“To safeguard calm, stability and the sustainability of a multi-party democracy, it is necessary for political and community leaders to show a proper attitude, views and examples in dealing with communities of a different identity.”
Source/Credit: The Jakarta Globe | January 16, 2013
By ID/Novy Lumanauw& Arientha Primanita
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called for the nation not to ignore the voice of minorities in what he insisted was a multicultural democracy.
“We should not ignore the voice of minorities with different group identities,” he said on Tuesday in a presidential lecture organized by the Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI).
Yudhoyono said that one of the biggest challenges in implementing a multicultural democracy was addressing differences in ideology and interests, while tackling clashes triggered by regional identities.
“Pluralism is a blessing, but an ability is needed to manage it. As a pluralist nation, Indonesia has to answer the challenge of democracy and also discuss the fundamental principles to adhere to, so that the life of democracy becomes increasingly peaceful,” he said.
He called on all Indonesians to accept differences, including fundamental ones in religion, race and ethnicity.
“The views and aspirations of the majority indeed have to be accepted, but we should not ignore the voice of minorities, of the different groups in this country,” Yudhoyono said.
“Every community should build a culture of resolving conflicts in a peaceful manner that avoids the use of force.”
He also reminded Indonesians that personal freedoms should not lead “to insults, contempt or disrespect of the values or symbols of people of other identities.”
The president also specifically asked national leaders to put those groups’ interests over national interest.
“To safeguard calm, stability and the sustainability of a multi-party democracy, it is necessary for political and community leaders to show a proper attitude, views and examples in dealing with communities of a different identity,” he said.
Yudhoyono suggested that the nation needed to wisely manage democracy in the midst of the prevailing pluralism.
“What is the type of democracy we are building in the life of this nation which is pluralistic and diverse?” he asked.
“Let us look at the challenges we are facing. In the regions, it is also felt how differences open the possibility for conflict in this country, not only because of [differences in] ideology, interests and political parties, but also in terms of identity.”
He said that if the nation was not smart in managing its differences, a serious threat to national integrity could arise.
The president added that he believed embracing diversity was inevitable in such a diverse country in terms of ethnicity, religion and culture.
In his lecture, the president also referred to the 2014 legislative and presidential elections, saying that political parties’ previous way of campaigning by drawing large rallies of often paid supporters were often ineffective.
He said this had prompted him to advise the General Elections Commission (KPU) to issue permits for campaign rallies on a smaller scale.
This way, he said, the parties would be able to come up with messages that were more relatable and more cost effective.
“They should be reviewed and replaced with campaigns involving only 1,000 to 2,000 people instead of hundreds of thousands,” Yudhoyono said.
“If the elections are expensive, where will the money come from? I’m afraid that mistakes are made in looking for funding. It would be better if we can save costs.”
He also praised the many individuals who had come forward as candidates in the next presidential election, but added that the public should research each candidate more thoroughly before voting.
“It should not be like choosing cats inside a bag. Look at their integrity, capacity, track records and so forth” he said.
“Think it over thoroughly when choosing a leader.”
Indonesia’s varied ethnic and religious makeup has frequently caused simmering tensions to boil over between different groups, mostly between Sunni Muslims and members of other faiths, resulting in deadly clashes, pogroms and other forms of discrimination.
Read original post here: SBY Wants Indonesia to Listen to Minorities
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