JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – Security has been upgraded for Thursday’s (September 25) plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR) in response to possible largest number of protesters in front of the parliament building related to the deliberation of the controversial Regional Election Bill (RUU Pilkada) into law.
Spokesperson of the Jakarta Police Office Sr. Comr. Rikwanto told Detik.com on Wednesday (September 24) that the Police has prepared about 1,200 police officers to be deployed to the areas surrounding the parliament building in Senayan, Central Jakarta.
Rikwanto estimates that thousands of protesters will participate in the Thursday’s rally.
As reported earlier, the DPR is expected to pass the Regional Election Bill into law tomorrow.
Nine factions of political parties at the DPR are divided into two axis powers. The Red-and-White coalition associated to losing president candidate Prabowo Subianto insisted to erase the direct election of regional leaders and supported controversial proposal to reinstate the election of regional leaders by the Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) at regency/municipality and provincial level. The coalition controls majority of seats at the DPR.
Three other factions associated to President-elect Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, meanwhile, supported to maintaining the direct election of regional leaders. They are PDI-P, PKB, and Hanura. These three factions, however, have still a chance to win the voting should Democratic Party obey the order of its chairman, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to opt for direct election. (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)