Icha Rastika, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition, which consists of 42 organisations, has reported President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to the Indonesian Ombudsman for alleged maladministration during the 2024 general elections.
Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya, who is a member of the Coalition, said that the complaint was submitted with the Ombudsman because Widodo is believed to have committed deviations and fraud to ensure the victory of a certain presidential candidate.
"In this report, we consider the president to have committed acts of maladministration in the form of deceitful practices, namely the practice of lies, being dishonest with the public, where society is served up with information to entice people, information that is untrue in the interests of the bureaucrats", Arya said in a written statement on Wednesday April 3.
Arya said a striking example of fraud was seen in the statement by Widodo in which he said that the head of state could take sides and campaign.
After the statement attracted widespread criticism, Widodo actually held a press conference at the Palace and explained Article 299 of Law Number 7/2017 on Elections regarding the president and vice president who had the right to campaign.
"Yet the provisions of the article should be seen in full", Arya said.
In addition to this, there was a variety of gimmicks by Widodo to show support for one of the presidential candidates, namely Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and his vice presidential running mate Widodo's son Gibran Rakabuming Raka, which looked vulgar.
The climax was when Widodo ate dinner together with Prabowo at a restaurant in Central Jakarta on January 5.
"A similar activity was carried out when the President again ate together with Prabowo Subianto after inaugurating the main building of the Magelang Military Academy, Central Java, on January 29, 2024", Arya said.
The Civil Society Coalition is therefore asking the Indonesian Ombudsman to conduct a substantial examination of their report on alleged acts of maladministration by Widodo.
Second, follow up on the Coalition's report considering this is related to the interests of the wider community, democracy and human rights.
"Third, ordering the reported party [Widodo] to carry out corrective actions to address the violations, fraud and deceit committed during the 2024 general election process", he said.
The 42 organisations that are part of the Coalition are the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Kontras, the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI), Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial), the Lokataru Foundation for Human Rights, the Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI), the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (Safenet), the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), the Human Rights Working Group (HRWG), Greenpeace, the People's Earth Heritage Foundation (Pusaka), the Institute for Public Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), the Mining Advocacy Network (JATAM), the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta), Trend Asia, Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL), Themis Indonesia, the Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance (KASBI) and Centra Initiative.
Also part of the Coalition is the Association of Families of Talangsari Lampung (PK2TL), Lamongan Resistance, the Amartya Knowledge House, Walhi East Java, the Pikul Foundation, the Social Movement Institute, the Indonesian Caucus for Academic Freedom (KIKA), Greenhouse Effect, Migrant Care, the Teachers Enlightenment Foundation, the Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy, the Student Press Dialectics Foundation and the Nusantara Traditional Community Defense Association (PPMAN).
Also recorded are Rainbow Current (Arus Pelangi), the Jakarta High School Students Federation, the Bekasi High School Students Federation, the Anomaly Forum, Democratic Needle, the Institute for Ecosoc Rights, the Human Rights Study and Advocacy Development Foundation, Kontras Aceh and the National Trade Union Confederation (KSN).
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Jokowi Diadukan ke Ombudsman Terkait Dugaan Malaadministrasi Pemilu 2024".]
