Another effort by public groups to monitor and safeguard the upcoming general election has emerged amid growing concerns over electoral fraud and the partiality of the state apparatus, which could undermine the democratic process.

A network of activists, academicians, lawyers, entrepreneurs and students came together on Tuesday to launch an initiative called Jaga Pemilu (Safeguard Election), which seeks to encourage stronger public awareness and participation in ensuring that the upcoming polls will be credibly organized.

The initiative arose out of concern that the abuse of state power would undermine the elections’ integrity, according to former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) commissioner Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas, who chairs Jaga Pemilu’s steering committee.

“This movement emerged out of sincere concerns felt by a group of people who are non-partisan, impartial and independent,” he said. “We’ll monitor the election process to watch out for electoral fraud and irregularities.”

The group said indications of unethical moves by political elites seeking to cling to power could potentially lead to the upcoming elections being held without upholding honesty and fairness. An example the group cited was the Constitutional Court’s controversial ruling that paved the way for Gibran Rakabuming Raka, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s eldest son, to run for vice president.

Read also: Civil groups vow close scrutiny of 2024 race

Weakening accountability and poor performance in organizing elections by both election organizers, the General Elections Commission (KPU) and its supervisory institution the Elections Supervisory Board (Bawaslu), could also undermine public trust in the election, the group wrote in its manifesto.

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