TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A number of student organizations in South Sumatra planned to block the visit of Presidential Candidate Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to Palembang on Saturday, March 9, 2019. The blockade is planned to be carried out in Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport.

"We certainly plan to held a demonstration after many consideration," said the member of the Islamic Students Association (HMI) in Sumatra Bambang Irawan on Wednesday, March 6, 2019.

Jokowi was scheduled to attend an event on South Sumatra Millennial Road Safety Festival in Palembang City and to meet his supporters in Palembang Sport And Convention Center (PSCC). Meanwhile, HMI raised questions on Jokowi's political capacity in attending the Road Safety Festival.

According to Bambang, if Jokowi presents himself as the president, pamphlets spread by South Sumatra Traffic Police Directorate should display his photographs. HMI argued that presence of Jokowi was inappropriate because he is currently running for the presidency, and that the police was used as a political tool, which could harm the democracy.

"We do not want the police involvement in practical politics," Bamband stated.

Meanwhile, South Sumatra Police Traffic Director Comr. Sr. Dwie Asmoro, said that South the Sumatra Millennial Road Safety Festival is in an attempt to curb accident rate, which was one of the highest causes of death among millennials.

PARLIZA HENDRAWAN (CONTRIBUTOR)