TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Apdesi, or the Indonesian Village Administration Association spoke up about the allegation of village heads mobilization to support running pair Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Apdesi SecGen Anwar Sadat denied that village heads declared their support for Prabowo-Gibran.

The recently released movie, Dirty Vote, referred to the National Declaration of United Villages for an Onward Indonesia. Thousands of people from eight village organizations participated in the event, held on November 19, 2023, in Jakarta. The event was accused of violating general elections regulations.

“The assumptions and accusations were not at all true,” Anwar, who is also the regent for Tanjung Jabung Barat told Tempo on Monday, February 12, 2024. “I ensure that there was no declaration from Apdesi.”

He reasoned that the election so far has proceeded in accordance with the law, and village heads have an ethical burden concerning the general elections. However, he admitted that some village heads are affiliated with certain running candidates. “If the village head is affiliated with a certain [political party], that could present as a boomerang for themselves, politically and ethically,” he said.

Apdesi Head Surtawijaya also denied that there was ever a declaration of support for Prabowo-Gibran. “There wasn’t,” he briefly answered.

Meanwhile, the event itself was attended by Gibran Rakabuming Raka. The Jokowi’s oldest son also gave an opening remark during the gathering of village heads last November.

The General Elections Supervisory Agency or Bawaslu then decided that the village heads and other village officials present in the event were found violating Village Law No. 6 of 2014.

Bawaslu investigated the allegations by visiting the Indonesia Arena, Apdesi Secretariat, and Abpednas Secretariat. Bawaslu also summoned several parties involved in the event, including the head of Apdesi Irawadi.

Dirty Vote, released February 11, 2024, unveiled a plethora of alleged violations and abuse of power during the general elections, many by Prabowo-Gibran and those behind them, including President Jokowi.

RIANI SANUSI PUTRI | NOVALI PANJI NUGROHO

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