Indonesians Protest Ex-General’s Win In Fraud-Ridden Presidential Election

Protesters marched in Indonesia’s capital demanding that the election authority prevent Prabowo Subianto from assuming office as the next president, citing widespread electoral fraud, as reported by Andi Jatmiko and Niniek Karmini for the Associated Press (AP).

Dozens of demonstrators held banners and signs criticizing President Joko Widodo for supporting Subianto. I Photo: Prabowo Subianto Facebook

Subianto, a former general linked to past human rights abuses, declared victory in the presidential election on Wednesday after unofficial tallies showed him securing over 58% of the vote in a three-way race.

However, Subianto's victory is not yet official as the official results may take up to a month to be tabulated.

Both of his rivals, former governors Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo, have refused to concede and have alleged massive fraud in the election. Authorities have blocked streets leading to the heavily guarded General Election Commission building, which has been barricaded with razor wire.

Dozens of demonstrators held banners and signs criticizing President Joko Widodo for supporting Subianto, who selected Widodo’s son as his running mate.

“We demand justice, we demand a fair vote count,” said Siti Aisyah, one of the protesters. “Don’t let cheating win; they will ruin democracy in our country again.” The campaign teams of both Baswedan and Pranowo have stated that they will provide evidence to support their claims of cheating.

Hamdan Zoelva, a former Chief Judge of the Constitutional Court who is part of Baswedan’s team, stated, “There are strong indications that violations occurred in a structured, systematic, and massive way in the presidential election.”

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