PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto with PDI-P central executive board (DPP) chairman Djarot Saiful Hidayat and Todung Mulya Lubis volunteering as amicus curiae, Tuesday (4/15/2024). Photo by MKRI/Ilham.

---

JAKARTA (MKRI) — Fifth president of Indonesia and chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Megawati Soekarnoputri volunteered to be amicus curiae to the Constitutional Court (MK). She wishes to express her thoughts on the Court’s 2024 presidential election results disputes settlement.

Her amicus brief was delivered by PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto and PDI-P central executive board (DPP) chairman Djarot Saiful Hidayat on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Todung Mulya Lubis, a legal counsel for Presidential Ticket 03 Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD, who have brought their case to the Court, was also present.

“I came to submit an amicus brief by Indonesian citizen Mrs. Megawati Soekarnoputri, who would like to volunteer as amicus curiae or friend of the Court,” Hasto said.

A passage handwritten by Megawati could be seen at the end of the brief. Hasto said that the passage mentions an enduring statement made by Raden Ajeng Kartini, who showed that woman emancipation is part of democracy and the fight against abuse of power.

“Beloved Indonesians, let us pray that the gavel that the Constitutional Court pounds would not be a sledgehammer but a golden gavel. As Kartini said in 1911, ‘Through darkness to light.’ The dawn of democracy that we fought for in the past has reemerged and will be remembered continuously by Indonesian generations. Ameen ya rabbal alamin (answer me O Lord of the Universe). Yours sincerely, signed Megawati Soekarnoputri. Freedom, freedom, freedom,” said Hasto delivering the handwritten passage.

The PDI-P executives were welcomed by the head of the Public Relations, Publication, and Internationalization of the 2024 general election results dispute (PHPU) task force Immanuel Bungkulan Binsar Hutasoit and head of the Protocol Division Gunawan in the Court’s second building.

Student Organizations

The Court also received amicus briefs from four student organizations: Justice Student Council of the Law Faculty of Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Student Executive Body (BEM) of the Law Faculty of Padjajaran University, Student Executive Body of the Law Faculty of Diponegoro University, and Student Executive Body of the Law Faculty of Airlangga University.

Commissioner of the movement division of the Justice Student Council of the Law Faculty of Gadjah Mada University Muhammad Emir Bernadine said the amicus briefs by the four student organizations showed their concern and moral responsibility as law students. They hoped their thoughts would be a valuable input for the Court to produce meaningful decisions for democracy and Indonesia’s future.

“We submitted the briefs none other than to show our moral responsibility and concern as law students for the presidential election process in 2024,” Bernadine said.

Recommendations

On the same day, the Indonesian Young Advocates Forum (FAMI) showed its support to the constitutional justices in adjudicating the 2024 presidential election results disputes. They also gave several recommendations to the eight constitutional justices: to be independent in deciding disputes over the results of the 2024 presidential election; to not be influenced by pressure, threats, and influence by any party; to render decisions wholeheartedly following their conscience; to render decisions objectively based on legal facts revealed in the proceedings; to uphold justice, effectiveness, and legal certainty; to avoid any direct or indirect influence from litigants and other interested parties; to avoid collusion with anyone; to not be afraid of pressure and threats; and to prioritize quality decisions that reflect a sense of justice while upholding national unity and integrity in accordance with the principles contained in Pancasila.

“We support whatever the constitutional justices decide in the 2024 election results disputes. Hopefully the eight honorable constitutional justices hear us and respond to our show of support,” said FAMI chairman Zenuri Makhrodji.

On behalf of the Court, Hutasoit stated that the amicus briefs and show of support would be passed on directly to the chief justice, following prevailing provisions. “Thank you. We will pass these on to the Chief Justice, the constitutional justices, following prevailing administrative provisions,” he said.

The Alliance of Enforcers of Indonesian Democracy (APDI), the Indonesian Constitutional Rights Advocates Foundation (Yakin), and Stefanus Hendrianto also volunteered as amicus curiae for the 2024 election results disputes settlement. They submitted their findings and thoughts to help the Court render decisions fairly and without pressure.

The Court is hearing election results dispute cases No. 1/PHPU.PRES-XXII/2024 by Presidential Ticket 01 Anies Rasyid Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar and No. 2/PHPU.PRES-XXII/2024 by Presidential Ticket 03 Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD. The Court will render its judgment on April 22.

Author       : Mimi Kartika
Editor        : Lulu Anjarsari P.
Translator  : Yuniar Widiastuti (RA)

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.

---