When the Flowers Disappeared from the Courtyard of the MK Building...

Instead of visiting the Constitutional Court, volunteers and supporters of Prabowo-Gibran sent flower bouquets. Where do MK keep the flowers?

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

A number of flower bouquets supporting Prabowo-Gibran were given to the Constitutional Court, Jakarta, Friday (19/4/2024).

Information about the arrival of volunteers and supporters of candidate pair number 2, Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka to submit Amicus Curiae or Friends of the Court on Friday (19/4 /2024) yesterday, had actually been spread among journalists at the Constitutional Court since the previous Thursday afternoon.

However, it seems that due to Prabowo Subianto's call, the presidential candidate who received the most votes according to the General Election Commission's (KPU) calculation, through a viral video, the supporters of Prabowo-Gibran have abandoned their intention to storm the Constitutional Court. The court friends' documents that would have been submitted by Prabowo-Gibran's volunteers and supporters were also not created or delivered.

Instead, Prabowo-Gibran supporters only sent bouquets of flowers to the Constitutional Court judges who were in the middle of holding a judge's deliberation meeting (RPH) before deciding on the 2024 presidential election (Pilpres) dispute trial. also sent several representatives called the Red and White Legal Team.

Also read: "Amicus Curiae" Manifests Public Attention Paying Attention to 2024 Presidential Election Cases

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

A flower courier places a flower arrangement in front of the Constitutional Court, Jakarta, ahead of the series of hearings on the Election Dispute Settlement (PHPU) case, on Tuesday (3/26/2024).

The previous presidential election dispute was requested by the legal team of the first presidential and vice presidential candidates Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar and the legal team of the third presidential and vice presidential candidates Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD. Both legal teams consider the voting process on February 14, 2024 to have been fraudulent.

In addition to rejecting the election results, they also asked the judge to disqualify candidate number 2. In this dispute, the legal team of Prabowo-Gibran also applied as the respondent and rejected all arguments presented by the legal team of candidate number 1 and 3.

Also read: Prabowo-Gibran Supporters Send Flower Bouquets to MK

Bouquets of flowers arrived

Since Thursday night until Friday morning before 7:00 AM, according to security personnel at the Constitutional Court, flower arrangements from supporters of Prabowo-Gibran have been arriving. Due to the absence of a decision from the Constitutional Court, the flower arrangements were accepted and temporarily placed. They were placed in narrow alleys near the motorcycle parking lot of the Constitutional Court building, as well as in the back courtyard facing Abdul Moeis Street or the west side of the Constitutional Court building.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

A number of flower bouquets supporting Prabowo-Gibran were given to the Constitutional Court, Jakarta, Friday (19/4/2024).

By Kompas's count, as of before 12.00 WIB, at least 16 flower bouquets had been sent by Prabowo-Gibran supporters and were in the MK building area. However, in the front yard of the MK main building, which faces Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, there was not a single flower bouquet placed there by MK officers.

Also read: The wave of "Amicus Curiae" is still flowing even though the deadline has ended

Until noon, before Friday prayers, Kompas still saw MK security officers receiving deliveries of flowers-flowers from Prabowo-Gibran supporters. Security officers were seen directing officers delivering flower bouquets to the MK towards the back door of the MK building on Jalan Abdul Moeis. At that time, the flower bouquet was seen still on the motorbike on the sidewalk and ready to be unloaded by the delivery person.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO (KUM)

Constitutional Court Building on Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Jakarta, Saturday (29/8/2020).

However, once Friday prayers were over, around 12:45, the flower arrangements with various messages and writings supporting the presidential and vice-presidential candidate pair of Prabowo-Gibran were no longer visible at the Constitutional Court (MK). The flower arrangements disappeared from the MK building.

One of the security officials of the Constitutional Court revealed that the flower boards have been taken back by their respective senders. The official did not know where they were taken to. The Court's official only said that the senders were only allowed to put the flower arrangements from Prabowo-Gibran supporters on the sidewalk.

Also read: Statesmanship of Constitutional Court Judges

After the flowers were photographed as evidence and sent, the delivery person had to bring them back. This is because the Constitutional Court (MK) is not willing to display the 16 flower boards with various messages on them.

According to an officer from the Constitutional Court, the 16 flower boards sent by Prabowo-Gibran supporters had already been received on Friday morning. When they arrived, there was no policy yet to not accept flower arrangements, so the officers temporarily received them and placed them in narrow corridors near the motorcycle parking areas up to the back of the Constitutional Court building.

Reading the message and sender above the flower board sent by volunteers and supporters of Prabowo-Gibran, it appears to be an expression of support or concern to be conveyed to the Constitutional Court judges who are currently working tirelessly to decide the presidential election dispute until Sunday tomorrow or before announcing their decision on Monday (22/4/2024).

