VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian reminded regional head candidates not to hold campaigns or rallies that bring together more than 50 people during the 2020 regional heads' elections. The restriction is aimed at preventing difficulties to implement health protocols in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Tito said that if organizers cannot obey the rule or control their supporters, the Elections Supervising Agency or Bawaslu will give one or two warnings, and disqualify them if it happens again for the third time.

Tito made the statement on July 20 during a briefing in the coordination meeting to prepare for the 2020 elections in Central Kalimantan. The local Covid-19 Task Force was also present.

Tito also asked for the regulation of the election to include mandatory compliance of health protocols for regional heads candidates and their supporters, such as the use of masks, face shields, protective gear, and others. He also hopes candidates will distribute campaign items in the form of masks and hand sanitizers.

"If one candidate can give out 100,000 masks, this means we can get 54 million masks for the public. They can also give out sanitizers," Tito Karnavian said. 

He advised the public to vote for leaders who are capable of mitigating Covid-19 in their respective regions, as well as have a good strategy to revive the local economy that has been weakened by the pandemic and lockdown. (tempo.co)