TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Over the last few weeks, we have been wasting our energies on misplaced expressions of anger. With claims that it would be the largest demonstration since the 1998 Reform movement, the November 4 protest was a political demonstration that used the religious sentiment of the masses. The anger of a few people sparked by a speech made by gubernatorial candidate Basuki Tjahaka Purnama should have been calmed by religious and political leaders.
Led by the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), the demonstrations triggered fear and unease. The reaction from the security forces deploying thousands of Police Mobile Brigade personnel from several regions and flying dozens of helicopters over Jakarta was on one hand an endeavor to deal with the situationbut on the other hand it reinforced the perception that the capital was facing a crisis.
Many Jakartans chose to stay at home or to leave at the end of last week. They were worried that violence would break out again in the capital. The most frightened were the ethnic Chinese and those still traumatized by the tragic events of 1998. The November 4 action brought back memories of the racial violence that brought chaos to this nation, something that should remain firmly a part of our past.
President Joko Widodo contributed to the spreading of paranoia. Instead of explaining what was happening, his actions only showed the seriousness of the situation. Without providing any explanation as to what was happening, he suddenly met with Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, gathered mass media editors and met with the leaders of Islamic organizations at the Palace. This further escalated tensions. Speculation that there was a struggle among the elite behind the scenes only grew.
It was not only Jokowi, but other members of the political elite who used the November 4 action as a stage to further their own interests. They failed to realize that they were playing with fire in raising issues of ethnicity, religion and race. The move by former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to hold a press conference at his Cikeas home to deny speculation that he was behind the demonstration, was one example. Leaders who should have been calming and clarifying the situation actually aggravated it.
We have not forgotten that this all started with a statement by Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama to local residents in Thousand Islands at the end of September, citing the Al-Maidah Verse 51. Although this was clearly a blunder and a breach of ethics, his statement was not an insult to religion. Demanding the authorities name Basuki a suspect because of a sentence he uttered without any intention of causing offense, is definitely an overreaction.
Even so, protesting is the constitutional right of every citizen. It is part of freedom of expression. And there is nothing wrong with reporting a person seen to be breaking the law to the police. But trying to force the authorities to declare a person guilty without any objective or proportional investigation is dangerous arrogance.
This is even more true if the demand is made in a way that breaks the law. The leaders of the November 4 action clearly used expressions of hatred to mobilize people. It is difficult to imagine a nation calling itself a democracy by allowing a public figure to call for the killing of another public figure. The police cannot allow such acts to happen.
We understand that behind the pros and cons expressed publicly over the last few weeks are political motives linked to the Jakarta gubernatorial election in February next year. But the fact that our politicians do not seem concerned about using religion to win this contest, is very worrying indeed. They are willing to undermine religious harmony for the sake of short term political interests.
The tensions around the November 4 action have shown us that we have not yet built a tolerant and rational political culture in Indonesia. This is the most important lesson from the action last Friday, and something for us all to keep working on.
Now the ball is in the hands of the police. The legal process regarding the alleged blasphemy by Basuki Tjahaja must continue independently and objectively, without any intervention. The demonstrators made their demands on November 4, and now is the time for the law enforcement authorities to work. We hope the police will act professionally. (*)
Read the full story in this week's edition of Tempo English Magazine
