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On the request of Panel Justices who examined the cases on Regional Election Result disputes, Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Moh Mahfud MD, held a press conference at the Court s Press Conference Room, Sunday (23/11), to ask people living in the area whose election result was questioned, remained calm and waited for the Court s ruling which would be announced according to the deadline set in the Act on Regional Election and the Constitutional Court, within 14 working days.

People, continued Mahfud, were asked to remain calm because the Constitutional Court would really dig up the justice. The people had to wait and believe that the Court would make a fair decision. Based on the field report, revealed Mahfud, there was indeed a sign of serious strain among the supporters of each candidate. “There are some witnesses who feel insecure to go home, and else, so the Court expected that all parties can take a correct position within this context,” he demanded.

Mahfud invited all partied to build democracy that needs sportive attitude, that was winning or loosing based on people s choice. However, if the result of the decision became a dispute, Mahfud demanded the people to entrust the Constitutional Court.

Regarding the case of East Java Election, the Constitutional Court had finished 90 percent of the examination. “Maybe after another trial for confirming several items, we come to the decision because the evidences are enough to draw a conclusion,” he explained.

Related to the security protection for witness presented before the court, Mahfud demanded the party presenting the witness to be responsible and provide understanding to others that they were presented to enforce law, justice and truth, “not to seek or defeat or win one of the parties in the election,” explained the Professor in Law Politics.

Mahfud also demanded the security officers to observe the situation (of threats-ed.) in order to provide secure guarantee to those who presented as witnesses or other parties in the court. Should the Constitutional Court be proactive, continued Mahfud, his side would follow up the problem to the Victim and Witness Protection Institution (LPSK). “The party who brought the witness could also directly ask for protection to the LPSK.  But I think this can be settled by building an understanding from the people emotionally involved to the case and therefore, I think, we don t have to involve LPSK,” continued Mahfud.

For that, Mahfud demanded all parties to build understanding in enforcing democracy and waited for the Court s decision as a justice enforcer also in accepting the decision according to the Constitution. The Court s decision, which was final, had to be accepted; even though it might be pleasing or not to all parties. “Of course the Court would work carefully. (People) can see the consideration of the Court to reach the decision. There will be clear whether or not the Court is serious or not in drawing a decision,” he emphasized.

The Court s decision, continued Mahfud, would be announced openly and the copy would be handed over to the parties. Ten minutes later the decision could be accessed in the Court s website and the following day, it could be read in printed mass media. “(The decision) can be examined at all time if there is a strange thing about the decision. We will be very open, and will not be hiding our decision,” he stated clearly.

The advice from the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court was not only for the East Java people, buat also for the people from all areas. “Wait for the Court s decision and believe that the Court will be fair and (parties also the people) will accept what ever the decision will be,” concluded Mahfud. (Wiwik Budi Wasito)

Photo: Doc. MK PR/Yogi Dj

Translated by Yogi Djatnika /MK

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