The Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) issued Circular Letter (SE) No. 200.2.2/2222/SJ concerning the Stability of Implementing Simultaneous Regional Head Election (Pilkada) Activities in 2024. This Circular Letter (SE) is addressed to Governors and Regents/Mayors throughout Indonesia so that they can build cross-party coordination in keeping the 2024 Pilkada running safely and peace.
Coordination is carried out by the Regional Head with related stakeholders such as security forces, religious leaders, traditional leaders and other community leaders. This effort is in order to create stability in government administration, public order and public peace in accordance with duties and functions.
The Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri), Tito Karnavian, said that the 2024 Pilada, held simultaneously with the Presidential and Legislative Elections, could align the vision and mission between the Central and Regional Governments. The aim is to improve government administration and create synchronization between national and regional development visions. Simultaneous regional elections are also considered to be able to reduce the potential for vertical and horizontal conflict in the government system.
The Kendari City Government (Pemkot) is currently preparing to welcome the 5th annual democratic party. The Acting Mayor of Kendari, Muhammad Yusup, has designed several strategies to make the Simultaneous Regional Elections a success in November 2024. One of them is by collaborating with the Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda) including religious leaders, traditional leaders and community leaders to sit together to discuss preparations for the Pilkada so that it can be carried out successfully.
Muhammad Yusup emphasized the importance of synergy between all parties to ensure that the regional elections run smoothly, safely and democratically. Reflecting on the success of holding the 2024 elections, namely the presidential and legislative elections. He appealed to all parties to work together and work together to repeat the success of the democratic party.
Acting Mayor of Kendari, Muhammad Yusup also told religious leaders, traditional leaders and community leaders to help the Government in making the regional elections in Kendari City a success. He hopes that these figures can involve themselves in creating a conducive situation and can synergize with the TNI/Polri in efforts to maintain environmental stability.
On the same occasion, the Head of the Kendari City National and Political Unity Agency (Kesbangpol), Djunaidin Umar said that various strategies to ensure the smoothness and security of the Pilkada process had been negotiated with related parties, including securing logistics, enforcing health protocols, as well as prevention and dealing with potential conflicts. He said that the Kendari City Government is committed to maintaining the integrity and transparency of the regional elections, while ensuring that all stages take place in accordance with applicable regulations.
On the other hand, West Lombok Bawaslu involved the indigenous community of Karang Bayan Village, Kec. Lingsar in participatory supervision of the upcoming Regional Head Election (Pilkada). West Lombok Bawaslu Prevention, Community and Public Relations Division Commissioner, Samsul Hadi, said that his party wanted to invite as many people as possible to become participatory observers in the 2024 Regional Elections. This aims to minimize the possibility of violations and fraud, as well as ensuring that the implementation of the Regional Elections is honest and fair.
It cannot be denied that a number of stages currently underway are vulnerable to violations, whether administrative violations or election crimes as well as violations of the law. Thus, the people of Karang Bayan Village are considered to be an important part in maintaining the integrity of the democratic party.
Meanwhile, the Head of Karang Bayan Village, West Lombok, Sudirati, appreciated the efforts of the West Lombok Bawaslu to collaborate with his village in participatory supervision of the Pilkada. Moreover, in the 2024 Election last February, participation by Karang Bayan residents reached 85 percent. He hopes that with the involvement of indigenous communities, voters in the upcoming Pilkada can increase by more than 85 percent, and the public understands that General Elections are an obligation for the state and nation.
Meanwhile, in the Papua region, local communities are also encouraged to make all ongoing stages a success until the regional elections are completed by prioritizing order and security in the community. Chairman of the Sentani Tribal Council, Papua, Orgenes Kaway said that all elements of society must keep the regional election situation safe and peaceful by using their voting rights in a conducive manner.
He also said that it could not just be called a routine five-year agenda because the democratic party had a big meaning in it. The community is absolutely given the right to be able to determine its leaders according to their individual expectations. With the direct involvement of Indigenous Papuans (OAP), it is hoped that it can have a significant influence on the Papua region.
Orgenes Kaway emphasized the importance of maintaining a democratic climate, because a healthy democracy will certainly produce leaders who truly serve the nation and state. Active community involvement will be an illustration of the implementation of a mature democracy. Of course, this is also accompanied by efforts to maintain order so that the regional elections can run safely and peacefully.
The active participation of community leaders in the Pilkada stages is very important to prevent potential rifts between members of the community and to carry out the Pilkada safely and peacefully. It is also hoped that synergy from all parties can maintain harmony, increase political literacy, ward off the politicization of religion, and calm the people from things that have the potential to damage the democratic party.
