Press Release
“DKPP Suspends Hasyim Asyari: KPU Must Seriously Improve to Present Elections that are Inclusive, Safe, and Free from Violence Against Women”
Coalition of People Concerned about Women’s Representation (KMPKP)
Jakarta (5/7) – The Coalition of Communities Concerned with Women’s Representation (KMPKP) appreciates the Honorary Council of Election Organizers (DKPP) for its firm decision to dismiss Hasyim Asyari as Chairperson and Member of the KPU for the 2022-2027 Period because he was proven to have committed immoral acts and misused his position, authority, and state facilities for personal gain. The sanction of permanent dismissal is the best decision to stop all forms of violence against women and a clear message that there is no room or tolerance for perpetrators to be part of election organizers in Indonesia.
In Decision Number 90-PKE-DKPP/V/2024, it is evident that there is a power relation between the Complainant and the Respondent, resulting in an unbalanced relationship. This condition is detrimental to the Complainant as a woman because she is in a position that cannot determine her will freely and logically. As a result, the Complainant can commit violence against the victim by forcing and promising something that violates her integrity and professionalism as the Chairperson and Member of the KPU. DKPP emphasized that Hasyim Asy’ari as the Complainant has used influence, authority, position, and state facilities to gain personal benefits. In addition, the Respondent has utilized various situations in his capacity as Chairman of the KPU in carrying out coercive actions and promising something in terms of committing immoral acts. The Respondent is proven to have violated the provisions of Article 6 paragraph (1) Article 6 paragraph (2) letters a and c, Article 6 paragraph (3) letters e and f, Article 7 paragraph (1), Article 10 letter a, Article 11 letter a, 12 letter a, Article 15 letter a and letter d, Article 16 letter e, and Article 19 letter f of DKPP Regulation Number 2 of 2017 concerning the Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct for Election Organizers.
Based on trends in the electoral management environment, cases of gender-based violence in the electoral management environment have increased sharply. In the period 2017-2022, there were 25 cases of sexual violence handled by DKPP. Then in 2022-2023, there were 4 cases. Meanwhile, in 2023 there was a sharp increase of 54 immoral acts and sexual harassment reported to DKPP. These cases consist of harassment, intimidation, discrimination, sexist narratives against female candidates, physical violence, and sexual violence in the private and public spheres. Even based on findings from Kalyanamitra, for example, forced marriages with the motive of election interests were also found in South Sulawesi.
Based on a study released by Kalyanamitra on June 24, 2024, it was found that the factors and roots of gender-based violence in the 2024 elections were patriarchal ideology and gender norms, gender stereotypes, unequal power relations, lack of awareness and education, lack of regulation and protection, and impunity. This shows that the holding of elections does have the potential to become a vulnerable space for women. In an electoral system, the hierarchy between organizers, as well as the unequal position between organizers and the parties involved in the election can form a position of power relations. This position makes the holding of elections a potential place for gender-based violence.
This case is a lesson for the future that perpetrators of gender-based violence in the electoral sphere must be given the toughest sanctions. In the context of ethical violations by election organizers, permanent dismissal sanctions not only place perpetrators of violence against women in a position of incapacity, but also become a means of creating a standard of resistance actions taken to prevent repetition for other parties in the future.
The facts in this case must be evaluated in the future so that there is a framework for handling gender-based violence against election organizers, both in terms of prevention, handling, and supervision. Then, integrated legal action in terms of ethical, administrative, and criminal sanctions must be enforced. From the perspective of election organizers, ethical sanctions in the form of dismissal are indeed the toughest effort to punish the perpetrators, but from the state’s perspective, there are criminal sanctions that must also be enforced as a symbol that sexual violence is a crime that should be severely punished.
In connection with that, for the permanent dismissal of Hasyim Asy’ari as Chairman and Member of the KPU for the period 2022-2027, KMPKP conveyed the following matters:
1. KMPKP supports and appreciates the victims who have been brave and resolute in fighting for justice by making complaints of violations of the code of ethics of election organizers by the Complainant Hasyim Asy’ari. KMPKP fully understands that the complaint is not an easy thing and requires extraordinary courage and determination to face the process and all the risks that come with it. The victim has been able to uphold her dignity as a woman, which is expected to be an encouragement for other women to continue to fight for the respect, protection, and fulfillment of women’s rights.
2. KMPKP urges DKPP to apply optimal sanctions in the form of permanent dismissal for ethical violations in the form of violence against women or in other forms of actions similar to the Hasyim Asy’ari case, both for complaints currently being processed at DKPP or for potential similar violations in the future. DKPP’s assertiveness and consistency are needed to have a deterrent effect and prevent replication of similar violations by other election organizers.
3. KMPKP urges the KPU to immediately improve institutionally so that it can immediately form guidelines for handling gender-based violence, especially facing the 2024 Pilkada. Bawaslu’s involvement as an election supervisor also needs to be strengthened to be able to penetrate areas that have the potential to trigger violence against women.
4. The collegial collective leadership of election organizers should be the basis of control among fellow colleagues of election organizers to prevent fellow members from committing ethical violations or other deviant acts. In the case of Hasyim Asy’ari, it is likely that the ecosystem of collegial collective work and control between members does not work in the KPU institution, which ultimately makes ethical violations allowed and free to occur.
5. KMPKP asks the President to accelerate the process of Hasyim Asy’ari’s Interim Replacement (PAW) and then consistently inaugurate the next candidate as an interim replacement member of the KPU. This is important because the KPU’s workload after the 2024 elections and welcoming the 2024 elections is still a lot. In addition, so that this case does not interfere with the quality of Pilkada implementation and can be an important lesson for all levels of election organizers in Indonesia.
6. KMPKP asks the KPU to immediately determine the definitive Chairperson after the PAW KPU member Hasyim Asy’ari is inaugurated by the President. The definitive leadership is needed to optimally consolidate and improve the KPU’s internal institutions, especially in order to ensure the realization of elections and election management institutions that are inclusive, safe, and free from violence against women.
7. KMPKP asks the public and mass media to be wise and continue to respect, and protect the rights and privacy of victims so as not to be trapped in objectification and exploitation of victims which can cause trauma and escalation of violence in other forms against women victims.
Thus we make this press release. Hopefully, it can be part of a serious effort in realizing elections and the practice of Indonesian democracy that is honest, fair, and gender equal and free from all forms of violence against women and other human rights violations.
Sincerely,
Coalition of People Concerned about Women’s Representation (KMPKP)
1. Mike Verawati Tangka, Secretary General of Koalisi Perempuan Indonesia (KPI)
2. Listyowati, Kalyanamitra Foundation
3. Iwan Misthohizzaman, Executive Director of the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID)
4. Hadar Nafis Gumay, Executive Director of NETGRIT
5. Khoirunnisa Nur Agustyati, Executive Director of Perludem
6. Titi Anggraini, Deputy Coordinator of Maju Perempuan Indonesia (MPI), Lecturer of Election FHUI
7. Egi Primayogha, Political Corruption Division of Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW)
8. Wirdyaningsih, Lecturer at FHUI, Member of Bawaslu 2008-2012
9. Wahidah Suaib, Maju Perempuan Indonesia (MPI), Member of Bawaslu 2008-2012
10. Valentina Sagala, Chairperson of the Founding Board of Institut Perempuan
11. Intan Bedisa, Communication International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID)
