By: Agustina Rahma )*
The Constitutional Court (MK) emphasized the importance of maintaining integrity and transparency in the dispute resolution process. The public is also urged to always avoid hoaxes and provocations during the 2024 Election dispute hearing process.
With 314 dispute applications received, covering the elections of governors, district heads, and mayors, the Constitutional Court has taken strategic steps to ensure that the judicial process runs smoothly, fairly, and free from intervention.
One of the important steps taken by the Constitutional Court is to map potential conflicts of interest among judges. The Head of the Constitutional Court’s Public Relations and Protocol Bureau, Pan Mohamad Faiz, explained that judges will not handle disputes from their home regions. This is intended to avoid bias and conflicts of interest, ensuring that all processes are carried out with the principles of caution and fairness.
Faiz also revealed that the Constitutional Court will use a three-panel trial system to handle cases in parallel. Each panel consists of three judges with tasks that have been designed proportionally. This step not only allows for the resolution of cases within a 45-day time limit, but also strengthens the efficiency and transparency of the trial process.
In addition, Constitutional Justice Enny Nurbaningsih also emphasized the readiness of the Constitutional Court in handling this case. She stated that all preparations have been made, including the division of panel tasks based on experience in handling previous legislative and presidential election disputes.
With this panel system, the Constitutional Court not only prevents the backlog of cases, but also ensures that the trial process can be accessed openly by the public. This transparency is expected to build public trust in legal institutions.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, emphasized that the Constitutional Court’s decision is final and binding. He reminded all parties to respect the decision as part of respecting the principles of democracy.
Although the government does not have the authority to be directly involved in the legal process, Yusril ensured that the government would provide support by providing relevant information or statements if required by the Constitutional Court. He also added that the government would coordinate with related agencies to help ensure the trial runs smoothly.
Amidst the preparations, another challenge arises from the increasing potential for the spread of hoaxes and provocations, especially through social media. False or misleading information can trigger tensions in society and disrupt the ongoing legal process. Therefore, all parties are urged to be more careful in receiving and disseminating information. Relying on official sources such as the Constitutional Court and government institutions is an important step to prevent the spread of inaccurate information.
In addition, security forces have also taken preventive measures to ensure the situation remains conducive. Security has been designed not only at the trial location, but also in areas that have become the center of attention due to the dispute.
Each region involved in the dispute has been assigned a person in charge (PIC) to monitor and supervise the situation. This personnel is tasked with ensuring that the trial process runs safely, orderly, and on schedule.
The placement of these personnel is designed with a systematic approach. A total of 90 security officers have been appointed as PICs in various areas involved in the dispute, from Aceh to Papua. These PICs will play an important role in monitoring the local situation and coordinating with local security forces.
In addition, the Constitutional Court has also strengthened its internal security by increasing the number of security personnel in the Constitutional Court Building to 75 people in January 2025. This effort is complemented by modernizing security equipment and increasing access control to the building to ensure that the trial process runs smoothly without disruption.
The Constitutional Court’s commitment to maintaining neutrality and transparency is proof that the resolution of this dispute is not only about resolving legal conflicts, but also an effort to maintain political stability at the regional and national levels. With a system designed in such a way, the Constitutional Court shows that law remains the main basis for resolving disputes. This is also a positive signal to the public that democracy in Indonesia is increasingly mature and oriented towards justice.
The government, on the other hand, plays a supporting role that is no less important. Coordination with the Constitutional Court and security forces shows seriousness in creating a conducive atmosphere during this process. In a dynamic situation like this, the government’s commitment to the principle of fair and transparent law is proof of its commitment to maintaining public trust in the democratic system.
The public is also expected to play an active role in supporting this process by remaining calm and not being influenced by unverified information. In the digital era like today, caution in disseminating information is very important to prevent unnecessary escalation of tensions. When the public is able to be critical of the information received, the risk of spreading hoaxes and provocations can be minimized, so that the situation remains conducive.
With cooperation between the Constitutional Court, the government, security forces, and the community, the 2024 Pilkada dispute hearing is expected to run smoothly, fairly, and transparently. This process is not only an arena for conflict resolution, but also proof that democracy in Indonesia is able to face challenges peacefully and fairly. The political stability maintained during this process is also an important capital for development in various sectors, both at the regional and national levels.
)* The author is a contributor to the Jendela Baca Institute