Jakarta – A number of people calling themselves the People's Challenge Coalition for Democracy (KARAM) set fire to tyres in front of the General Elections Commission (KPU) offices in Jakarta on Friday March 15.
The demonstrators were protesting against election fraud and demanding that KPU Chairperson Hasyim Asy'ari be sacked.
As well as setting fire to tyres, the protesters also shouted slogans and danced. The dozen or so people also unfurled a banner containing a number of demands.
In a speech, KARAM Coordinator Marlin Bato demanded that the KPU stop the recapitulation of the vote count because they consider the elections to be fraudulent. They also rejected practices of nepotism and dynastic politics by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's family.
Meanwhile, it was not just the group rejecting the elections that were protesting. A number of people supporting the elections also held a demonstration in front of the KPU.
The two pro and contra groups were only separated by a concrete barricade with razor wire and a line of police. The pro-election group came from the group Love Indonesia Student Solidarity. They called on the public to respect the KPU and not intimidate or interfere with it work.
The KPU is currently conducting the vote recapitulation process for the 2024 presidential and legislative elections. Based on KPU Regulation (PKPU) Number 3/2022, the national vote recapitulation is scheduled to take place between February 15 and March 20. (rts/ugo)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Massa Bakar Ban di Depan Kantor KPU, Tolak Pemilu Curang".]
