Komnas HAM Recommends Postponement of 2020 Pilkada

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) issued a recommendation to postpone the 2020 Regional Head Election or Pilkada in consideration of rising Covid-19 cases in nearly all regions.

“As a state institution, we should of course act based on the given authority. People may later think I do not know how to lead a state institution. That is important,” said Komnas HAM external deputy chairman Amiruddin al-Rahab on Thursday, September 17.

Amir said that given the ongoing pandemic that has not been controlled yet, the postponement of the simultaneous election has a strong juridical basis, including the Covid-19 Policy Brief on Election issued by the United Nation (UN) and the Presidential Regulation No. 11 on Covid-19 emergency.

Moreover, Amiruddin opined that if the election continues, it is feared that the cases could get out of control and possibly violate people’s rights. “Before we are talking about the law, a wise man says ‘pintas sebelum hanyut’ (take anticipatory measures before getting in trouble), meaning that if we are washed away, we cannot do anything.”

The Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) recorded there were 243 alleged violations of the predetermined health protocols during the registration process of election candidates. Besides, 59 participants were tested positive for Covid-19.

Read: Researcher Highlights 3 Risks If Pilkada Continues Amid Pandemic

YEREMIAS A. SANTOSO