By: Reyhan Alfarizi )*
Recent global political dynamics have demonstrated how transnational issues are often used to provoke people elsewhere. This situation is exacerbated when unrest in one country quickly captures international attention and even influences perceptions in neighboring countries. In this context, Indonesia needs to be vigilant to avoid falling into a pattern of provocation deliberately created by certain parties through social media and digital spaces.
The Indonesian National Police (Polri) firmly warned the public not to be easily influenced by calls for demonstrations circulating on digital platforms. Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko emphasized that information appearing in public spaces must be filtered wisely.
Trunoyudo emphasized the importance of the public referring to credible sources, such as mass media and professional journalists, to avoid falling into the trap of provocation. He believed the media plays a vital role in clarifying issues, enabling the public to distinguish between factual information and mere propaganda.
This warning is particularly relevant considering what’s happening in Nepal. Over the past week, the country has been rocked by massive demonstrations that have descended into chaos. Parliament buildings have been burned, government offices have been vandalized, and the homes of several political figures have been destroyed by mobs.
Several ministers even had to be evacuated by military helicopter because their residences were surrounded. The tragedy resulted in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries. This depiction shows how quickly demonstrations that began as aspirations can turn into chaos when driven by provocation and ulterior motives.
Former Principal Economic Advisor to the Indian Government, Sanjeev Sanyal, observed that the pattern of demonstrations in Nepal did not emerge out of nowhere. He noted similarities with the waves of protests in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
According to Sanjeev, there are too many similarities to consider it a purely organic event. He even noted that students were often used as the vanguard, raising major questions about who was really controlling the situation behind the scenes.
This observation is an important lesson for Indonesia. A few weeks earlier, the country had also been rocked by a wave of protests that generated significant aspirations from various community groups.
Despite the widespread nature of the situation, it was managed through intensive communication and dialogue. This demonstrates that with good coordination, political dynamics can be steered within constitutional lines without causing damage, as occurred in Nepal.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Dave Laksono, reminded the government, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to immediately take anticipatory steps to protect Indonesian citizens in Nepal.
Dave believes the safety of Indonesian citizens there, whether working, studying, or engaging in social and economic activities, must be a top priority. He believes risk-based measures must be implemented immediately to prevent Indonesian citizens from becoming victims of the worsening situation.
Dave also urged Indonesians living in Nepal to remain calm, vigilant, and follow all official instructions from the Indonesian Embassy and local authorities. This way, potential threats to safety can be minimized.
Dave’s message reflects that the government and parliament have a serious concern in ensuring the protection of citizens abroad.
This demonstrates how transnational issues can easily be twisted for personal gain. Demonstrations in one country are often used to influence public perception in another.
Through the rapid flow of digital information, opinions can shift in a matter of hours, especially when coupled with structured provocation. This is why the Indonesian National Police (Polri) is reminding the public to be more selective in receiving and disseminating information.
As a democratic nation, Indonesia must learn from every event occurring in the region. National stability must not be compromised by narratives deliberately crafted to create unrest.
The government has demonstrated decisive action in maintaining social communication, prioritizing dialogue, and increasing vigilance. In this way, the opportunity for provocation stemming from transnational issues can be firmly closed.
It’s also important to recognize that society itself plays a significant role in maintaining peace. Every individual is required to be more discerning in their use of social media. Information whose veracity is uncertain should not be readily shared.
If the public only receives information from trusted, official channels, the potential for provocation will lose its significance. This kind of collective awareness will strengthen the foundation of national unity amidst global geopolitical turmoil.
The events in Nepal reflect the fragility of a nation when its people are easily divided by provocative issues. Indonesia must reject any attempts to equate the situation that are inconsistent with the facts on the ground.
The current state of the nation is relatively stable, and this needs to be maintained through collective vigilance. Support for the government and security forces’ actions will be a key pillar in ensuring this nation remains peaceful and avoids the trap of conflict deliberately introduced from abroad.
)* International relations observer
