Kowani Declares 3 June Extraordinary Congress Invalid

The Indonesian Women’s Congress (Kowani) has affirmed that the Extraordinary Congress (KLB) held in the name of the Kowani organisation on 3 June 2026 is invalid. “Do not declare the KLB on 3 June 2026 valid based solely on a unilateral claim. Show the documents, show the authority, show the basis in the articles of association, and demonstrate that the entire process was legitimate. Without that, the KLB must be considered flawed in authority and procedure,” stated Kowani Chairwoman Nannie Hadi Tjahjanto during a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday (4/6). She asserted that the Kowani leadership resulting from the XXVI Congress in 2024 remains active, legitimate, and continues to exercise all organisational functions properly. “Kowani remains standing in accordance with the 26th Congress of 2024,” Nannie emphasised. According to her, the fundamental question regarding the 3 June KLB is not about who attended or what decisions were announced, but rather the authority of the party that invited and organised the KLB. She stated that under the organisation’s articles of association, an Extraordinary Congress must be convened by a party with legitimate organisational authority. Therefore, the legality of a KLB must first be tested against the aspects of the organiser’s authority, the mechanism for summoning participants, the legitimacy of participants, quorum, and the decision-making procedures. Kowani questioned the basis of authority for the parties issuing the invitation for the KLB and demanded that all documents forming the basis for the KLB’s organisation be openly disclosed to the public and member organisations. “We are not building opinion. We are merely demanding proof. Whoever claims that the KLB on 3 June 2026 is valid must demonstrate the basis of their authority, the legal basis, the organisational basis, and evidence that all procedures were carried out in accordance with Kowani’s articles of association,” concluded Deputy Chair of Kowani for Organisation, Membership and Regeneration as well as Economy and Cooperatives, Atiek Sardjana.