By: Dodik Prasetyo )*
The effect of Ahok’s statement on quoting Al-Maidah verse 51 is getting complicated. Several Islamic organizations plan to conduct a demonstration on 4 November 2016. The main demand of the demonstration is to prosecute and to jail Ahok. This plan of demonstration becomes massive act since the FPI chairman continously invites and calls all of moslem around Indonesia to join the demonstration in the name of state and religion.
The plan of November 4 demontration is variedly interpreted. Most of the Indonesian worry about the impact of the massive demonstration, due to severat unexpected impacts (violence and chaos) of previous demonstrations. Eventhough Rizieq as the Chairman of FPI said that the object of demonstration is not for political and anti-chinese purpose, many of Indonesian still believe that there are political interests behind. Therefore, many various kinds of respon towards demonstration plan emerge near the date. This phenomenon of demonstration becomes inevitable, since the campaign period of DKI governor election is officially started. To put a highlight, Ahok who is the object of demonstration has been the governor and is again the candidate of the next DKI Governor.
In addition, a demonstration is defined as an expression of freedom of opinion, aspirations and criticism of a policy of justice with the intention to defend the truth. Therefore, in the act, demonstrators should show a critical attitude in ways that are intellectual, elegant, and wise. The demonstrators must uphold the principles of ethical (as per the norm), analytical (understand the root of the problem), and contributive statements as feedbacks and suggestions on the existing.
From the description above, an idea can be obtained, which is an essential understanding that a demonstration is one form of reflection of the democratic system. Therefore, as citizens, we must have the courage to express what is right, even we must breed eagerness in criticizing government policies as long as it is a real need to conduct and not to harm democracy by demonstrating without knowing the purpose behind it.
)* The author is CIDISS Yogyakarta contributor
