Intolerance Ahead of the 2019 Presidential Election

Kompas/Agus Susanto

The spread of hate speech and fake news on social media has been a hot topic of discussion in Indonesia, with many people resisting content that gives rise to intolerance.

Compared to the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, the number of intolerance cases indeed decreased considerably during the simultaneous regional elections in 171 provinces on June 27. However, what occurred in North Sumatra and West Java remains a danger. Calls not to choose blasphemous figures or candidates of a different faith hit the Djarot Saiful Hidayat-Sihar Sitorus pair.

Many parties said this was the issue that led to the pair’s fall. In West Java, governor-elect Ridwan Kamil claimed to the media that he was the victim of a negative campaign. On social media, information spread that Ridwan had issued 300 permits for the construction of non-Muslim houses of worship. According to Ridwan, only 10 houses of worship received permits during his term as Bandung mayor: five mosques, three churches and two temples. In addition, he was accused of supporting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.

These issues of intolerance are likely to continue, even increase, ahead of the 2019 presidential election, especially against Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who has already experienced this during the 2014 presidential election. The negative issue of intolerance hit the former Jakarta Governor more than Prabowo Subianto. But it is not impossible for other candidates besides Jokowi and Prabowo to also become victims of intolerance. Nevertheless, the issues of religion and hate are the easiest and cheapest way to dent the electability of any candidate.

The rising trend of intolerance is clearly dangerous. Not only does it promote hatred, but intolerance also increases the risk of violence against certain groups, especially minority and vulnerable groups. In reference to the Wahid Foundation’s two national surveys in 2016 and 2017, the following are the issues that are likely to emerge: communists, LGBT people, Jews, Christians, Shia Muslims and Chinese. These are the groups most hated by the majority of Muslim respondents.

Overcoming intolerance

In the short term, the government still has much work to do in overcoming intolerance, especially those involving hate speech on social media. Efforts to provide channels to facilitate public reports and monitoring, including law enforcement, must continue to be maximized. Law enforcement measures against the perpetrators have proven a deterrent. It sends a powerful message to the wider public that every offender will face the law!

However, the challenge that accompanies these efforts lies in the commitment to uphold the principle of impartiality and maintain distance from politicizing the law. In a number of cases, the victims of hate speech have been none other than Jokowi, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, and pro-government parties. As the bearers of power, they have an obvious opportunity to act unfairly. Meanwhile, from the other direction, their political opponents can also politicize the government\'s measures to overcome intolerance, calling them a tyranny against certain groups.

Law enforcement officials’ understanding on the priority for intolerance cases is also very important. Any missteps they take could even threaten freedom of thought and expression, for example in managing cases of hate speech, which is one form of intolerance. According to the typological division of hate speech under Article 19 cited by NGOs fighting for freedom of expression in the UK, the government must prioritize only those cases that fall under the "prohibited" category.

According to the typology in Article 19, these cases include the initial instigation to act, in whole or in part, to kill members of the targeted groups. Second, they cause physical or psychological injury to members of the group. Third, they intentionally force the groups to live in conditions that cause physical harm, in whole or in part. Fourth, they apply measures intended to prevent procreation within the groups. Fifth, they forcibly remove children from the targeted groups to other groups. Included in this typology are all forms of instigation that encourages discrimination, hostility and violence.

In contrast, the government should not penalize perpetrators in hate speech cases that may harm or offend a particular individual or group, but have not yet reached the level of danger, for example hate speech cases perpetrated by minors. This case can simply be resolved through assisted parenting. The essential message for the cases that fall within this typology is to resolve them without punishment, but through assisted rehabilitation or productive dialogue.

Elements of hate speech

Another no less complicated challenge in overcoming intolerance is how to understand and identify the elements of hate speech. Is it not the case that not every form of hatred can be called hate speech? Still, according to Article 19, hate speech is distinguished by at least four characteristics: intention, instigation, hostility and violence. The last characteristic is the use of physical strength or force against a person, groups or communities that may cause, or have a high probability of causing, injury, death or psychological harm.

The author has of late gotten the impression that the vulgar forms of hate speech have been changing and are becoming more deceptive so they cannot always be punished. This might be the impact of widespread government efforts and public responses to hate campaigns. The allegation that Jokowi hailed from the now defunct Communist Party (PKI) and was of ethnic Chinese descent, for example, is a vulgar form of hate speech. Meanwhile, the issue of Chinese laborers is a more subtle issue.

Other strategic points that need attention are monitoring and supervision during the 2019 presidential campaigns. Aside from the Elections Supervisory Board (Bawaslu), the participation of civil society organizations, including the media, in monitoring cases of intolerance would contribute greatly to public awareness. Meanwhile, those cases categorized as election violations can be processed under the existing regulations.

In collecting data and publishing the monitoring results, the Indonesian people and the foreign public will learn that such actions are a stain on the nation’s cultural journey. Meanwhile, for the younger generation, disclosing these facts are expected to serve as a preventive measure so that they do not follow suit in the future.

Indeed, a single solution does not exist for solving complex issues like the threat of intolerance. Therefore, comprehensive steps are needed in the future. According to the United Nations Declaration of International Tolerance Day on November 16, at least five of the following measures must be undertaken to combat intolerance: law, education, information access, individual awareness and local solutions.

This is our long-term job as a nation that will not be finished even after next year\'s presidential election has concluded successfully.

Alamsyah M Dja’far, Researcher, Wahid Foundation Jakarta