Election Fraud Allegations Uncovered in Popular 'Dirty Vote' Documentary Spreading Rapidly in Indonesia
In the lead-up to Indonesia's presidential and legislative elections on February 14, a controversial documentary titled "Dirty Vote" was released, making waves across the nation. Directed by Dandhy Laksono, a journalist, filmmaker, and activist, the documentary alleges systemic, structured, and massive election fraud in Indonesia's democracy.
The documentary, which was initially uploaded on the PSHK YouTube channel, made a significant impact, garnering over 13 million views within a couple of days. However, during the week of the election, the video was set to private, causing concerns about digital censorship. Undeterred, netizens organized interactive public screenings through their personal YouTube accounts, allowing viewers to watch the film despite the restrictions.
"Dirty Vote" implicates several high-profile figures in alleged rights abuses, including Joko Widodo, the current president of Indonesia. The allegations in the documentary include manipulations of electoral mechanisms, strategic distribution of social assistance programs, and coercion of village and community leaders. Subianto, a former son-in-law of Indonesia's longest-ruling leader, President Suharto, and a candidate in the elections, was also barred from entering the United States for alleged rights abuses.
The complaint against the contributors of "Dirty Vote" came from the Indonesian Santri Communication Forum (Foksi), which is seemingly linked to PSI, the political party led by the youngest son of President Widodo. Dandhy Laksono, Zainal Arifin Mochtar, Feri Amsari, and Bivitri Susanti, contributors to the film, have been reported to the police for slander.
The Indonesian government's regulatory framework, notably the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE), empowers authorities to control and sometimes restrict digital content. The documentary was re-uploaded by the Indonesian Center for Law and Policy Studies (PSHK) after encountering issues on its dedicated YouTube channel. The organization that re-released the documentary film "Dirty Vote" after its privatized release during the elections aimed to ensure it remained accessible.
Unofficial results and exit surveys suggest that Prabowo and Gibran are leading by a large margin in the elections. Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of Joko Widodo, is the running mate of Prabowo Subianto in the elections. Subianto's campaign team has rejected the allegations made in the documentary.
More than 200 million Indonesians were eligible to vote on February 14. The planned public screening of "Dirty Vote" in Jakarta was canceled due to a violation of campaign recess rule. As the nation awaits the official results, the impact of "Dirty Vote" on the elections remains a topic of debate and discussion.
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