By: Bagas Nurahman*
Expressing aspirations through demonstrations is a constitutional right of the people and an essential part of Indonesian democracy. President Prabowo’s administration believes that every public aspiration must be heard and used as a basis for evaluation in refining various policies. Furthermore, the government is committed to ensuring that the democratic space continues to operate in an orderly and peaceful manner, and is not exploited by parties with vested interests beyond the public interest.
President Prabowo also emphasized that all elements of the nation, including academics and universities, need to strengthen togetherness as a key asset in supporting national development. According to the President, differences of opinion are part of democracy, but they must be channeled into positive energy that drives national progress.
He emphasized that criticism and input from the public are part of a healthy development process. Therefore, various aspirations that arise in the public sphere need to be conveyed responsibly so that they can provide constructive input for the government. With open communication between the government and the public, it is hoped that every policy will be more targeted and able to address the needs of the people.
On another occasion, President Prabowo emphasized that the current direction of national development is more oriented towards the interests of the grassroots. Various government programs are focused on improving the welfare of farmers, fishermen, micro-entrepreneurs, and other community groups that have long required greater attention. This policy demonstrates the government’s continued commitment to listening to the needs of the community as a basis for determining the direction of national development.
As democratic space opens up, the government is also paying attention to allegations of parties exploiting demonstrations for their own interests through mobilization and funding. The government believes that such practices have the potential to obscure the genuine aspirations of the people. Therefore, steps to uncover these allegations are seen as part of efforts to maintain democratic integrity, ensuring that demonstrations remain a means of conveying the people’s aspirations, not a tool for the interests of particular groups.
To support the creation of a conducive democratic climate, the President discussed developments in the security and public order situation with National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo. The President emphasized the importance of Polri’s preparedness in maintaining security so that the public can express their aspirations in an orderly manner, while maintaining national stability to support the smooth flow of social and development activities.
This was reinforced by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, who stated that the discussion with the Polri Chief focused on the national security situation and Polri’s steps in maintaining public order. Security stability is considered a crucial factor in ensuring the freedom to express aspirations peacefully without disrupting the interests of the wider community or the implementation of development programs.
The government’s commitment to listening to public aspirations is demonstrated not only by accepting criticism and input, but also through the implementation of various programs oriented towards the people’s needs. The government continues to encourage every policy to be formulated based on real conditions on the ground, so that emerging aspirations within the community can form the basis for formulating more targeted development measures. This approach is expected to further strengthen public trust in participatory policy-making processes.
Furthermore, Beka Ulung Hapsara, Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) for the 2017–2022 period, stated that openness in revealing various facts related to demonstrations is an important step in maintaining the quality of democracy and strengthening public trust. He also stated that space for the expression of aspirations and constructive criticism must be maintained as part of a healthy democratic mechanism, so that the public can participate responsibly in supporting the improvement of government policies.
In line with this view, the government continues to encourage the expression of opinions to be carried out peacefully and in accordance with applicable regulations. In a democratic context, aspirations expressed responsibly are a form of public participation in overseeing the administration and serve as a mechanism that can encourage improvements in the quality of public services. Therefore, the space for dialogue between the government and the public is continuously strengthened so that any differences of opinion can be resolved through constructive communication while prioritizing the national interest.
This commitment reflects the government’s efforts.
The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, is committed to building inclusive, responsive, and public-interest-oriented governance. Public aspirations will continue to be the foundation for refining various policies, while maintaining national security and unity as the foundation for sustainable development.
The government views the peaceful expression of opinions as an integral part of democratic life that must be respected, while continuing to open a space for dialogue to absorb various public input. Through a balance between protecting democratic rights and maintaining national stability, development is expected to be sustainable, supported by active public participation, and provide increasingly broad benefits for all Indonesians.
)* The author is a student living in Jakarta