Indonesia: Amien Rais Threatens ‘People Power’ at Slightest Hint of Voter Fraud

• With only two weeks left until Indonesia’s presidential election on 17 Apr 19, it is only natural for supporters of both presidential nominees—current president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and his rival, ex-army general Prabowo Subianto—to ramp up their rhetoric. But the latest salvo from Prabowo’s camp may have just gone more than a little over the top.
• Hashim Djojohadikusumo, communications director for Prabowo’s campaign team, told reporters in Jakarta on that they will challenge the outcome if the former general loses the poll to incumbent Joko Widodo.
• As many as 18.8 million names on the electoral roll may be fraudulent or inaccurate, he said. There are “serious questions about how the election is being run,” said Djojohadikusumo, who is also Prabowo’s brother.
• Former People’s Consultative Assembly chairman and senior opposition leader Amien Rais on 31 Mar 19 threatened to organize a mass protest at the slightest hint of voter fraud during the presidential election, declaring that he will rely on “people power” to protest rather than going to the Constitutional Court.
• His statement came during a rally dubbed “Apel Siaga 313” attended by members of the Indonesian Muslim Forum (FUI) and Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), who marched from the Sunda Kelapa mosque to the nearby General Elections Commission (KPU) office to call on opposition supporters to closely monitor election proceedings and prevent voter fraud from happening.
• Constitutional Court spokesman Fajar Laksono said he regretted Amien’s remarks. Fajar said Amien’s statement might cast doubt on all the work they had put to in to improve public trust on the Constitutional Court and could be considered as contempt of court.
• He also pointed out that when he was chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly, Amien actually took part in establishing the Constitutional Court. The Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) considered Amien’s plan to mobilize “people power” as “illegitimate.”
• Bawaslu official Rahmat Bagja said the 2017 Election Law stipulates that the Constitutional Court holds the final say on electoral disputes.

External Link: https://jakartaglobe.id/context/amien-rais-threatens-people-power-at-slightest-hint-of-voter-fraud

External Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-01/indonesia-s-opposition-cries-foul-over-voter-list-ahead-of-poll