Jakarta – 212 Alumni Brotherhood (PA 212) spokesperson Novel Bamukmin insists that the participants taking part in a peaceful action to “safeguard” the first hearing of a challenge to the 2019 presidential election result at the Constitutional Court (MK) on Friday June 14 are not there as political party (parpol) servants or errand boys.
He stated that the peaceful action is merely to fight for justice at the Constructional Court without any ulterior political aim.
“We must safeguard justice. Because we’re not [political] party errand boys, we’re not [political] party servants, there’s no party [politics] involved. We’re guided by Allah, it’s got nothing to do with them (parpol)”, said Bamukmin during a speech from the command vehicle.
Furthermore said Bamukmin, the peaceful rally this time round is an effort to defend the Islamic religion and safeguard the Indonesian constitution.
He also invited all of the participants to unite in upholding justice and fighting against fraud in the 2019 elections.
“Today we have been called on again to defend Allah’s religion in upholding justice, we’re protecting the constitution. So we are upholding [the state ideology of] Pancasila, we upholding your justice” said Bamukmin. “Agreed”, responded the crowd in unison.
Bamukmin then appealed to all of those present at the action to trust in the election dispute process being in the hands of the Constitutional Court. Because the Constitutional Court is the final option that can be undertaken for election participants to seek justice in Indonesia.
“We have made it our intention to take steps to fulfill the fight against denial, on this day we place our trust in the MK, so that the MK will uphold justice, we will safeguard the MK and its officials until the last drop of blood is shed”, he said.
The PA 212 itself is well known as one of the supports of the loosing Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno presidential ticket in the 2019 presidential election. PA 212 Chairperson Slamet Maarif is also a member of the Prabowo-Sandiaga election campaign team (BPN).
In documents on the BPN’s structure which were submitted to the General Election Commission (KPU), Maarif is listed as holding the position of BPN deputy chairperson. (rzr/osc)
Notes
The 212 Alumni Brotherhood (PA 212) is an umbrella group of hardline Islamist organisations including the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) and the recently banned Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) who are affiliated with the loosing presidential ticket of Prabowo Subianto and vice presidential running mate Sandiaga Uno. Along with the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa (GNPF-MUI), the group was born out of the 2016-17 demonstrations against former Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama. In December 2018 the PA 212 held a mass “reunion” rally in Jakarta that was attended by Prabowo and key coalition party leaders. In September the GNPF-MUI held an ulama conference (Ijtima Ulama) where Prabowo signed an integrity pact containing pledges that GNPF-U wanted fulfilled should he win the election.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “PA 212 Turun Aksi Kawal MK: Kita Bukan Jongos Partai”.]
