Disband any campaign disrupt health protocol: Police Chief

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - South Kalimantan Police Chief Insp. Gen. Nico Afinta orders officers to act decisively againt any violation of health protocol at every stage of the 2020 simultaneous regional election (pilkada).

"Disband campaign activities violate the health protocol. We must be strict for the safety of the people, who is the highest law," he said in Banjarmasin, Friday.

In contrast to what is common, in the 2020 simultaneous regional election which is held in the midst of the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, the General Election Commission (KPU) completely banned candidates from holding rallies or other crowd-pulling events.

They included art performance, harvest festivals, concert, and also sport activities such as fun-walk, fun bike, competition, or social activities such as bazaar and blood donors.

"If the warning is not heeded, officers have the right to stop and disperse at the place where the violation occurs. The violators will be legally processed," he said.

He explained that the legal basis were the President Instruction No. 6/2020 on the discipline and law enforcement of healt protocol, the Health Quaratine Law, the Infectious Disease Outbreak Law, and also the Article 212 and Article 218 of the Criminal Code (KUHP), regarding resistance to officers who carry out their duty.

Afinta suggested the poll candidates take the advantage of virtual means, such as social media, video conference, Zoom app to deliver programs to voters.

"I appreciate the draw for candidates number yesterday ran orderly and all comply with the health protocol. We insulated the supporting masses so they did not crowd at one point," he said.

The campaign period of the 2020 regional election lasts 71 days starting September 26 to December 5 before the voting day on December 9.