TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Three 1998 activists sued the General Elections Commission (KPU) and former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) Anwar Usman at the Central Jakarta District Court today.

Both of them are sued for alleged unlawful conduct concerning Gibran Rakabuming Raka's vice presidential candidacy for the 2024 general elections.

"The three applicants are pro-democracy activists who have fought for the enforcement of a democratic and just state of law," said Patra M. Zen, the Advocate Coordinator at TPDI 2.0 on Friday, Nov, 9.

The applicants named are Petrus Hariyanto, Firman Tendry Masengi, and Azwar Furgudyama.

The first defendant in this case was KPU, while Anwar Usman was named as the second defendant.

According to Patra, KPU accepted Gibran Rakabuming's registration as a vice presidential candidate before the KPU Regulation No. 19 of 2023 was revised following the recent disputed MK decision. "KPU should have torn and rejected the registration document (on October 25)," he said. KPU's acceptation is regarded as unlawful conduct, Patra said.

Meanwhile, Anwar Usman is Gibran Rakabuming's uncle, while at the same time the Chief Justice of MK, deciding the case that ultimately led to the revision of KPU Regulation in the first place.

Patra added that President Joko Widodo and State Secretary Minister Pratikno are also sued as first and second co-defendants respectively.

President Jokowi is the first co-defendant for failing to prohibit the unlawful conduct to occur, Patra said. Meanwhile, Pratikno is sued for allegedly standing by and letting Jokowi not prohibit KPU and Anwar Usman from violating the law.

NOVAL PANJI NUGROHO