For many nations, diversity, especially of ethnicities, religions or beliefs, often leads to disastrous conflicts that tear them apart. However, Indonesians have always been able to nurture its unity and foster its diversity.
By
J. KRISTIADI
·4 minutes read
Indonesia is destined to be a diverse nation of around 1,300 ethnicities, more than 700 languages, around 200 beliefs, six religions and with the fourth-largest population in the world spread over 17,000 islands. For many nations, diversity, especially of ethnicities, religions or beliefs, often leads to disastrous conflicts that tear them apart. However, Indonesians have always been able to nurture its unity and foster its diversity.
It is these nurturing and fostering capabilities that have given Indonesia global admiration. In its post-independence modern political history, Indonesia has always been able to resolve its various conflicts, including ideological ones, through dignified ways. No wonder, then, that many have called Indonesia a phenomenon or a miracle (such as Indonesia’s Democratic Miracle, Kishore Mahbubani, 2008).
However, it needs to be acknowledged that, in times of crisis, Indonesians are often troubled by feelings of anxiety and restlessness. Since the 2014 election and ahead of the 2019 one, for instance, Indonesians are often deeply worried because the political contestations -- that should have been events for the people as the highest holders of state sovereignty to joyfully celebrate democracy – are often mired with hatred, lies and fear-mongering statements. This include statements likening the election to the Battle of Badr (often seen as a key battle between Muslims and their opponents in the early days of Islam), the Armageddon (the apocalyptic battle between good and evil, between God and the worldly king), the Bharatayudha (the civil war between cousins in the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata) and many other tales of vicious wars.
Among the most famous episodes of the Bharatayudha story is the death of Duryudana, King of Astina and epitome of evil, in the hands of Bima, who symbolizes righteousness. In his dying breath, instead of realizing his evil and wicked ways, Duryudana insults Bima by saying that Bima is a foolish man and it is the Pandawas (Bima’s forces) who truly lost, not the Kurawas (Duryudana’s forces). Duryudana said that, despite him and all the Kurawas dying, they have lived in extreme luxury and have been satiated by all the pleasures the world has to offer. On the other hand, the Pandawas, despite winning the war, have always lived modestly. Their victory will be meaningless as their wealth has been used up to pay for the war.
Bima is stunned by Duryudana’s words. However, the god Batara Kresna later tells Bima that what Duryudana says is true but only for himself. As a noble knight, righteousness is the most important thing for Bima, as righteousness benefits the greater good. This is why everyone must restrain themselves from making fiery statements ahead of the 2019 election that enflame the primitive instinct with promises of pleasures at the expense of political civility.
Now, let’s head back to the discussion of Indonesia as a “phenomenon”. Among the phenomena the international community admires about Indonesia is its flexibility as a Muslim-majority country in maintaining, nurturing and continuing the process to become a democracy. This is because Islam in Indonesia is different from Islam in the Middle East. Indonesia as a highly plural and complex society can remain existing and resolve its various crises due to unending support from its two largest Muslim mass organizations: the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and the Muhammadiyah. Since the early days of Indonesia’s independence, the two organizations have always safeguarded Indonesia’s status as a country of consensus in the form of a republic.
In 2017, NU supreme leader Ma’ruf Amin reaffirmed that Indonesia was a darul ahdi (consensus state), instead of a darul Islam (Islamic state), a darul kufri (heretical state) or a darul harbi (war state). Muhammadiyah chairman Haedar Nashir, in the organization’s 47th assembly in 2015, said that a Pancasila state was a form of darul ahdi wa syahadah (a state of consensus or agreements). All national elements must work together to establish a progressive, just and dignified country.
Therefore, all national figures, religious leaders, academicians and government officials are proposing and campaigning for the two peace-promoting Muslim organizations win the Nobel Peace Prize. It is the duty of all Indonesians, as initiated by NU and Muhammadiyah, to endlessly carve a dignified life together. With this spirit, the remaining time in the 2019 election campaign period must be used to ennoble one another, so that the terrifying nightmares of the reign of evil can be prevented, as Bima defeated Duryudana.
J. Kristiadi, Senior Researcher, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)