOMPAS

Ahead of the legislative elections, the Kompas Investigation Team uncovered vote brokers using a mechanism for distributing money before voting day or often called dawn attacks, which worked in a structured, systematic and massive manner to win legislative candidates.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia asked the Election Supervisory Agency or Bawaslu to be more agile in monitoring potential violations at the village level, including allegations of officers villages involved in dawn attacks in 2024 Elections.

Regarding this matter, Bawaslu will conduct joint patrols with the police and community leaders to prevent vote-buying, which is prone to happen through "fajar attacks".

Member of Indonesian Ombudsman, Robert Na Endi Jaweng, revealed on Friday (19/1/2024) that dawn attacks commonly occur prior to voting in elections and also during regional head elections (pilkada). However, there is a possibility that these dawn attacks have already begun at present.

It was possible that the dawn attack had started by now.

Kompas's investigation revealed how the successful team of legislative candidates prepared a dawn attack to influence voters. One of the actors is village officials. One of the village officials in Kudus, Central Java, with the initials AD, said that he prepared a list of potential voters to be targeted for a dawn attack in the form of giving money (Kompas, 19/1/2024).

The Ombudsman's findings at the village level reveal that village chiefs and officials have allegedly mobilized votes, including through the use of social assistance and administrative services, in order to influence residents. In fact, according to Robert, it is no secret that some village officials have become "fajar attackers." This has occurred in several previous elections.

KOMPAS/TATANG MULYANA SINAGA

Member of the Indonesian Ombudsman, Robert Na Endi Jaweng

If there is an indication of a dawn attack, the Ombudsman will provide recommendations to the regional level Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu). The reason being that Bawaslu is the first election supervisor. The Ombudsman will monitor the work of Bawaslu in the context of public service.

"If (dawn attack) occurs at the village level, we hope that Bawaslu could be more agile in monitoring," said Robert.

Also read: Village Officials Become Actors in Operation "Dawn Attack"

Participatory supervision

According to Robert, Bawaslu should carry out participatory supervision involving the community and mass media. This participatory supervision becomes a source of actual information from the field. The results of the participatory supervision were responded to and followed up by Bawaslu.

When met in Jakarta, Chairman of Bawaslu Rahmat Bagja stated that village officials should not engage in politics, let alone carry out pre-dawn attacks. Bawaslu has already conveyed this to the Ministry of Home Affairs. If there are still violators, legal mechanisms can be applied. If such allegations are found or reported, Bawaslu will follow up according to regulations.

As a preventative measure against potential dawn attacks, Bagja stated that Bawaslu will conduct monitoring patrols during the quiet period. Bawaslu will work with the police and community leaders during these patrols.

KOMPAS/WILLY MEDI CHRISTIAN NABABAN

Chairperson of the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) Rahmat Bagja in Jakarta, Monday (18/12/2023).

Iklan

Bawaslu member, Lolly Suhenti, added that the term "serangan fajar" (dawn attack) is not recognized in the regulations of electoral laws. However, this term is sometimes associated with the act of distributing money on the day of voting. If "serangan fajar" is interpreted in this way, Bawaslu has a duty to prevent it by taking action if such incidents violate the provisions of the Electoral Law.

Lolly stated that in prevention, Bawaslu ensures all of its staff, including village supervisors, increase their coordination intensity with village heads to convey to village officials and the community. This is because promising or giving money during the voting process is prohibited. Every person is not allowed to commit actions that are contrary to the provisions of the law.

"If related to the Election Law, the act of promising or giving money or other material on the day of voting, anyone who does so will be punished for up to 3 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of Rp 36 million," said Lolly.

He added that the prohibition is not only during the voting process, but also during quiet periods. Those who promise or provide money or other materials to executors, participants, and campaign teams are subject to a maximum imprisonment of 4 years and a maximum fine of Rp 48 million.

Lolly stated that Bawaslu is striving to continuously prevent "serangan fajar" (dawn attack) incidents. The public who witness any events related to these attacks can report them to the Bawaslu officials, including the supervisors at the polling stations.

KOMPAS/DIAN DEWI PURNAMASARI

Bawaslu member, Lolly Suhenty, was met at the Ministry of Communication and Information in Jakarta on Tuesday (28/11/2023).

Increase public awareness

Acting Spokesperson for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Ipi Maryati Kuding said that the Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK) does not have the authority to take action against the perpetrators of the dawn attack. The Corruption Eradication Commission only enters the context of prevention, namely through a campaign with the slogan "Hajar the Dawn Attack" to increase public awareness regarding preventing the practice of money politics.

Through this campaign, it is hoped that the public will reject the giving of money/facilities/goods from election participants and will not choose parties/leadership candidates who still engage in vote-buying in order to gain votes.

Also read: DPR Candidates Hijack Social Assistance Programs

Ipi clarified that the campaign is one of KPK's efforts to prevent political corruption in the future. The significant cost of politics that must be borne by election participants, whether for regional head elections or legislative member elections, encourages them to recoup their political capital after being elected and taking office.

Several corruption cases handled by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) are correlated with the practice of money politics. The suspect of the corruption offenders have a motive to recover campaign funds that have been spent and distributed during the political contestation process. Some common methods of corruption that are often carried out are the buying and selling of positions as well as corruption in the licensing sector or in the procurement of government goods and services.

The "Hajar Serangan Fajar" campaign targets the entire community, both from the giver and receiver side. For the receivers, who are eligible voters, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is targeting specific groups, particularly women.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

A giant banner with the words "Hajar Serangan Fajar" has been installed on the ACLC KPK Building in Jakarta on Friday (14/7/2023). "Hajar Serangan Fajar" is an anti-corruption campaign aimed to raise public awareness regarding the prevention of political bribery and corruption leading up to the 2024 Elections.

According to the results of a study conducted by Democracy and Electoral Empowerment Partnership (DEEP) Indonesia on the Dynamics of Women's Political Communication towards the Temptation of Money Politics in the 2020 Regional Elections, as many as 44 percent of voters reject money politics but accept it, and 28 percent of voters enjoy money politics.

In addition, this campaign is also aimed at the givers. Through various packaged messages, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) seeks to curb the desire of perpetrators of vote-buying attacks in garnering voter support. Ipi emphasizes that vote-buying attacks do not guarantee victory for the givers. There is an awareness among some of the people who receive these attacks, but do not consider choosing the giver.

As an effort to facilitate community participation and safeguard honest elections and anti-money politics, the Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK) also provides a new feature in the Corruption Prevention (Jaga) Network application. The public can submit complaints or reports regarding the practice of money politics or other irregularities in elections to the Corruption Eradication Commission through the Jaga Election application.

"The KPK will forward the report and complaints from the community to the organizers or supervisors of the election, such as the General Election Commission (KPU), Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), or Electoral Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu), for further action," he said.