Hearing time: Lawyers for the General Elections Commission (KPU) attend a hearing at the Constitutional Court presided over by Judge Mukhtie Fajar (displayed on the screen). The Court began Monday hearing election disputes filed by political parties and Regional Representative Council candidates. JP/Id Nugroho

The Constitutional Court is pulling all stops to try and resolve nearly 600 cases filed by political parties and legislative candidates following the general elections by deadline.

The court began trying these cases Monday, with court chief Mahfud M.D claiming all trials would be concluded by June 24 as planned.

“There will be no trial suspensions because that would disrupt our schedule,” he said Monday.

“The court urges both the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the plaintiffs to prepare the necessary original documents because without them the court will not process the cases,” he said.

With just over one month to settle all the cases, the court has set up three panels of judges and hopes to process up to 18 lawsuits per day. It has also instructed the judges and plaintiffs to keep their presentations straightforward and simple.

“The court will use teleconferencing for regional KPU offices and plaintiffs who cannot attend the trials. We have prepared the teleconference facilities for 34 cities,” Mahfud said. They will conduct trials every day until 11:00 p.m. if necessary, he added.

As many as 16 plaintiffs presented evidence and made their statements related to alleged election violations on the opening day of trials Monday.

The plaintiffs were the Indonesian Democracy Upholding Party (PPDI), the Indonesian Democratic Care Party (PKDI), the Indonesian Youth Party (PPI), and 13 Regional Representatives Council (DPD) candidates.  

“As of Monday, the plaintiffs seemed to have prepared the necessary documents to back up their charges. But apparently, the KPU was the one not well prepared. They seemed to have difficulties in presenting documents from regional offices,” he said.

KPU member Andi Nurpati said her office had prepared a team of 30 prosecutors to face the trials.

The KPU has been under fire from various political parties, legislative candidates and the Election Supervisory Body since they revised the seat allocations on May 13 after announcing the legislative election results days earlier.

Last week, Mahfud said the election results might change depending on the outcome of the trials.

The court has grouped the cases into four main categories: Vote fraud, including mixed up ballots, legislative seat allocation at the provincial level, DPD candidates’ rankings and disputes concerning the accuracy of election dossiers.

Data from the court shows the number of lawsuits increased significantly this election compared to the 2004 vote, largely because of a jump in the number of parties. Nearly 40 national level parties and six local parties contested this year’s election, compared to 24 in 2004. (fmb)

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