0 Rieke-Teten brings 1,500 witnesses to election dispute hearing

West Java gubernatorial candidate pair Rieke Diah Pitaloka-Teten Masduki brought 1,500 witnesses to a hearing on the West Java election dispute, which was held at the Constitutional Court on Monday. “We present to you 1,500 witnesses, Your Honor,” said Rieke-Teten’s lawyer, Arteria Dahlan, in the first hearing, as quoted by Antara news agency. Responding to this, presiding constitution judge Akil Mochtar said hearings on the regional election (Pilkada) fraud disputes would run no longer than 14 days and that there were only nine days left. 

“You have to reconsider the number of witnesses you’ve just presented. What’s important is not only the quantity but quality of witnesses you present to the court,” said Akil in the session also attended by two other members of the Constitutional Court’s panel of judges, Muhammad Alim and Hamdan Zoelva. 

Akil asked the plaintiff to first bring 20 witnesses, but that they could bring more witnesses if needed. Rieke Diah Pitaloka and Teten Masduki and several figures from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), including PDI-P secretary general Tjahjo Kumolo and head of the PDI-P central board Maruarar Sirait, attended the hearing. In their lawsuit, Rieke and Teten asked the Constitutional Court to disqualify the victory of Ahmad Heryawan-Deddy Mizwar, who won the West Java gubernatorial election. 

Arteria told the panel of judges that she brought 3,261 items of evidence that showed the irregularities or misconduct in the election, which took place on Feb.24. Citing examples, she said the number of eligible voters listed in the final voters list (DPT) that was used in the Bekasi mayoral election in December 2012 was different from the one that was used in the West Java election. 

Moreover, she said, many potential voters in West Java were unable to obtain voter cards for unclear reasons. Arteria also deplored the West Java provincial administration’s decision to not issue a circular to declare the voting day a holiday despite the fact that it fell on a Sunday. She said West Java was an industrial area. With the absence of such a circular, many workers failed to cast their votes at polling stations (TPS) because they had to work. (ebf)

source : the jakarta post