Jakarta Police Ban Mass Mobilization during Runoff Election

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mochammad Iriawan, Jakarta acting governor Sumarno and Jakarta Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) chairwoman Mimah Susanti have issued a joint announcement on Monday, April 17, banning mass mobilization during Jakarta runoff election on Wednesday.

The announcement was shared via Jakarta Police Public Relations official Instagram account, among others. Three points are mentioned in the announcement. The first point explains potential unrest due to such mass mobilization.

“No one is allowed to mobilize people who could physically and psychologically intimidate [voters] in any way, i.e. by attending any polling station in Jakarta [to do so] instead of exercising their voting right… Jakarta election will be organized by KPU (Election Commission) Jakarta and overseen by Bawaslu (Election Supervisory Body) Jakarta and its personnel,” the announcement stated.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Raden Prabowo Argo Yuwono said that the announcement applies during the election build-up and the election day. “It means that in the build up to Jakarta election, which is two days away from now, we urge the people not to come to Jakarta,” Argo told Tempo.

The Police also stated in the announcement that the police will prosecute any non-Jakartans who insist on coming to Jakarta. The issue was referred to in point two and three of the announcement.

“The National Police, the TNI (National Armed Forces) and relevant agencies will prevent and examine [people] on the spot and ask them to go back home, and if they were already in Jakarta, we will return them to their region of origin,” the second point of the announcement said.

The third point says that the police will impose sanctions in accordance with prevailing laws on those who insist on coming to Jakarta.

EGI ADYATAMA