Wiranto: There is Mastermind Behind 22 May Riot

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto accompanied by TNI Commander Hadi Tjahjanto, Polri Chief General Tito Karnavian, and Mahfud MD at a press conference, Jakarta, Tuesday (28/5). (Photo by: Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs PR).

There is a mastermind behind the recent post-election rally on 22 May that ended in chaos, according to Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto.

The Minister made the statement during a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday (28/5) and asserted that there is mass mobilization to stage a rally in front of the office of the Elections Supervisory Board (Bawaslu).

Long before the election result declaration by the General Elections Commission (KPU), Amien Rais—a staunch supporter of presidential candidate Prabowo-Sandiaga Uno—had issued a statement to conduct a so-called ‘people power’ if there are frauds in the elections. However, the attempts were foiled as the regional leader’s appeals proved effective to prevent mass mobilization, the Minister said.

According to Wiranto, the rally’s main goals are to reject the presidential election’s result, delegitimize the election organizer and the Government, as well as disqualify presidential candidate pair number one so the candidate pair number two can be declared as winner of the election.

Wiranto went on to say that the peaceful rally turned chaotic after the mob attacked officers with various instruments such as stones, sharpened bamboo, firecrackers and Molotov cocktails.

“There is a strong allegation that an anarchic rally was deliberately staged to lure officials to act repressively which resulted in mob’s casualties,” the Minister said, adding that the casualties could be used as a basis for opinion to corner and accuse security apparatus of being arbitrary.

Regarding the victims, Wiranto continued, there was a strong allegation of intention to create martyrs to ignite the mob’s anger so that they will occupy the KPU, the Bawaslu and the DPR (the House of Representatives) buildings as well as the Presidential Palace.

Furthermore, the Minister also said that initial findings including gunshot residue, shells, and bullet trajectory revealed that they do not belong to the Indonesian National Police (Polri) weapons. Therefore, the police are now forming a TPF (Fact Finding Team) to find out the truth. (Humas Kemenko Polhukam/ES)

Translated by: Galuh Wicaksono
Edited by: Muhardi/Muhammad Ersan Pamungkas