Election Dispute Trial; Police Bar Rally before Court Building

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Police Chief Tito Karnavian barred any group from staging a rally during the preliminary trial of the presidential election dispute filed by Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno in Constitutional Court, Jalan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta.

The ban was issued to prevent possible riot as earlier occurred during a demonstration against the election result in front of the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) building on May 22.

“We will manage the traffic, the mass will only be allowed to hold an action in front of Patung Kuda or Horse Statue (intersection of Monas),” said Tito during a joint ceremony with Indonesian Military (TNI) and Jakarta administration in Monas, Central Jakarta, Thursday, June 13.

Tito explained that mass demonstration will be blocked at around Islamic Research & Training Institute (IRTI) Monas and Horse Statue area. The police will prohibit them from getting close to MK because they will likely disrupt public roads, public order, and people’s rights.

A total of 32,000 joint personnel of TNI and police will be dispatched to secure the trial. Some of them attended today’s ceremony in Monas.

Previously, presidential-vice presidential candidate Prabowo - Sandiaga filed an appeal to MK, demanding incumbent Jokowi - Ma’ruf Amin to be disqualified for allegedly committing frauds. The Election Commission (KPU) announced the result of final tally put Jokowi - Ma’ruf ahead of Prabowo - Sandiaga.

The first trial on the presidential election dispute is scheduled to take place on Friday, June 14, and the court ruling will be declared on June 28, 2019.

ADAM PRIREZA

Read: Police to Dispatch 32,000 Personnel during Election Dispute Trial