Indonesia
Challenges ahead of 2024 Indonesian General Election: Political bribery and misinformation threats
In the lead-up to the 2024 Indonesian General Election, Coordinating Minister Mahfud MD warns of impending ‘diseases’ jeopardizing electoral integrity.
Political bribery emerges as a major concern, aiming to secure victory through support purchase, demanding preemptive action against these challenges.
INDONESIA: The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Polhukam), Mahfud MD, has highlighted several issues that need to be anticipated in the lead-up to the 2024 Indonesian General Election.
Speaking at the Integrated Law Enforcement Discussion Forum (Gakkumdu) in Surabaya, Mahfud likened these problems to ‘diseases’ that could potentially undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
One of the foremost concerns, as pointed out by Mahfud, is the problem of political bribery. He underscored that political bribery tends to surface both before and during elections, with the intention of securing victory through the purchase of support.
“We need to anticipate some ‘diseases’ of the elections right from now. First, the possibility of political bribery, which involves attempts to win the elections through buying support,” Mahfud stated during the event, as quoted from the Kemenko Polhukam YouTube channel, Tuesday (8 Aug).
Political bribery
Mahfud further elaborated on the various modes of political bribery, ranging from leveraging officials at the district level to distributing money to voters before they cast their ballots at polling stations.
He remarked, “The purchase of support is often done through officials at the district level, within the General Election Commission (KPU), and there’s a lot.
Political bribery is often facilitated through them, and there are both bulk purchases and individual transactions, commonly referred to as ‘serangan fajar’ (dawn attack).”
He clarified that even down to the regional and polling station levels, officials from the KPU are involved in these practices, asserting that the KPU, along with the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) and the General Election Organizers’ Honorary Council (DKPP), are state institutions within the executive branch, but not led by the president.
“So don’t mistake it, if there are mistakes in previous elections that are contested, it’s not the government that’s sued, it’s the KPU. The government only facilitates,” Mahfud emphasized.
This sentiment echoes a previous acknowledgment by the Indonesian General Election Commission (KPU RI) that political bribery remains a challenge in the upcoming 2024 elections.
KPU Commissioner Idham Holik, in a coordination meeting with the Financial Transactions Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) on 19 January 2023, noted that the high cost of political campaigns and the pervasive practice of financial transactions within elections need to be addressed.
Addressing the issue of misinformation, Mahfud highlighted another significant concern. He remarked that the proliferation of hoaxes and fake news on social media platforms can potentially sow discord and polarization within society.
“In the name of democracy, one cannot divide our nation and state. Spreading slander, insults, and so on, all in the name of democracy and human rights,” Mahfud cautioned.
Correlation between elections and corruption
Mahfud’s observations are not without basis. Citing research by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), he pointed out that there is a correlation between the increase in corruption cases and the conduct of presidential and regional elections.
This connection, he argued, explains why political bribery remains a persistent challenge during elections.
“When elections are not held simultaneously, it’s evident that an increase in corruption occurs in regions where regional elections are held. This indicates that elections are often accompanied by attempts to corrupt state finances. The reason for the many arrests is usually before elections.”
As Indonesia prepares for the upcoming 2024 elections, addressing these issues becomes crucial to ensuring the fairness and transparency of the electoral process.
Community
Naked Russian tourist causes stir in Bali, claims sleepwalking
A Russian tourist, claiming sleepwalking, alarmed residents by walking naked in Bali. He received a warning, with the Indonesian police emphasizing the need of respect for local norms.
INDONESIA: In an unusual incident that left residents of Darmawangsa Street in Banjar Petangan, Kutuh Village, South Kuta District, Badung Regency, Bali, perplexed, a Russian national, identified as DS (34), was seen strolling naked on Wednesday (27 Sep).
This bizarre incident has sparked concerns among locals and raised questions about the man’s actions.
According to local authorities, DS, who is a professional parkour athlete in his home country, was apprehended shortly after the incident. He claimed to suffer from a sleepwalking disorder.
“DS admitted to having a history of sleepwalking and is currently taking prescribed medication,” stated I Ketut Sukadi, the Head of the Public Relations Section at the Denpasar City Police Resort (Polresta), in a written statement.
Sukadi further explained that, based on reports from witnesses, the foreign tourist was observed leaving a villa and walking towards Darmawangsa Street in the buff around 9.22 am local time.
Upon reaching a workshop, he stood motionless for approximately 30 minutes. Subsequently, the tourist was seen crossing the road multiple times.
Alarmed residents who witnessed the scene promptly alerted local law enforcement.
Officers from the Kuta Police Sector, along with Public Order Officers (Linmas) and the Municipal Police Unit (Satpol PP) of Kutuh Village, rushed to the scene. DS fled into a villa in South Kuta upon seeing the gathering crowd and officials approaching.
