PKS supporters demand probe agains judges
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Thousands of supporters of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) continued their protests on Sunday against a court ruling annulled the victory of Nur Nahmudi Ismail and his running mate Yuyun Wirasaputra in the Depok mayoral election.
Gathered at the former Goro wholesale outlet near Depok City Hall, the protesters condemned the ruling and demanded an investigation into the judges who handed down the ruling.
Also taking part in the protest were supporters of the National Mandate Party, the United Development Party, Nahdlatul Ulama, activists from several non-governmental organizations, noted poet W.S. Rendra, Christian preacher Robin Siahaan, artist Ratna Sarumpaet, chairman of the PKS' Depok branch Prihandoko, Nur Mahmudi Ismail, Yuyun Wirasaputra and a number of ulema.
During the protest, Rendra read out a poem expressing concern over the court ruling that declared runner-up Badrul Kamal of Golkar and his running mate Syihabuddin of the National Awakening Party as the winners in the June 26 mayoral election in Depok, West Java.
According to Rendra, his Kakanta Taqwa Group Band, whose members include businessman Setiawan Djody and popular singer Iwan Fals, would hold a concert to express their concern over the ruling.
"I am now seeking permission from Pak Nur Mahmudi to hold the concert," said Rendra.
The KPU in Depok announced on July 6 that Nur Mahmudi and Yuyun had won the election with total vote of 232,610, compared to Badrul and Syihabudin's 206,781 votes. Badrul filed a complaint against the result with the West Java High Court on July 12.
Presiding judge Nana Juwana, however, said on Aug. 4 that due to vote-rigging, Badrul, who is the in-law of West Java Governor Danny Setiawan, lost a total of 62,772 votes, while Nur Mahmudi gained an additional 27,782 votes.
The court then decided that Badrul should have received 269,551 votes, while Nur Mahmudi should have received only 204,828.
The court heard testimony from 11 witnesses called by Badrul and one witness from the Depok KPU. No witnesses from the PKS were called to testify.
Prihandoko said on Sunday that his party supported the plan of by the Depok KPU to seek a review of the decision in the Supreme Court.
He also called for an investigation into the judges who handed down the controversial ruling.
Sri Sumantri, a constitutional law expert from Pajajaran University in Bandung, had said earlier that the minister of home affairs had a role to play in the case as he was the one who would officially inaugurate the winning candidate.
According to Sri, article 106 of the Local Elections Law (No. 32/2004) provides that the Supreme Court has the final say in local election disputes, while article 109 of the same legislation says that election winners are inaugurated by the minister of home affairs.
A team of lawyers hired by the PKS has submitted a file to the Supreme Court requesting that it overturn the West Java High Court's ruling.