International Day of Democracy; Transgender People's Right to Vote Is Still Denied
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26 September 2022 14:46 WIB
Claims of Equal Treatment Versus Unfriendly Policies for Transgender Women
Zudan Arif Fakrulloh, director general of population and civil registration of the Home Affairs Ministry, ensured that there is no discrimination in citizen services. “All communities are served well,” said Zudan on Wednesday, September 14, 2022. The population and civil registration office, he added, has also been active in approaching people to provide for their needs.
However, he did not deny that transgender women are sometimes dealing with obstacles to apply for an identity card. For example, they are reluctant to visit the office. “Maybe they are shy,” he opined.
In addition, some of them think that the process is complicated since they cannot fulfill the requirements, such as a family card which is the basis for an electronic ID card application. On the other hand, the regulation only recognizes two genders, male and female. “There is no transgender option. So all residents must obey and follow these rules,” he remarked.
According to Zudan, the cooperation between the Home Affairs Ministry and the General Elections Commission (KPU) has been going well to ensure that all Indonesian citizens, including trans women, can exercise their right to vote in general elections. He added that the ministry’s data recording on e-KTP has reached 99.21 percent as of December 30, 2021.
Betty Epsilon Idroos, the KPU commissioner, made a similar statement. She said that the General Election Law does not differentiate the gender of voters as long as they meet the requirements. “If they are 17 years old and over or have been married, we will categorize them as voters proven by an e-KTP,” said Betty last Tuesday, September 13.
Betty explained that transgender is classified as a marginal group in the segmentation of voters so they need education related to voting.
Efforts to provide the education from the KPU’s experience were often hampered by different working hours of transgender people, she informed. Based on the meeting with them, it could be concluded that the obstacles include the lack of knowledge of their status on the voter list, their rights and obligations as voters, and figures to be elected. “This is actually the election contestant’s duty to convince voters during the campaign period,” Betty said. “They don't know the figures to be chosen. What they know most is about the presidential election. Meanwhile, there are [also] elections for DPR, DPD, Provincial DPRD, Regency or City DPRD.”
Regarding many complaints of discriminatory treatment at polling stations, Betty received them as input for the KPU. “We will coordinate it later,” she said, ensuring that the KPU will follow it up. “So this can be our awareness in serving voters. Because that's our duty.”
Yohannes Krisostomus Feri, the head of the Sikka Regional KPU, said he will instruct officers to ensure that transgender people are listed on the Final Voters’ List. “We will check and order officers to match and properly check the temporary voter data from the central office,” said Fery.
He also guaranteed that there will be no discrimination and degrading treatment against trans women at the polling stations. “If there is such an incident, just shout so that the perpetrator can be reprimanded. Security forces [will be deployed] to guard the election,” he added.
Hurriyah, the deputy executive director of the University of Indonesia’s Center for Political Studies, argued that people with disabilities and transgender groups are the most marginalized group in the general elections. Structural, cultural, and technical issues are the root problems.
She explained that the structural problems are related to the perspective and state policies that are not closely devoted to the two marginal groups. Population data, for example, is linked to gender identity and health conditions. “This state's perspective has an impact on how government officials treat them as second-class citizens,” said Hurriyah.
Cultural issues are surely no less serious than other issues. According to her, strong stereotypes about people with disabilities who are considered "incapable" still exist. Instead of creating enabling conditions, the state seems to set aside the groups. The cultural problems faced by trans women are even more serious. “The gender identification policy exacerbates and/or triggers treatments of apparatus and public against them when they are registered as voters or exercise their voting rights,” said Hurriyah.
Collaboration Team
Person in Charge: Agoeng Wijaya (Koran Tempo), Muhammad Kholikul Alim (Jaring.id)
Authors: Shinta Maharani, Imam Hamdi, Riri Rahayuningsih (Koran Tempo); Abdus Somad, Reka Kajaksana (Jaring.id)
Editors: Agoeng Wijaya, Rusman Paraqbueq, Suseno (Koran Tempo); Muhammad Kholikul Alim, Damar Fery Ardiyan (Jaring.id)
Photos: Shinta Maharani, Nita Dian (Koran Tempo), Abdus Somad (Jaring.id)
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