Legal counsel Justinus Tampubolon at the preliminary examination hearing for Case No. 259/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on the Maybrat regent election results dispute, Thursday (1/16/2025). Photo by MKRI/Ifa.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) - The Petitioners for Case No. 259/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025 on the 2024 Maybrat regent election results dispute alleged intimidation, threats, and violence in the election process. The Maybrat regent-vice regent candidates 02 Agustinus Tenau and Marthen Howay (Petitioners) read out their petition in the preliminary examination hearing at the Constitutional Court (MK) on Thursday, January 16, 2025.

The hearing was presided over by Chief Justice Suhartoyo (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh and M. Guntur Hamzah on panel 2. In this case, the Maybrat Election Commission (KPU) serves as the Respondent, and the Maybrat regent-vice regent candidates 03 Karel Murafer and Ferdinando Solossa are the Relevant Party.

The Petitioners, represented by their legal counsel, Justinius Tampubolon, revealed that the intimidation, threats, and violence even resulted in loss of life. "During the voting, there was a lot of intimidation and threats, even violence. There were residents who died because of this voting process, where many of the Petitioners’ voters were intimidated and could not even enter the polling stations," Justinius delivered the argument.

In the petition document, the Petitioners stated that the loss of life occurred due to a dispute and commotion over a problem with the voting invitation letter. "Supporters of Candidate Pair 03 who withheld the voting invitation letter because of a problem with the village head, resulting in a dispute and commotion that led to violence and the loss of life of a resident," as stated in the document.

In addition, the Petitioners also alleged a number of violations that were structured, systematic, and massive (TSM). According to them, the violations involved the Respondent, Relevant Party, the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu), and state civil apparatus (ASN).

Among the TSM violations is the appointment of the district election committee (PPD), polling committee (PPS), and polling station working committee (KPPS), which the Petitioners claimed were appointed by the Relevant Party.

"The names of the PPD, PPS, and KPPS members had been conveyed and ensured [to be appointed] beforehand by Candidate Pair 03 or their campaign team," Justinius stated.

The Petitioners claimed that at several polling stations, voting was conducted using the rights of absent voters, as well as using the names of deceased individuals who were still listed on the final voter list (DPT).

They also argued that several state civil apparatus (ASN) within the Maybrat Regency Government, including the regional secretary, were involved in campaigning for the Relevant Party.

"Long before the voting, state civil apparatus and the Respondent were involved in campaigning for Candidate Pair 03, even the Regional Secretary of Maybrat Regency," said Justinius.

The Petitioners claimed that these findings were reported to the Maybrat Bawaslu. However, Bawaslu stated that the report did not meet the necessary elements.

Therefore, the Petitioners requested the Court to annul the Maybrat KPU's Decision on the certification of the 2024 Maybrat regent elections results. Additionally, the Petitioners requested that the Court disqualify the Relevant Party and order the Respondent to conduct a revote at all polling stations.

Following this request, the Court instructed the Respondent, Relevant Party, and the Maybrat Bawaslu to provide their responses at the next hearing.

"We instruct the KPU as the Respondent, the Relevant Party, and Bawaslu to respond to matters related to the allegations or accusations or arguments from the Petitioners," said Constitutional Justice M. Guntur Hamzah.

For information, a similar petition on the Maybrat regent election results dispute was also filed by Candidate Pair 01 Kornelius Kambu and Zakeus Momao, registered as Case No. 234/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025.

Also read the petition for Case No. 259/PHPU.BUP-XXIII/2025

Also read: Kornelius-Zakeus Seek Revote at 51 Maybrat Polling Stations

Author  : Ashri Fadilla
Editor   : N. Rosi
Translator     : Nazila Rikhusshuba/FS (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.

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