During questioning, DS revealed that he had been staying at a Guest House in Tabanan Regency, Bali, as a guest of a friend since Tuesday (26 Sep).
Following the incident, the police collaborated with immigration authorities to examine DS’s travel documents to Bali. It was confirmed that his immigration documents were in order, resulting in a mere warning for his actions.
“DS is a professional parkour athlete in his home country. At this time, he has only received a stern warning,” added Sukadi.
In light of this incident, Sukadi urged all tourists, both domestic and foreign, within the jurisdiction of Polresta Denpasar, to always respect and honor Bali’s culture, customs, and applicable regulations. He emphasized the importance of adhering to local norms and laws to avoid any violations.
Crime
Indonesian woman returns paralyzed from Riyadh sparks human trafficking suspicions
Budi Hartini, a paralyzed Indonesian migrant worker returning from Riyadh, prompts a human trafficking investigation, raising concerns about migrant worker safety.
INDONESIA: In a shocking turn of events, a 39-year-old woman identified as Budi Hartini hailing from Teniga Village in the Tanjung District of North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), has been left paralyzed after her return from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in September 2022.
Authorities suspect that she may have fallen victim to human trafficking.
Hartini’s condition is currently dire, as she is unable to speak and is confined to a wheelchair. Disturbingly, there are visible stitches on her head and scars on her throat.
Muhammad Saleh, the Chairperson of the Migrant Workers Legal Aid Center, revealed, “When she was brought back (picked up in Jakarta), she was already paralyzed, her head had already been fractured but had been stitched back together. Her body is now paralyzed; she can’t speak, can’t do anything, and no one seems to be taking responsibility.”
Budi Hartini has filed a report on her alleged human trafficking ordeal with the North Lombok Regional Police.
Accompanied by her family, the village head, the Legal Aid Center, and migrant worker protection advocates, she submitted her complaint to the Directorate of General Crime Investigation (Dit Reskrimum) at the NTB Regional Police headquarters.
According to Saleh, Hartini’s case goes beyond the usual human trafficking cases and involves potential violations of human rights.
“Because this case is not just a regular human trafficking case, but it involves human rights violations. The victim’s head was fractured, allegedly from a fall at the airport. But we do not yet know if this occurred at the airport,” he explained.
Saleh added that if the victim did fall at the airport, there should be an official statement from airport authorities or a local hospital.
“Because the airport is a highly accountable place. So, if someone falls, there should be a letter from the airport authorities, perhaps if she was still under the airline’s responsibility, there should also be a letter from the local police, a letter from the hospital, including the local government,” Saleh emphasized.
Novita Sari, a Migrant Worker Advocate, recounted that the incident began when Hartini registered as a domestic worker intending to go to the Middle East in May 2022, through an intermediary known as SY.
Shortly afterwards, Hartini was processed and sent to a shelter in Jakarta. After one week in Jakarta, she was then provided with a ticket to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
From the moment BD left for Riyadh, her family in Lombok received no further information.
“Based on the information we received, she had an accident at Riyadh Airport. According to what we heard, she had a head injury and underwent surgery,” Novita explained.
Throughout the surgical and medical treatment processes, the family received no communication whatsoever.
“During this process, there was no information given to the family, neither at the time of the incident nor during her treatment,” Novita stated.
Three months after Hartini’s alleged fall at Riyadh Airport, the family was informed that Hartini would be repatriated due to her illness.
“They only mentioned she was sick, without specifying the nature of her illness,” Novita added.
Upon Hartini’s return on 3 September 2022, the family was shocked and devastated. Budi Hartini, who had departed as a healthy migrant worker, returned in a pitiful condition.
Her hair had been shaved due to surgery, and there were visible stitches on her head from a surgical procedure. She also had scars on her throat, rendering her unable to speak, relying solely on gestures. Hartini’s condition remains far from stable.
Accompanied by her family, Hartini has reported the alleged human trafficking case to the NTB Regional Police in hopes of obtaining justice.
“Our hope is to achieve justice because this has led to permanent disability and to deter other intermediaries,” Novita remarked.
In response to the case, Ni Made Pujewati, the Head of Subdirectorate IV at the NTB Regional Police’s Directorate of General Crime Investigation, stated that they would thoroughly investigate the recruitment process of victims sent to work in Saudi Arabia.
“We will delve into the facts of what the victim actually experienced, starting from the recruitment process, this is a fragment that needs to be explored,” Pujawati said on Monday, September 25, 2023.
The NTB Regional Police’s Human Trafficking Task Force, in collaboration with district police departments, has already uncovered 31 cases in 2023 involving hundreds of Indonesian migrant workers.
Among these cases, Hartini’s condition has been described as the most severe.
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