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Security on highest alert as thousands protest result
Losing side: Supporters of the People’s Sovereignty National Movement (GNKR) attend a mass rally in front of the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) headquarters on Jl
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osing side: Supporters of the People’s Sovereignty National Movement (GNKR) attend a mass rally in front of the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) headquarters on Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta on Tuesday to protest the results of the 2019 presidential election.(Antara/Galih Pradipta)
The police have raised security measures to the highest level as thousands of demonstrators in Jakarta and several other cities protested against the General Elections Commission (KPU) announcement of the victory of incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and running mate Ma’ruf Amin in the April 17 election.
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo confirmed that security had been tightened following the official vote tally announcement by the KPU, which was made before the May 22 deadline.
“We can confirm the top alert status today,” Dedi was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.
According to an official police telegram dated May 20, the police raised the alert level for public order and safety from May 21 to 25. The message, signed by Insp. Gen. Martuani Sormin on behalf of National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, also called on regional police forces to anticipate possible disturbances in their respective regions.
Thousands of supporters of Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno held a rally in front of the Elections Supervisory Agency’s (Bawaslu) headquarters on Jl. Thamrin in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, calling for the disqualification of Jokowi from the presidential election because of allegations of electoral fraud.
The protesters, who identified themselves as members of the National People’s Sovereignty Movement (GNKR), began the rally at 3 p.m. after arguing with police officers who had blocked the area. The GNKR protesters plan to hold another rally in front of the Bawaslu building on Saturday.
In Medan, North Sumatra, hundreds of Prabowo-Sandiaga supporters also demonstrated in front of the North Sumatra KPU building. North Sumatra GNKR head Prabu Alam Syahputera said on Tuesday that the group protested the “systematic” violation allegedly committed by the rival Jokowi-Ma’ruf Amin ticket.
Despite the highest security level, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu gave an assurance that Jakartans had nothing to worry about on Wednesday. After he broke the fast with members of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah in Jakarta on Tuesday, he said the situation was under control.
“Today we break the fast together with the NU and Muhammadiyah. We’re not worried about what they have exaggerated as ‘people power’. We feel the brotherhood thanks to Ramadan,” he said after the iftar event.
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto said on Tuesday that he had instructed security forces in the regions to stop mass mobilizations toward Jakarta. In West Java and Malang, East Java, the police intercepted dozens of people who were traveling to Jakarta to protest the election results.
Wiranto also confirmed the arrest of Maj. Gen. (ret) Soenarko, a Prabowo supporter, for alleged illegal arms possession.
Soenarko was arrested following a viral video in which the retired general had instructed his men to besiege the KPU building and the Presidential Palace.
“Let me make this clear. The arrest of [Soenarko] is related to his instructions to his men, which were recorded and went viral. It is also related to illegal arms from Aceh, allegedly ordered by him for something. The police are investigating the matter,” he said. “But don’t make this about politics.”
Soenarko is in National Police custody at Guntur Military Detention Center. Along with him, the police also arrested another person, identified only as Chief Pvt. BP.
A lawyer named Humisar Sahala reported Soenarko on Monday to the National Police for alleged treason. Humisar said, as quoted by Antara news agency, that he had filed the report after watching the viral video on YouTube. He said he was upset about Soenarko’s statements in the video about surrounding the KPU building and the palace.
Gerindra Party executive and Prabowo-Sandiaga Uno campaign team official Andre Rosiade said the team was still seeking valid confirmation.
“We really regret to hear that. But we have yet to receive solid information about that. We still need to confirm what led to his arrest,” Andre said on Tuesday.
