Jakarta Election a Test of Democracy, Church Official Says
21 November 2016 16:12 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Siswantoko, Executive Secretary for Justice and Peace Conference of the Indonesian Church Representatives (KWI) said that the upcoming Jakarta Gubernatorial Elections will be a test for Indonesia’s diverse culture, religious, and beliefs.
“When the euphoria of the elections starts, it shows how far democracy has adopted the Bhinneka Tungal Ika [United in Diversity] principle," Siswantoko said on Monday, November 21, 2016.
According to Siswantoko, challenges in the upcoming Jakarta Gubernatorial Election came from the public who must learn how to "choose a leader not because of [tribe, religion, race, and social class] issues, but because of their performance, capacity, and capability."
Executive Director for Justice and Peace Commission of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI) Hendrik Lokra, regretted the fact that the Jakarta Gubernatorial Election has received so much attention compared to regional elections in other regions.
Hendrik said that the Jakarta Elections has been heavily influenced by changes in political interests and stances of the country's politicians.
ARKHELAUS W