By: Irdhan Yusa )*
Professor Daniel Lev, an Indonesianist from the United States, once said, in terms of socio-cultural aspects Indonesia is one of the countries with the most complex society in the world. In the context of recent developments, related to the presidential and legislative elections, the frenzy and horizontal conflicts that have spread in the community and culminating in disputes over election results is evidence of how undeniable complexity is. After the voting on April 17, 2019, the actual conflict at the grassroots level was over, but the atmosphere was hot again due to the provocation of the political elite.
The conflict between political elites turned out to be far more lasting than the mass opposition at the lower levels. The reconciliation process at the structural level seems more difficult than the grassroots level. The general public is only used by the political elite to fulfill their political lust. Thus the political struggle that occurs is actually more a fight of the political elite by carrying out the masses, banging them on one another for the sake of their group. Though most people basically crave harmony and social harmony.
In rural areas, before the fasting month, the people have been reconciled. Traditional ceremonies such as clean village, padusan, nyadran and kenduri in preparation for welcoming the holy month of Ramadan take place smoothly, safely and peacefully. Social barriers due to political choices in elections are barely left over. But togetherness like in the countryside does not happen to politicians at the national level.
It is clear that the lower society who shouted the loudest and stood in the front row, in the political commotion yesterday, became the most disadvantaged party. Whereas the beneficiaries are provocateurs, aka those who move the masses massively and systematically. Therefore, it is appropriate if we call on the elite to stop being provocateurs of the nation’s division. Let’s jointly maintain and re-establish the relationship between us, without debating the differences in political choice.
*( The author is a Social Media Activist