Realizing The World

            Separatism movement is the advocacy of a state of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental, or gender separation from the larger group. While it often refers to full political secession, separatist groups may seek nothing more than greater autonomy. That is the definition that   quoted by Wikipedia. Especially in Indonesia there is some separatism groups such as OPM (Liberation of West Papua), GAM (Liberation of Aceh), and RSM (South Maluku Republic) that still struggle to segregate their districts from NKRI (The Unitary State of Indonesia).

            It has been said that Papua, Maluku and Aceh have been colonized by Indonesia since Netherland leaved. They are very rich districts but unfortunately, Indonesia as the large country can’t manage the districts fairly. In Papua for example it is very Rich Island with its natural resources, beautiful panorama, and unique cultures but they are still static as if they stay in primitive era. Some of Papuan thinkers stated that government focus for Jakarta and java only, government seems treat Papua like a stepchild because the development doesn’t appear at Papua at all. GAM itself wanted to segregate because of ideological problem, moral value and also the historical survive. In 24^th May 1977 GAM had been established by Hassan Asleh, Jamil Amin, Zainal Abidin, Hassan tiro and the others. They were dissatisfied with the government that never let them to regulate “syariat Islam”. RMS wasn’t better than others because they wanted to be independent but never come true.

            Indonesia never let the separatists be independent because many reasons. In the very first time when the revolution happened and the liberty was proclaimed “Indonesia is from Sabang until Merauke” were justified for all of the nationalists, revolutionists and international world whether “dejure and defacto”. So Government committed to defend the Unitary State of Indonesia not only in territory but also in ideology, namely “pancasila”. It’s quite clear that Indonesia has the right to fight against every separatism movement in the nationality.

            As parts of Indonesia republic, separatism problem should be solved by the government as fast and good as possible. Because it is very danger, there are many victims such as armies and society who were died because of some killings and tragedies. Government should understand what they want and then threat them properly as long as it doesn’t damage Indonesia. So far Government has taken the military and diplomatic way to solve it but the result is far from the mission, OPM, GAM, RMS still exist so maybe the solving problem doesn’t touch the root grass of it. 

            Since 1945 Indonesia has been led by 6 presidents. They are Soekarno, soeharto, B.J. Habibie, Abdurrahman Wahid, Megawati, and the current president is SBY. Five of them are Javanese and one of them is from south Celebes, B.J. Habibie. There is an issue within this racial politic which is spread in the society “ May non Javanese be a president? “. This paper will discuss whether non Javanese can be a president in Indonesia or no.

            Obviously, democratic system applied in Indonesia regulates everyone’s right to be a president as long as he or she is capable. It means that there is no privilege for specific race or nation to be more superior on other, so everyone has equal right in front of the law. Furthermore, there is no prohibition towards election in politics. For example it is lie to say that Javanese cannot chose or elect non Javanese as a president and vice versa because choosing is a fundamental right for everyone in politics. So, just because the biggest population is Javanese does not mean that other people cannot won the election.   

            However, It has been believed that every president election in Indonesia will be won by a candidate from java. It is because of some reasons. The first is a number of the candidates from java are dominant. Let see a previous election when the competitors were dominant from java like SBY, Megawti, and Amien Rais while the non – java candidate is only one, Jusuf Kalla. So the electability for java candidates is bigger than non – java one. And also the upcoming election, there will be some competitors coming from java that quantitatively dominate the competition. The second reason is coming from the voter. The biggest population in Indonesia is Javanese. According to data of census in 2000 by BPS the Javanese reach 41% of total number of population in Indonesia, so it is no wonder if the elected president is Javanese because the voter is tribal mate.   

            Personally, I think that it is true that Indonesia with its political system, democracy, regulates everyone’s right to participate in politics, to elect or to be elected. This is because of one principle of democracy itself namely equal citizenship. Equal citizenship means every citizen has same position, same political right in the system. Otherwise, the reality that the biggest number of population in Indonesia comes from java. It is acceptable in democracy if people choose their family or relative in general election, so Javanese is allowed to choose anyone that she or he wants.     

                   As conclusion, whether Javanese or non Javanese has the same possibility to be elected as a president in Indonesia based on the principle of democracy.

            It is the role of media to spread any information to public. In terms of presidential election of Indonesia 2014, television media is considerably used to campaign two candidates’ activities, visions, missions, and candidates’ programs for better Indonesia in 2014-2019. However, sometimes some TV channels, broadcast imbalanced information about specific candidate. The information can be worse than what really happens and vice versa. As a result, public’s opinion will depend on what TV channel that is watched. Since the role of media in building public’s opinion is very significant, the writer points that media must be neutral, just, and honest in spreading the information.

            Apparently, METRO TV and TV one are two TV channels among the others that broadcast intensively the news of Indonesia’s president election. Both of them are affiliated with each candidate, Jokowi - JK and Prabowo – Hatta so that is why their news is sometimes imbalanced or exaggerated to inform the public about the news. Let see each TV channel program. Metro TV affiliating with Jokowi-JK coalition makes the information becomes worse and worse when broadcasting the information of rival candidate. Otherwise, TV one which is affiliating with “ merah putih coalition” exaggerate the information of Prabowo-hatta as if this candidates will absolutely win the competition at July 9, 2014.

