Jakarta – Hundreds of people from groups supporting presidential candidate pair number 1, Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar (AMIN) and number 3, Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD, held a protest action near the zero kilometre point in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta (Jogja) on March 1.
The demonstrators were protesting fraud in the 2024 elections and urging the House of Representatives (DPR) to initiate a right of inquiry into the elections.
The protesters started the action at around 1.30 pm by forming a circle surrounded the command vehicle on which was draped with a banner reading "JOGJA ACCUSES – Fight election fraud and push for a right of inquiry by the DPR".
Other participants also carried banners reading "A Red Card for the President, the Constitutional Court, the KPU [General Elections Commission]".
In front of the March 1 1949 General Offensive Monument near the zero kilometre point, another large banner was displayed reading 'JOGJA PEOPLE'S PETITION SUPPORTS A RIGHT OF INQUIRY INTO ELECTORAL FRAUD".
"We are from nationalist and religious communities, we are against the dirty vote, we are against dirty minds, we are against nepotism. Therefore we support a right of inquiry. Those who reject fraudulent politics, shout independence!", shouted one of the speakers from the command vehicle.
"This election fraud was structured, massive and systematic. The KPU has apologised, apologised four times right, it has no shame", shouted another speaker.
One of the orators also spoofed the Election March created by Mochtar Embut which has been used since 1971.
Some of the lyrics were changed to "vote for your representative who can be deceived" and "under the laws of the Konoha state, we are headed for a general fraud", referring to a fictional village named Konoha in the animation series Naruto Shippuden, which is seen as having many similarities with Indonesian.
During the action, they also spoke about the price of basic commodities, including rice, which was suspected to have increased due to the impact of social aid programs (bansos) that were was ridden with electoral interests.
One of the speakers said the action was also attended by supporters of the presidential candidate pair number 1 and 3 who reject the election fraud and are demanding that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo step down before his term of office ends in October.
In addition Widodo, the protesters also called for Hasyim Asy'ari be removed or resign from his position as KPU chairperson.
Meanwhile action coordinator Bayu Malam that the demonstration was not driven by supporters of the presidential candidate tickets 1 and 3. He claimed that this action was joined by all elements of society who witnessed the election fraud this year.
Malam said that the action was joined by students, traders and cross-community professionals who are members of the groups Jogja Democratic Community Enforcement Association (PMPDJ) and the People's Sovereignty Enforcement Movement (GPKR).
"We're not from 03 or 01 volunteers, we are people who feel cheated. Here there are also 02 volunteers (supporters of the winning Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka presidential election ticket) who also feel uncomfortable with the result that occurred, I don't need to mention who", he said.
Regarding the demands raised during the action, Malam said they believe that if a right of inquiry can be initiated by the political parties supporting the 01 and 02 candidate pairs in parliament, then all of fraud behind the elections can be exposed – the misuse of social aid through to Widodo's cawe-cawe in the presidential elections.
"We continue to support right of inquiry being initiated, no matter what the result is like, we will continue to initiate (support actions) by friends in remote areas of the archipelago, whatever the outcome we will respect it. In terms of legal rights, if it is indeed a good determination, we will appreciate that decision", he asserted.
The group pledged to continue holding actions and taking to the streets for as long as the regime in power still has the nerve to damage the principles of democracy. (kum/DAL)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Ratusan Pendukung Anies-Ganjar Demo Tolak Pemilu Curang di Yogyakarta".]
