An important message was conveyed by Vice President Jusuf Kalla. Differences are not a divisive factor, but the glue that unites the nation. Kalla delivered it on the weekend.
During Hindu Day of Silence celebrations on April 6, 2019, in Denpasar, Bali, Vice President Kalla conveyed a message of how important and strategic national unity was. Consisting of around 17,000 islands, diverse tribes and cultures and various religions, the nation is united by the passion to become Indonesia under the auspices of the Pancasila state ideology. Indonesia has always been a pluralistic nation. Pluralism in Indonesia is a necessity.
In Indonesia’s plural sociological reality, what is needed are bridges so that we can communicate with each other and have dialogue. Political elites must consistently build bridges, not walls that dwarf us all.
The Vice President’s message is highly relevant amid widening polarization among the people ahead of the last round of campaigns as part of the simultaneous elections slated for April 17, 2019. The reality is that the digital world shows people in a divided position. The increasingly sharp divisions get worse with the “digital logic” that creates cocoons of information. In such a situation, data updates are switched off. Common sense has been put to sleep. Truth is determined simply by belief.
Although the progress of the national situation is worrying with provocative statements from the elite and the spread of hoaxes on social media, we are still grateful that ahead of the last round of the campaign the situation is under control. The political elite can still maintain its honor even though some statements from the political elite are questionable.
We encourage the political situation to be maintained until the end of the campaign period of April 13, the quiet period of April 14-16 and voting day on April 17, 2019 – and even through the announcement of the results of the 2019 elections.
Various surveys that have been released are only predictions, but what is decisive is the “census of voters” on April 17, 2019. The crowdedness of the masses during campaign can indeed become a source of energy. However, the final say is still in the hands of the 192 million voters.
We hope that all parties remain mature and loyal to democracy and Pancasila. Democracy must be believed as the only rule of play to reach power. Antidemocratic thoughts must be kept away because they will conflict with the will of the people.
Elections are instruments for the people to choose their own leaders and people’s representatives. Leaders who the people believe in can point Indonesia in a better direction, as can leaders who can inspire citizens, provide hope and protect the 260 million plural Indonesian citizens within the framework of the Republic of Indonesia and the Pancasila ideology.