By: Moch. Irfandi)*
Action 4 November 2016 or who are often called 411 events seemed to be an important record for us as a plural country. How not, the peaceful demonstration that was originally intended to defend Islam was transformed into violent action against the ranks of the security forces and demanded President RI, Joko Widodo to step down. So how do we take the useful points from the event that used the name of democracy but in fact leads to the noise of the country?
Responding to the situation after the events of 411, The President Joko Widodo laments there are still people Indonesia is not wise to use an account on social media. The President still finds the netizen wrote violent things in social media by using the word “kill” and “slaughter”. Jokowi said, those expressions were assessed damage character, and identity of Indonesia as the largest Muslim country in the world.
Jokowi continued, in a meeting with leaders of countries around the world, he always insisted that Indonesia is the largest Muslim nation in the world. This implies a message that Indonesia is able to live in peace between majority and minority groups. In Indonesia, Islam and democracy can work together and going well. The diversity we can show goes well. These are the things that I need to remind all of us, including me that we are diversity but always be unity.
Responding about the development of democracy in Indonesia, Chairman of the MPR RI, Zulkifli Hasan said that democracy in Indonesia is getting mature and successful. In the fact, it is already recognized worldwide. Zulkifli Hasan asserted that due to the reform of Indonesia that has been aged 19 year old, almost all countries in the world recognized the democratic process in Indonesia is extraordinary.
Zulkifli said the Indonesia democracy looks of familiar Presiden Joko Widodo and Chairman of Gerindra Party, Prabowo. As we known, Jokowi and Prabowo is a rival in the Presidential election of 2014. Although at that time the rivalry Jokowi Prabowo is hot, but now it looks more familiar and very friendly. According to Zulkifli, the elections held simultaneously in 2015 also showed the good quality of Indonesian democracy.
Moreover, the democratic process in Indonesia is also seen in some of the good tolerance in regional. Zulkifli pointed out, the election of the governor who did not come from the majority religion in some areas. For the example, in Central Kalimantan with a Muslim majority has the Christian governor and that’s no problem. It is also happening in West Kalimantan which has the Catholic governor, although the majority Muslim population but there is no problem too.
Even many persons who responded negatively after the events of 411 in Jakarta, but the one thing that we should remember is keeping the unity of Indonesia to keep the peace. That is not easy, it needs cooperative, participative, and awareness of the entire people of Indonesia that our country is a rich country in plurality. The differences that we have in addition to being the hallmark of our nation, can also be a parasite for all of us as prone to friction and the emergence of anti tolerance. To that end, a great nation is the nation that respects the differences and makes that difference as the reason we have to be united in our diversity.
*) Writer of Political Economy Indonesia
