Bring People Together, Don’t Split Them Apart

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Various posters containing invitations to realize a peaceful election created by students of visual communication design of the School of Art and Design at the Indonesian Art Institute of Surakarta are on display in Nayu Hamlet, Kadipiro, Bajarsari, Surakarta, Central Java, on Tuesday (9/4/2019).

The law of nature shows that mercury molecules of a kind will combine in cohesion. On the other hand, paper and ink with different molecules may be brought together in adhesion.

Such laws of nature show that bringing things together, both things that are and not alike, is inevitable.

The greatness of these laws of nature can be a point of contemplation for everyone in Indonesia, which conducted simultaneous presidential and legislative elections on April 17, 2019.

Political dynamics that developed during the election, especially the presidential one, have divided the nation due to political differences. Exploitation of identity politics set people apart even further. Observing social media interactions, a celebration of democracy transformed into a warzone. The celebration turned into a medium for harsh insults.

KOMPAS/ SYAHNAN RANGKUTI

Ahmad Yani, a resident of Tangkerang Timur subdistrict, Bukit Raya district, Pekanbaru, Riau, wears a Spider-man costume, while his friend Rizky wears a Gatotkaca costume during the 2019 election at polling station (TPS) 01, RT 02/RW 01, in Pematang Kapau, Tangkerang Timur subdistrict. Their appearance attracted the attention of other voters. According to Ahmad Yani, they deliberately wore unique costumes in hopes of encouraging citizens to vote.

Now, the election is over. Candidates and their campaign teams have launched numerous efforts to gain votes; voters have given their votes’ credible survey agencies have announced the results of their quick counts; and the nation awaits the General Elections Commission’s (KPU) official count. The next important thing to do is to bring the people back together.

Pancasila as the national foundational philosophy includes Unified Indonesia as its third principle, ahead of the fourth principle of Democracy. The spirit of unity is the foundation of our democracy. With a spirit of unity, we hold elections and, hopefully, we can strengthen and not weaken our unity after said elections.

In order to foster social cohesion, social interactions are necessary. Social meetings take place and a sense of mutual need makes way for mutual assistance. Here, the role of leaders becomes important.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

A banner encouraging people to maintain unity and to not be easily provoked by unclear issues is installed in Kemanggisan, West Jakarta, Friday (03/05/2019). Similar banners are scattered at a number of points to maintain peace after the recent simultaneous elections.

Founding fathers Sukarno and Hatta showed such exemplary behavior. Both freed the nation from the shackles of colonialism, even through imprisonment and exile. However, the relationship between the two was strained when they had political differences. However, the different political views among them did not affect their personal relationship. When Sukarno was ill, Hatta visited him as a close friend. A similar relationship was also found between Sukarno and Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah or Buya Hamka. Despite their political differences, they personally respected each other.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Murals and graffiti with the theme of unity, diversity and encouraging the respect of differences adorn the city walls, such as in Slipi, Jakarta, Friday (03/05/2019). Besides functioning as a city decoration, murals and graffiti like this are a means of expression while conveying nationality messages.

Therefore, we should give a thumbs-up and congratulate the various figures, including politicians, bureaucrats, intellectuals, religious leaders, cultural observers and other figures of civil society who have made efforts to bring people together instead of splitting them apart.