Jefri Obeth Kambu (Respondent’s proxy) and legal counsel Rahman Ramli responding to Case No. 276/PHPU.GUB-XXIII/2025 PHPU on the Southwest Papua governor election results, Thursday (1/30/2025). Photo by MKRI/Ifa.
JAKARTA (MKRI) – The Constitutional Court (MK) held another hearing on the dispute over the 2024 Southwest Papua governor election results on Thursday, January 30, 2025. The examination hearing with the agenda to hear the Respondent’s response and testimonies by the Relevant Party and Bawaslu (Elections Supervisory Body) was presided over by Chief Justice Suhartoyo (panel chair) and Constitutional Justices Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh and M. Guntur Hamzah on panel 1.
The Relevant Party’s (Candidate Pair Number 03 Elisa Kambu-Ahmad Nausrau) legal counsel Sokhib Naim denied any effort to hinder the Petitioners (Candidate Pair Number 1 Abdul Faris Umlati-Petrus Kasihiw) from participating in the 2024 Southwest Papua governor election. He explained that the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP) is a cultural institution whose formation was based on Article 5 paragraph 92 of Law No. 21 of 2021 on the Special Autonomy for Papua Province. Article 20 paragraph (1) letter a of No. 2 of 2001 on Special Autonomy for Papua Province states that the MRP has the duty and authority to give consideration and approval to candidates for governor and vice governor proposed by the regional head election organizers. This is in line with Article 140 paragraphs (1) and (2) of PKPK No. 8 of 2024.
“The MRP’s decision was not political, let alone conspiratorial to block the Petitioners’ candidacy. With the Petitioners’ participation in the Southwest Papua provincial election by the Southwest Papua KPU, the allegation of conspiracy by the regional election organizer was proven untrue and unfounded,” explained Sokhib responding to the petition for Case No. 276/PHPU.GUB-XXIII/2025.
Bawaslu’s Report
In its statement, Southwest Papua Provincial Bawaslu stated that during the implementation of election in Southwest Papua, there were 13 reports, with two reports resulting in recommendations. For example, the report findings questioning the MRP, which had been forwarded to the Election Organizer Ethics Council (DKPP), and a report related to polling station working committee (KPPS) officers who signed the attendance list without verification, which has been resolved accordingly.
“In addition, there is a report by the Raja Ampat Bawaslu which has also been forwarded to the National Civil Service Agency (BKN) on December 6, 2024, all of which are related to the neutrality of the state civil apparatus (ASN), which until this hearing takes place has not been decided by the competent institution,” Zatriawati reported.
Also read: Partisanship and Discrimination Undermine Southwest Papua Gubernatorial Election
At the preliminary hearing on Thursday, January 16, 2025, the Petitioners asked for the cancellation of the Southwest Papua Provincial KPU Decree No. 115 of 2024 concerning the certification of the 2024 Southwest Papua governor election results. According to the Petitioners, the difference in votes that occurred in the Southwest Papua governor election was due to violations allegedly committed by Candidate Pair Number 03, thus fulfilling the criteria for a revote. The Petitioners argued that from the beginning, his candidacy had been full of attempts of obstruction and disruption.
The MRP stated that the Petitioners are not indigenous Papuans, so they were not eligible to advance in the Southwest Papua governor election. This decision results in political discrimination against the Petitioners, which is contrary to Article 20 paragraph (1) of Law No. 21 of 2001 on the Special Autonomy for Papua Province.
The Petitioners also argued about the abuse of power in the form of mobilization of the regional working units (SKPD), the local government work unit (OPD), echelon 3, district heads, section heads, state civil apparatus (ASN), and election organizers. This led to partisan recommendations. Furthermore, the Petitioners questioned the involvement of ASN and officials, such as the Raja Ampat regional secretary, who allegedly became political tools for certain parties to hamper the Petitioners. The Petitioners argued that the actions taken by these parties were contrary to the principles of democracy.
Read more:
Petition for Case No. 276/PHPU.GUB-XXIII/2025
Response by the Respondent
Statement by Bawaslu
Statement by the Relevant Party
Author : Sri Pujianti
Editor : N. Rosi
Translator : Dinita Aktivia/Yuniar Widiastuti (NL) (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.
Thursday, January 30, 2025 | 18:08 WIB 278