By: Edo Wahyu Setiadi )*
Realizing the peaceful 2024 Regional Head Election (Pilkada) is the collective responsibility of all parties, including prospective leaders, political parties, Pilkada organizers, security forces, mass media, and of course the community . Each party has an important role in creating a conducive environment for the democratic process to run well and safely.
During the Pilkada stage process, security forces have an important role in maintaining national security stability. However, synergy with relevant stakeholders and all elements of society is important to jointly prevent various kinds of threats ahead of the Pilkada implementation.
The peaceful implementation of regional elections is the foundation of a democratic system, so that the synergy of all parties can help maintain democratic values by ensuring that the people’s voice is respected and that elections are carried out in accordance with applicable regulations.
Synergy carried out well by all parties in realizing peaceful regional elections can strengthen trust between different parties. Trust is a key element in peaceful regional elections, because voters and parties involved must be confident that the regional election process is running fairly and conducively.
Apart from that, the success of the Pilkada implementation also depends heavily on active community participation. So synergy between society, community groups and government institutions is important so that voters feel heard and have ownership of the democratic process.
In order to realize peaceful regional elections, transparency is needed in the entire implementation process. This includes providing clear information about candidates, platforms, regional election regulations and regional election results to the public. Apart from that, transparency is also important when it comes to financing political campaigns. Good synergy between all parties can stimulate voter and political party participation in the regional election process. When all parties feel that they have an important role and that their voices are valued, they are more likely to participate positively in the Pilkada.
Independent monitoring organizations such as the General Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) also play a key role in ensuring that regional elections run fairly and cleanly. Synergy between Bawaslu, the authorities and other stakeholders is important to maintain the integrity of the Pilkada itself. Apart from that, security forces must also work together to maintain order during the Pilkada. So this synergy is important to avoid conflicts and disturbances that could disrupt the process of implementing simultaneous regional elections.
Maluku Regional Police Chief (Kapolda), Inspector General Pol. Lotharia Latif invited all elements of society to welcome the Pilkada again with a spirit of brotherhood for peace. Apart from that, his party will also prepare everything needed, including personnel, equipment and how to act in accordance with applicable regulations, as well as continue to improve cross-sectoral coordination, so that the implementation of the 2024 Pilkada can run conducively and safely.
Ahead of the 2024 regional elections, we must work together and support each other to increase cross-sectoral synergy. Therefore, synergy between various parties is very useful for equalizing perceptions, aligning plans and actions that will be implemented in preparation for holding the simultaneous regional elections in 2024.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri), Tito Karnavian, said that his party considers that holding the 2024 regional elections simultaneously is the right time as a momentum to synchronize the work plans of the central and regional governments. Then Tito also hopes that the implementation of the regional elections can run safely and peacefully, and that the regional heads who are elected can carry out their duties well and in accordance with their vision and mission.
Various issues regarding regional election readiness, both in terms of potential problems in the political, legal and security sector, identification of levels of vulnerability, budget preparation, security plans, and anticipation of various facilities that must be prepared. It is hoped that the government will synergize in ensuring that the stages of the Pilkada can be carried out and run properly, and that any obstacles can be anticipated so that the Pilkada can run safely and smoothly.
Realizing peaceful regional elections for all parties is very important to maintain a healthy democracy and avoid conflict and tension that could disrupt political stability. Therefore, cooperation between the Government, political parties, NGOs and the community is urgently needed to achieve a fair and safe Pilkada implementation.
Apart from that, it is hoped that the Pilkada implementation process will run successfully, as well as a shared responsibility for Pilkada security between all stakeholders and upholding human rights principles. Apart from that, a peaceful Pilkada process is very important to maintain political stability, so that the synergy of all parties in realizing peaceful Pilkada can help prevent conflicts that could threaten political stability and harmony between communities.
Therefore, success in realizing peaceful Pilkada implementation requires joint efforts from various parties, including the community, government, supervisory institutions, media and community organizations. Synergy between all these parties is the key to maintaining the integrity of the Pilkada implementation, increasing voter participation, and ensuring that the results reflect the will of the people.
)* The author is a domestic political observer
