RADAR ACEH | Peaceful demonstration held on November 4th, 2016, was one of the biggestdemonstrations in the history of Indonesia. The action which had been done by Muslims community involved about 50,000 people. It was not only done in Jakarta but also in other major cities.
The purpose of the demonstration was demanding the police to immediately process the non-active Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (mostly called as Ahok) which suspected of committing blasphemy. They want the law enforcement to continue despite Ahok has repeatedly apologized to Muslims people.
The action whichconducted after the Friday prayerwas running well. The demonstrator moved from the Mosque ofIstiqlal to the State Palace to meet President Joko Widodo.
Unfortunately, at that time the President was not there because he was reviewing the railway project at Soekarno-Hatta airport. However, the President had appointed Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal & Security Affairs(Wiranto), Minister of State Secretary (Pratikno), Minister of Religious Affairs(Lukman Hakim Saifuddin) and Cabinet Secretary (PramonoAnung) as the official representative of the government to meet the representatives of the demonstrators. Negotiations were tough and until recently had not yet reached common ground.
Therefore, the Vice President JusufKalla, who was in the Palace decided tointervene and dialogue with them.
The dialogue resulted a decision that the case of blasphemywhich allegedly committed by Ahok will be processed within two weeks. The Chief of Indonesian National Police, General Tito Karnavian has guaranteed it. After the meeting, some of the demonstrators began to disperse and return to their respective regions because the demands have been heard and fulfilled by the government. In addition, it was almost sunsetprayer.
However, some other demonstrators remained doing their action in front of the palace. In accordance with the Act, the demonstration should end at 06.00 pm. It madethe security forces (polices and soldiers) continue to persuade the demonstrators to disperse. Around 07:30 pm, there was an act of arson against police cars and left one policeman injured. The security forces asked for demonstrators to remain calm, but these efforts just failed. Therefore, they had to spray tear gas at the demonstrators. The action was initially peaceful then eventually turned into a mess.
After that, there was a clash between demonstrators and security forces. Both sides actually had been making maximum efforts to make it not happen. However, it seems to have occurred infiltration by some irresponsible partyso that the clash was unavoidable.
At midnight, President Jokowi gave official statements. He said that the anarchy that happenedafter Isya had been ridden by 'political actors', but he did not reveal who the political actors'are. The President as the supreme leader regretted it since before the demonstration was held; a few days earlier he had met PrabowoSubianto(his competitor on presidential election who reputed close to the demonstrators).One day after, the President also invited the scholars of MajelisUlama Indonesia, NahdlatulUlama and Muhammadiyah to the State Palace to discuss regarding the matter. The President had requested that they must take part to persuade the demonstrators to conduct their action peacefully.
In addition, the President had ensured that the security forces would do every persuasive ways so that the demonstrators could express their aspirations well.
Apart from the clash, now we must do self-introspection to what is happening. Do we not agree that Indonesia is a democratic country based on Pancasila? Do we not have the motto of Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity)? Did not this country get the independence by the struggle of the people of Indonesia who come from different ethnic, racial, and religious beliefs? Is not Indonesia is a nation of peace?
Is not Indonesia a great country which became a model for other countries in the world?
Therefore, we should be able to calm the emotions and cooling our head. Let us not split because of provocation committed by some irresponsible party. Do not let them smile with what has happened.
Do not let them rake in the murky water. Show that Indonesia is a nation that can unite under the diversity that has been bestowed by God to this beloved country.
To be confessing, we must admit that it is difficult to distinguish the issues of religion and politics on 4th of Novemberaction.
The demonstration which is adjacent to the gubernatorial election makes all parties to speculate. Some have said that the action was purely because of religion, but some other suspect that it was related to political issue which intentionally made to drop Ahokby taking him to jail so that he could not compete in the election.
Referring to the entire survey organizations, electability of Ahokis still surpassing rather than other candidates despite the trend is declining. However, it is not impossible that Ahok could boost his popularity. Therefore, the shortcut which most likely be done to tackle him is through the law.
In order we are not trapped bythe speculations, we must entrust the case to the police. IfAhokis found guilty because of the blasphemy, all parties must respect it. Vice versa, if what he said does not meet the elements of the criminal and found not guilty, we must also be able to receive it. In the end, only the law candetermine a person's guilt or innocence.
Finally, there are some things that must be done by all parties so that the racial issues (ethnic, race, and religion) which led to anarchy do not happen again in the future.
First, do not take religion for political purposes. Second, the security forces must be able to resist not spraying tear gas to demonstrators because it can trigger anger. Thirdly, the National Intelligence Agency should not hesitate and capture suspicious party of being a provocateur quickly. Fourth, the scholars of all religions must guide its people to continue to foster a sense of brotherhood and harmony between religious communities. Fifth and last, leave and entrust any legal matter to the police and the courts while we keep watching them outside.
Written by: Wira Arif Budiman, The writer is a Postgraduate Student of International Relations, the University of Indonesia (UI).
