Habel Rumbiak (legal counsel) testifying at the preliminary hearing for Case No. 228/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 before Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra and Constitutional Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani on panel 2, Wednesday (1/15/2025). Photo by MKRI/Teguh.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) – Candidate Pair Theodorus Sitokdana–Terianus Keduman (Petitioners) have filed a petition to annul the Pegunungan Bintang Regency KPU (Elections Commission) Decree No. 1491 of 2024. They argued that they objected to receiving zero vote, as they were unable to participate as candidates in the 2024 Pegunungan Bintang regent election. The petition was presented at the preliminary hearing for Case No. 228/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025, presided over by Deputy Chief Justice Saldi Isra (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Ridwan Mansyur and Arsul Sani on panel 2 on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.

While presenting the petition’s subject matter, the Petitioners’ legal counsel Habel Rumbiak disclosed that the Petitioners had faced obstruction, threats, intimidation, and violence when attempting to deliver the physical files for nomination and candidate requirements to the Pegunungan Bintang Regency KPU (Elections Commission). These actions were allegedly carried out by supporters of Candidate Pair 03 Costan Oktemka–Kris Bakweng.

“The primary demand of the perpetrators of the obstruction, threats, intimidation, and violence is that the B-1 KWK nomination form from Golkar Party that has supported the Petitioners, be submitted to the perpetrators,” said Rumbiak.

He also revealed that the Petitioners had reported the matter to the Pegunungan Bintang KPU and Bawaslu (Elections Supervisory Body). However, all these complaints received no response and resolution from these election organizers.

The Petitioners also filed a petition to the Manado High Administrative Court and the Supreme Court, but both courts ruled that the Petitioners did not have legal standing.

“The Petitioners have reported to the Respondent and Bawaslu, but received no response for mediation and a chance for the Petitioners’ registration,” Rumbiak revealed.

Therefore, the Petitioners requested the Court to order the Pegunungan Bintang KPU to carry out a revote in Pegunungan Bintang Regency and requested the Court to annul Pegunungan Bintang KPU Decree No. 1491 of 2024 concerning the certification of the 2024 Pegunungan Bintang Regency election results.

The petition for Case No. 228/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 can be accessed here.

Author         : Ahmad Sulthon Zainawi
Editor           : N. Rosi
Translator    : Syifa Amelia/Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

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.

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