Also read: The final results of the presidential election will soon be decided by eight MK judges

It's no wonder that the contents of the messages and senders are unique. In fact, some of the sentences are amusing. For example, there are several examples of flower arrangements sent by associations or groups, such as "Dear Constitutional Court judges, we choose Prabowo-Gibran from the heart. Don't slander us," sent by Bakul Ronde Solo Raya. Another one reads, "Tired of voting sincerely and then accused of receiving social aid," from the Creative Young Generation.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

A photojournalist photographed a wreath of flowers supporting Prabowo-Gibran given to the Constitutional Court, Jakarta, Friday (19/4/2024).

Then there is another message like this: "I am being slandered because of social aid by those who refuse to accept defeat" from Muda Progresif. Then, "Young people need Prabowo-Gibran for a Golden Indonesia" from Club Ontel Kebo Tawangmangu. There are also those who message related to football clubs in Europe; "Manchester United Never Accuses Manchester City of Winning Because of Social Aid, Even Though They Are Red and Sky Blue" from Citizens Gemblong.

Also read: Prabowo asks his supporters not to hold demonstrations in front of the MK building

In addition, there are also specific messages related to allegations of fraud and the distribution of social assistance (bansos) by the President, which were cited by the legal team of candidates 1 and 3 quite massively leading up to the vote on February 14. For example, "How can you accuse Gen Z of choosing Prabowo Gibran because of bansos? We don't accept bansos" from Digital Creator Indonesia.

In other words, there is the phrase "Funny how the loser wants a rematch" from Bismania Kebumen. There are also those who mention the name of the vice presidential candidate number 3; "As Prof Mahfud said: The Loser will definitely scream foul" from Pemuda Joglosemar. And, there are still many other unique and even funny ones when read.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

The Constitutional Court officials bring the Amicus Curiae documents submitted by representatives of law faculty students from Gadjah Mada University, Diponegoro University, and Padjadjaran University who were present at the Constitutional Court in Jakarta, to be handed over to the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court on Tuesday (16/4/2024).

Please ignore "Amicus Curiae"

Chairman of the Red and White Legal Team, Suhadi, who came to the Constitutional Court with several volunteers and supporters of Prabowo-Gibran, said that he came to the Constitutional Court to request an audience with the judges. He wanted to ask the court to ignore the Amicus Curiae submitted by various community groups.

Because, Amicus Curiae is not relevant to be applied in Indonesia which adheres to a civil law system or a legal system that prioritizes laws.

"Indonesia, right, adheres to civil law, using laws, not using the opinions of society that are developing. "Because, if we look at this amicus curiae, it's like people don't like the judiciary in Indonesia.Amicus curiae will only confuse the public," said Suhadi again.

KOMPAS/DIAN DEWI PURNAMASARI

Spokesperson for the Constitutional Court, Fajar Laksono Suroso, when giving a statement to journalists, Thursday (21/3/2023).

MK spokesperson Fajar Laksono Suroso, when asked for his response regarding the floral arrangements and the arrival of volunteers from Prabowo-Gibran, stated that they appreciate the presence and floral arrangements sent to MK. The floral arrangements are deemed as a form of appreciation towards MK.

"But, in order to maintain the independence of constitutional judges and impartiality both inside and outside the courtroom, we do not display it, but we keep it. However, we still position it as an appreciation," he said. Fajar's statement is slightly different from the security officer's account at the Constitutional Court, who said that the flower arrangement was returned by its delivery person after being photographed.

"To maintain the independence of constitutional judges and a neutral atmosphere both in and outside the court session, we will not display it publicly, but keep it in storage. Nonetheless, we still position it as an appreciation."

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

A number of flower bouquets supporting Prabowo-Gibran were given to the Constitutional Court, Jakarta, Friday (19/4/2024).

Regarding the content of the message contained in the flower bouquet that encouraged the Constitutional Court judges to reject the presidential election dispute request, Fajar added that the message with a tone like that was what made the Constitutional Court not display the flower signs. Because, the Constitutional Court does not side with any one party. "We accept it, but we place it so that people don't see it too much," he explained.

Also read: Waiting for Constitutional Court Judges to Become "Funnels" of Justice

So far, the Constitutional Court has received 47 amicus curiae from various elements of society. However, only 14 amicus curiae will be considered by judges in deciding presidential election dispute cases. The Amicus curiae under consideration are those sent before April 16 at 16.00.

"Amicus curiae may be considered, it may be in part, in whole, or it may not be considered, depending on each constitutional judge. Who positions the amicus curiae like that. That's right the beliefs of each judge," said Fajar again.