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Protesters gathering outside Constitutional Court in defiance of police ban, Prabowo appeal
People have gathered near the Constitutional Court to protest the deaths of hundreds of volunteers involved in the vote count and to demand a free and fair election.
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Protesters claiming to be University of Indonesia alumni gather to protest near the Constitutional Court building in Central Jakarta. (Antara/M. Risyal Hidayat)
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undreds of people gathered at the National Monument (Monas) Square on Friday morning in defiance of a specific police ban of any demonstration outside or near the Constitutional Court, which has begun hearings into a dispute over the April 17 presidential election.
One estimate put the crowd size at 2,000. They are reportedly members of various groups, including university students. None of them declined to be identified with Prabowo Subianto, the lone challenger in the presidential race who had filed a petition with the court to challenge the official results that gave incumbent president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo an 11 percent victory.
Prabowo, who rejected the results as announced by the General Elections Commission (KPU), had appealed to his supporters not to turn up at the Constitutional Court. He had also pledged to abide by the court’s ruling.
Claiming that the protesters had come from all around Indonesia, one of the dominant orators in the group, Ayub, said that the Constitution Court should represent the public. “We request that the Constitution Court could also use its conscience and not just fixate on the Constitutional Law.”
Abdullah Hehamahua, former advisor of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is also a participant in the protest. “We are here not to pick sides but to demand justice and professionalism from the Constitutional Court,” he said.
The crowd appeared to be growing by the hour and more are expected to join, particularly from the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), after Friday prayers. The FPI has been one of the key supporters of Prabowo’s presidential bid.
Aside from demanding justice over the election result, protesters were also seen demanding governmental accountability for the deaths of hundreds of election officers in May.
