By: Vina Gunawan )*
The 2024 elections are just around the corner. The public will determine their choice in the democratic party. As good Indonesian citizens, it is time to prioritize tolerance between fellow religious communities and realize that differences are not something that can cause conflict or division. Make the 2024 Election a stage of tolerance where people maintain peace with each other even in the midst of differences.
Indonesia is a country rich in cultural, racial, ethnic, belief and religious diversity. This diversity should be maintained so that it does not become extinct because it is consumed by foreign cultures. These differences also make Indonesia a unique country and a lamp that lights the path to peace, society must be able to maintain these differences wisely.
Tolerance is the main key to keeping the nation’s diversity intact. This means that society can respect all existing differences, including in the atmosphere of the 2024 elections. By prioritizing tolerance, it is certain that the elections can run safely and peacefully. Differences in choices are not a big problem because with tolerance people can debate, choose, and then accept the results gracefully without damaging relations between fellow citizens.
President Joko Widodo or Jokowi asked that a conducive situation in the nation need to be maintained together so that it remains cool and peaceful as well as being tolerant and respectful of each other. Entering the political year, Jokowi also emphasized that unity and unity must be maintained very seriously. President Jokowi said that his party invited all religious communities to exercise tolerance with full awareness, uphold the nation and state, and safeguard the Republic of Indonesia, Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika in welcoming the upcoming 2024 elections.
Because according to him, as a democratic party, people should be happy with the election. Apart from that, President Jokowi added that society must also be free from fear regarding conflict and division which has the potential to increase during the 2024 elections.
President Jokowi admitted that the development of social media in the country contains a lot of hate speech, slander and mutual criticism. This seriously tarnishes political ethics and is not considered good political etiquette. This is the challenge and responsibility of all parties to be able to protect the 2024 Election from intolerance. President Jokowi hopes that there will be no more hate speech, fake news or slander during the election, especially on social media platforms.
Furthermore, President Jokowi said that differences are a normal thing in democratic life. Therefore, he appealed to ensure that existing differences do not cause people to fight and tear each other down for a long time because the Indonesian people are compatriots and compatriots who must uphold tolerance for diversity and differences.
In line with President Jokowi, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PKM), Muhadjir Effendy said that every Indonesian citizen from all ethnicities, religions and races is obliged to maintain the unity and integrity of the Republic of Indonesia. Even though there are many differences between fellow citizens, it is mandatory for society to create harmonious unity by respecting existing differences.
Maintaining public tolerance in order to avoid division is something that is important to do, especially as society will soon be faced with the 2024 General Election. The National Police of the Republic of Indonesia invites all elements of society to be able to maintain one another’s attitudes despite differences in political choices in order to create a safe and orderly 2024 General Election situation. , and peaceful.
The Chief of the Indonesian Police (Kapolri), General Pol Listyo Sigit Prabowo, said that all parties, including political parties, religious leaders, community leaders and Indonesian citizens in general, must have a fighting spirit to maintain unity and integrity. Existing differences should not be used as enemies but should be used as diversity in democratic life.
He also emphasized that the police will tighten supervision and security in maintaining neutrality, because this is important for holding elections safely and orderly and producing a quality democratic party. The National Police Chief also asked the public to continue to maintain tolerance in the 2024 elections to be a good start and example for future elections. Apart from that, his party will continue to educate the public not to be easily provoked, increase the values of tolerance, and respect differences in order to create more conducive election security and order.
The 2024 election is an important stage for Indonesian democracy. At that time, Indonesia showed the world that its nation could keep the political process peaceful, cool and orderly. Let’s together respect each other’s choices and differences so that a real manifestation of democratic maturity and wisdom from Indonesian citizens can be formed.
)* The author is a Political Observer, Nusa Bangsa Institute.
