REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Some lawyers who have formed the Advocates Coalition for Democracy have submitted a plea to be the related party during the trial of the disputed presidential election result at the Constitutional Court (MK).
"We have a constitutional right to submit a plea as the related party to participate in the trial of the disputed presidential election result, as we want to save and monitor the process," the coalition's spokesperson, Todung Mulya Lubis, stated at the Constitutional Court in Jakarta, on Thursday.
Todung remarked that the coalition did not represent any presidential candidate, and the submission was purely to exercise their right as citizens. According to the Constitutional Court's regulation, the related parties in the dispute trial were not solely the presidential and vice presidential candidates.
"We do not represent any presidential or vice presidential candidate, but we believe that our constitutional right must be secured, and it is a non-negotiable thing, which cannot be taken away by anybody," Todung explained.
The coalition comprises prominent advocates in Indonesia: Nadia Nasoetion, Timur Sukirno, Teguh Maramis, Mohamad Kadri, La Ode Ronald Firman, Tony Wenas, Genio Atyanto, Rambun Tjajo, Hilman Sembiring, Brian Manuel, Kenny Macallo, Nadia Hastaria, Hanny Marpaung, Yeni Fatmawati, Ibrahim Assegaf, Abadi Tisnadisastra, and Andi Yusuf Kadir.
"We are very concerned about the ongoing trial of the disputed election result since as voters, we are afraid that our constitutional rights that we used to cast the presidential vote can be eliminated," stated Todung.
The coalition also stood behind the General Elections Commission, which they believe has conducted the elections professionally and constitutionally.
"They are fair and professional, without manipulation and impartiality. They may be one or two problems, but they do not violate the legitimacy of the already underway elections," Todung noted.
The coalition was also concerned that there were more than eight million votes, which were potentially considered invalid and fraudulent, which they considered was not possible.
"For us, it is impossible that eight million votes are considered fraudulent. How are they going to prove such a large number as a fraud? We fail to see what they have called a structured, systematic, and massive fraud," he emphasized.
Moreover, Todung added that the least number of complaints related to violations were received during the 2014 presidential election, and as advocates, the coalition was proud of the General Elections Commission's performance.
"We do not want the presidential election result to be inviolable, to be delegitimized, and thus, we want to participate in this process," he stressed.
Todung ensured that the advocates' coalition possessed data, evidences, and experts to present in the court. "By the time the Constitutional Court approves the coalition as the related party, we will be ready with all of them," he added.
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