Concerns surrounding the potential lack of neutrality of the state apparatus have gained traction among state and public observers amid recent difficulties in keeping civil workers in line and claims of intimidation tactics, raising concerns of jeopardized public trust in the February election.

On Monday, a day before the 2024 election’s official campaign period began, the Indonesian Ombudsman warned that the threat of partisanship in the state apparatus – which the agency considers to include civil workers, regional heads and village chiefs – is becoming an increasingly “serious” and “vulgar” problem.

“The trend toward various potential neutrality violations from public service providers is becoming increasingly serious,” Ombudsman commissioner Robert Na Endi Jaweng said in a press briefing on Monday. “That’s why the Ombudsman must anticipate and prepare work plans [to prevent] these violations.”

He added that the Ombudsman had partnered with the Indonesian Civil Service Commission (KASN) on the effort to supervise regional heads, civil permanent and non-contract workers and village chiefs ahead of the February poll.

“The Ombudsman will make supervision and monitoring posts at all our regional offices in 34 provinces,” Robert continued.

The neutrality of village heads has been particularly put into question after a group of village chiefs called Desa Bersatu (Villages United) held an event in early November many saw as a veiled campaign for Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

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