            However, television as one media to share the information must be neutral and honest because it is “an opinion maker” for the society. An “opinion maker” means something that is able to change or guide thought t come to a conclusion. Someone’s opinion can be changed by what news or information that is watched from TV. Here are the points why media must be honest and neutral. First, if the media share wrong information in order to increase or decrease the electability of one candidate it will guide the society going astray. Second, Indonesia’s law number 40, 1999 about press (pers), firmly regulates that journalistic world must be independent and neutral in spreading any information including politic.

            I personally think that the neutrality of media in politic is must. Instead of designing news seems exaggerated or worse, the media should inform the society just as it is because it is the only one “gun” for the society to control or criticize the government. Media is the hope of Indonesian that can bring democracy of Indonesia mature. The better media spreading information the cleverer Indonesian will be.

                                                                                    

                Islam commands person strictly to choose leader to live because if someone lives without any leader means that his or her life is haram. Because of the importance of leader in Islam, the criterion of leader becomes interesting to discuss, whether a leader must be a Muslim or non Muslim is eligible. This writing will examine that a Muslim leader does not guarantees that he or she has capability or integrity, and non Muslim leader can be a good leader for Muslim society.

                It has been claimed that a Muslim leader is better than non Muslim one. This is because of the assumption that a Muslim leader will bring people close to Allah. By applying syari’ah or Islamic law public will live in a harmony. For example, in the era of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), citizens in Medina whether believer on non believer lived together in one constitution so-called the charter of medina. Then, next generation, the generation of prophet’s friends continued the way prophet Muhammad lead and the result was Islam spread around the world. Therefore, people said that the most ideal period ever in the world is the period of prophet and two next generations after him. Because of his achievement, Michael H. Hart, a western writer puts this last messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) on the top level of the most influential person in history. So, now Muslim must live under the rule of God, syari’ah, and in the name of Islam Muslim must choose the Amirul mu’minin, the leader of believer. 

                However, non Muslim leader can be a good one for Muslim society. One day in history, prophet suggested some of his followers to go to a city which was led by Christian leader. Abyssinia, the name of that city was led by king Negus, a good king because he led justly and indiscriminately. This indicates that even though the leader is not a Muslim but that person may lead the society well, he or she is eligible being leader. Furthermore, some Islamic counties nowadays which are guided by a Muslim leader are not really better than some advanced counties led by non Muslim. What happen in MENA (Middle East and North Africa), Arab spring is proof enough that Muslim does not guarantee a good quality, capability and integrity being leader, king or president. Moreover, because of dreadful condition in MENA such as war In Syria, violence in Iraq, bloody coup d’état in Libya and demonstration protesting government in Egypt and Turkey, some citizens immigrate to European and American countries to live like England, French and U.S.A. So, whoever the leader, when he or she may lead well, the leader is justifiable.

                I personally think that the consideration to asses a leader does not depend on religion, race, sex, or any political background because leadership per se is a skill which can be mastered by anyone through some efforts including study. The leader must be integrated, trusted, and of course he or she must be strong.

By: Saddam Husain

My Indonesia my democracy

            Indonesia has been independent for 67 years, it means that Indonesia is mature enough to be standing alone in taking care of its own sovereignty. There had been some ideologies that Indonesia ever followed, such as NASAKOM, COMMUNISM and PANCASILA. Indonesia, as well as many of liberal counties in the world follows DEMOCRACY as its form of government. In Soekarno’s regime the form of Government was “Demokrasi Terpimpin”, Soeharto regime was “liberal Democracy” and eventually, after reformation in 1998 the form of government was “Democracy”.
            Democracy in Indonesia is 15 years old, there are many countries in the world stated that Indonesia is one of a big country that success to follow democracy. South Korea and Australia for example, they showed their appreciation for Indonesia as democratic country by saying that they want to study about the implementation of democracy system in BDF (Bali Democracy Forum) in Sanur, Bali (october,2012). Furthermore, the president, Susilo Bambang Yudhiyono was given a democracy Medal and also price by International Association of Political Consultant (IAPC) in 2007.
            According to freedom house (one of international survey association that observes the freedom routinely) Indonesia, a state with majority of inhabitant are Muslim is categorized as freedom country as free as Europe. This achievement is reached by assembling good democracy.

            All of achievements are some things great of us. Nevertheless, democracy brings many damages for the people. Suffer, rebellion, violence and many else that still exist in Indonesia are the effects of democracy. From president election until village apparatus election, the process of democracy causes chaos. Many people feel disappointed with the result, they cannot accept it. They claim that, there are many deceits in election process. For example: the mayoral election in Palopo recently. The citizen burnt some buildings to show their angers and dissatisfactions to the government.
            Perhaps, Indonesia is success to implement Democracy in international view but the reality that citizen feel directly is very contrast. Appreciation, praise, medal, and even success that Indonesia achieved in international perspective are very useless when the Indonesian is still under fear because of democracy. Do we need something different? Everybody can answer it, yes or no!