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Indonesia has established its democracy and it has been nodded as one of the most advancing democracy, internationally. It is proven as Constitutional Court (MK) as the one of the most active institution for election matters, hosts a visit from The World and China Institute (WCI). The think tank institution from People’s Republic of China paid a visit for comparison study on Monday (7/7).

As many as 8 researchers from a number of universities attended the hearings as facilitated by United for Elections and Democracy (Perludem) and International Republican Institute (IRI). The delegations led by Prof. Li Fan, were open handedly welcomed in MK Delegation Room by Head of MK, Hamdan Zoelva who also accompanied by two other Justices, Patrialis Akbar and Maria Farida Indrati.

Li Fan started the discussion with a question of MK contribution over the election. To the question, delivered in Chinese, Hamdan Zoelva said that MK mostly involved in the completion of disputed election. “The duty contained in the 1945 Constitution. For Presidential and legislative election, we resolved the vote disputes and seats allocation,” Hamdan said.

“We just completed the legislative disputes, remarkable because we have to decide for over 900 cases in one month. Full-month of workdays,” Hamdan said when being asked of which.

The Enthusiastic delegations apparently know a lot about Indonesia, keeping the discussion lively running. With no hesitation, they deliberated some issues, namely simultaneous elections and MK’s impartiality.

“The simultaneous elections will be installed after a Judicial Review for which was applied. 1945 Constitution doesn’t differ Legislative and Presidential election, it is something that can only be held a time in five years. This is what seized our consideration to decide over simultaneous election for 2019,” Justice Patrialis Akbar said. .

Meanwhile, for MK impartiality, Hamdan emphasized that the nine Justices were spare into three, 3 from DPR, 3 from President, and 3 from Supreme Court as well. “All decisions have to be passed through collective agreement, none of us have been interrupted for any case, we can keep up our neutrality,” Hamdan retained. “The decision always be taken together, voting will be conducted after dissenting opinion, which can be delivered in the trial publicly,” he added.

PRC-RI Relations

Li Fan praised Indonesia’s progress of developing its democracy. For him, Indonesia’s democracy is one to be proud of and is something to share wider in global realm.

Hamdan responded as he said that our democracy will still be developing until one day its people will aware to live responsibly respecting others rights as well. He also emphasized that hopefully Indonesia and PRC will maintain their relations to keep up their role as main actors in promoting peace and established economic development.

WCI Delegations will stay in Indonesia to further study about Indonesia’s democracy. They were scheduled to visit KPU and to monitor Presidential Elections in Solo and Yogyakarta by 9th July. (Winandriyo Anggianto/mh)

 

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