The legal counsel of Yalimo Regency KPU, Heru Widodo, testifying at a regional election dispute hearing, Wednesday (1/12/2022). Photo by Humas MK/Panji.
Thursday, January 13, 2022 | 13:25 WIB
JAKARTA, Public Relations—The revote (PSU) of the Yalimo regent-vice regent election had been prepared but was rescheduled a few times due to security and funding issues, said Heru Widodo, the legal counsel of Yalimo Regency KPU (General Elections Commission) at a special regional election dispute hearing that took place both onsite and online from the plenary courtroom of the Constitutional Court (MK) on Wednesday, January 12, 2022.
The second hearing was held to hear the KPU (Respondent) and Bawaslu for for cases No. 152/PHP.BUP-XIX/2021 petitioned by Candidate Pair No. 1 Erdi Dabi-John W. Wilil and No. 153/PHP.BUP-XIX/2021 by Candidate Pair No. 2 Lakius Peyon-Nahum Mabel.
Revote on January 26, 2022
Widodo explained that the KPU and Bawaslu offices in Yalimo Regency was burned to the ground on June 29, 2021, so the KPU had to prepare for the revote in the Jayapura Provincial KPU office, which is located quite far from the Yalimo KPU representative office in Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency. In order to restore security, a mediation team was formed. It consists of the Provincial Bawaslu, the provincial government, the Papuan Regional Police, and the Cenderawasih XVII Military Commander, along with the Provincial KPU. They approach the community of Yalimo. The team expected that grants would fund the revote and targeted it to be signed on July 30, 2021. However, it did not materialize.
“If the NPHD (Regional Grant Agreement Document) could be signed on July 30, the Respondent would have set the revote day on December 8, 2021, so it would not have surpassed the 120-day deadline following the Constitutional Court decision. However, the situation was not conducive and the NPHD could not be signed yet. And based upon consultation with and supervision by the KPU RI, Bawaslu, and coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security, the third schedule of the revote was set for January 26, 2022,” Widodo explained.
Rejection and Customary Procession
Next, head of Yalimo precinct police Hesman S. Napitupulu testified that demonstration by the supporters of Erbi Dabi to reject the Court decision that disqualified him took place 24 times, and had disturbed public order and resulted in significant material losses. In addition, he added, the supporters were not willing to accept the planned revote.
He confirmed that an agreement between Erbi Dabi and his victim’s family had taken place, but the dossier had been transferred to the Jayapura Public Prosecution Office. Thus, investigation is still ongoing.
“The Court must know that Lakius Peyon and Erdi Dabi are related in the customs as they are uncle and nephew. Therefore, the regional police chief attempted to mediate them to find a solution to appease the supporters. And after the Court decision was pronounced until today, they have not been in Yalimo Regency. Meanwhile, a meeting between the police chief and Erdi Dabi has taken place, and [Erdi Dabi] responded positively. He was willing to meet his supporters to arrive at a peaceful solution and to come to Yalimo Regency to meet his supporters on November 6, 2021 and implemented a customary stone-burning procession,” Napitupulu revealed.
Also read: After 120 Days, Yalimo Regency Revote Not Materialized
At the preliminary hearing, the Petitioners of case No. 153/PHP.BUP-XIX/2021 revealed that the revote (PSU) within a 120-workday deadline as ordered by the Constitutional Court in Decision No. 145/ PHP.BUP-XIX/2021 had not materialized even until the case was filed to the Court. The regency’s KPU (General Elections Commission) as Respondent had not organized the event and had even pushed it back several times. When the revote day and the registration was set, there was no other candidate than the Petitioners.
Meanwhile, the Petitioners of case No. 152/PHP.BUP-XIX/2021 had revealed that the Report No. 021/PL.02.7-BA/9122/KPUKab/V/2021 and the Decree of the Yalimo Regency KPU No. 18/PL.02.7-Kpt/9122/KPUKab/V/2021 on the Stipulation of the Regent-Vice Regent Candidates in the 2020 Regent-Vice Regent Election of Yalimo Regency dated May 18, 2021 were not annulled by the Constitutional Court in Decision No. 145/PHP.BUP-XIX/2021 dated June 29, 2021. As such, they believe that as the Respondent had not organized a revote on December 17, 2021 following the Court’s decision, the Petitioners have the constitutional right to be declared a candidate pair in the 2020 Yalimo Regency Election.
Also read: Erdi Dabi Disqualified, Yalimo Regent Election Will Re-Voted Again
In the Decision No. 145/PHP.BUP-XIX/2021, the Court disqualified Candidate Pair No. 1 Erdi Dabi because he no longer met the requirements as a candidate pair for the 2020 Yalimo Regency Election. It also ordered the Respondent to carry out a revote with Candidate Pair No. 2 Lakius Peyon-Nahum Mabel in the running, provided that they met the requirements, and new candidate pairs including John W. Wilil, provided that they met the requirements. The Court set a deadline of 120 workdays since it pronounced the ruling and ordered the regency’s KPU to announce its results and report to the Court within 7 workdays after the recapitulation of the voting results was certified.
Writer : Sri Pujianti
Editor : Nur R.
PR : Fitri Yuliana
Translator : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)
Translation uploaded on 01/14/2022 11:04 WIB
Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.
Thursday, January 13, 2022 | 13:25 WIB 178