By: Indah Prameswari*
A healthy democracy is not only measured by the availability of space to express opinions, but also by the extent to which every voice has an equal opportunity to be heard. In a diverse country like Indonesia, public aspirations come from various levels, from academics and students to farmers and fishermen, and even village communities.
So far, public attention has often focused more on aspirations emerging from groups with significant access to public spaces. However, various ideas and solutions also emerge from village communities who directly understand issues at the grassroots level.
In this context, President Prabowo Subianto is committed to following up on the various aspirations expressed through various media, both in public spaces and online. He emphasized that good proposals do not only come from professors or academics, but can also come from village children who have experience and understanding of issues in their communities.
According to him, every idea will be considered based on its quality and benefit to society, not just the background of the person conveying it. This attitude demonstrates the government’s desire to build a policy culture that is more open to diverse sources of thought.
This view reflects the spirit of democracy, which places all citizens on equal footing in expressing their aspirations. In modern governance practices, the quality of a policy will actually improve if it emerges from a dialogue process involving diverse perspectives.
Openness to the voices of village communities also acknowledges that national development cannot be formulated solely from the center of power or academic circles. Community experiences in the field often provide more contextual solutions to the various problems facing the region.
Furthermore, this approach reinforces the principle that public participation is a crucial part of democratic governance. When people feel heard, trust in state institutions tends to increase, and policy implementation becomes more effective.
By placing village and student voices on equal footing, the government demonstrates that democracy does not recognize hierarchy in listening to aspirations. The primary measure is the substance of ideas and the benefits they can provide for the benefit of the wider community.
This approach also has the potential to reduce the gap between the government and grassroots communities. Some villagers have felt that their voices are less heard than those with greater access to media and political space.
If participation is opened equally, the community will be encouraged to more actively express ideas and engage in the development process. This is crucial because sustainable development requires the support and involvement of all elements of the nation.
This spirit of openness is also reflected in the government’s response to students’ various aspirations. The dialogue fostered demonstrates that criticism is viewed as part of the democratic process, not as a threat to the government.
The Executive Director of Kata Rakyat, Alwan Ola Riantobi, believes that the government’s willingness to accept students’ aspirations demonstrates that the government is not anti-criticism. An open communication space is an important indicator of a healthy democracy.
He believes that the government has demonstrated a willingness to listen to diverse views emerging in society. This attitude reflects an effort to build more constructive communication between the state and its citizens.
According to Alwan, criticism delivered in an orderly and argumentative manner can actually provide valuable input for improving public policy. Therefore, a space for dialogue needs to be continuously maintained so that differences of opinion can be managed through communication, not confrontation.
This view demonstrates that the quality of democracy is largely determined by the ability of all parties to build a culture of dialogue. A government that is open to criticism and a society that expresses its aspirations responsibly will create healthier relationships.
In the context of national development, openness to various community groups will enrich the policy formulation process. Students’ aspirations provide an academic perspective and idealism, while village voices offer empirical experiences that are close to the realities of community life.
The combination of these two perspectives is crucial for producing more inclusive policies. The more groups involved in the decision-making process, the greater the chance of producing policies that address the needs of society as a whole.
Therefore, democracy
It’s not about who expresses the loudest opinion, but rather about the state’s willingness to listen to every citizen, regardless of their background. Equality in having the space to be heard is one of the main principles of democratic governance.
President Prabowo’s commitment to placing village voices on a par with student voices demonstrates a more inclusive political development direction. When every idea is judged based on its merits, not the identity of its speaker, democratic space will mature and become the foundation for national development that is just and supports all Indonesians.
)* Security Issue Observer