Bawaslu and LPSK Sign MoU to Strengthen Protection for Election Witnesses
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) and the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding protection for witnesses and other individuals in the election oversight work environment.
“Election oversight is not only about compliance with regulations but also about protecting the people involved,” said Bawaslu Chairman Rahmat Bagja at the Bawaslu Building in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Bagja stated that the protection will cover, among others, witnesses, victims, reporters, perpetrators, experts, informants, and various other parties related to election oversight work.
The MoU is expected to strengthen protection for individuals in the election oversight work environment and in the context of election oversight from potential violence, including sexual violence and persecution.
According to him, cooperation with LPSK is a strategic step to ensure comprehensive protection for parties involved in the democratic process.
“Therefore, the cooperation between Bawaslu and LPSK is very strategic. LPSK has the mandate and expertise in providing protection,” he said.
Bagja conveyed that through this cooperation, it is hoped that every report can be handled without fear from the reporter and that victims receive appropriate protection.
“Thus ensuring that every report is handled without fear from the reporter and that every victim receives appropriate protection and every legal process runs upholding justice,” he stated.
He also encouraged that the agreed memorandum of understanding be promptly followed up with a technical cooperation agreement so that its implementation is more concrete.
Furthermore, Bagja mentioned that strengthening this protection is an important part in welcoming the 2029 Elections so that they run fairly and free from intimidation.
“This is what we all want so that the 2029 elections ahead will run well and the forms of protection will be even better,” he added.