Police Guard Election Organizers as Opposition Protests Loom

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Impending protests from an "anti-Jokowi" crowd is reportedly set to take place at the headquarters of two Indonesia election organizers, Bawaslu and KPU, following the group’s strife against the temporary vote count favoring incumbent presidential candidate Joko Widodo.

The rally at the elections supervisory agency (Bawaslu) and general elections commission (KPU) is scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 9.

Metro Jaya Police Spokesman Grand Commissioner Argo Yuwono said they have received the notice for the protest and plans to mobilize 11,000 police personnel to secure the two locations. It is not clear how many protesters will take to the streets tomorrow.

“We are confirming the number of protesters,” said Argo in a text message to Tempo on Wednesday, May 8.

Based on the information spread via Whatsapp messenger, the protest at Bawaslu and KPU intends to pressure the two institutions to disqualify Jokowi – Ma’ruf Amin from the presidential election race.

The protests are initiated by retired Army General Kivlan Zen, National Mandate Party (PAN) politician Eggi Sudjana, and retired military general and former home affairs minister Syarwan Hamid.

Asked for confirmation, Eggi Sudjana said; “The initiator is Kivlan Zen together with me. I am the lawyer.”

ADAM PRIREZA

Read: Retired Gen. Kivlan Zen Reported to Police over Alleged Coup