AHY Saddened by Setback in Democracy Ahead of 2019 Election
Translator
Ricky Mohammad Nugraha
Editor
Laila Afifa
Jumat, 8 Maret 2019 14:43 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Democrat Party executive member Agus "AHY" Harimurti Yudhoyono regrets that Indonesia’s political realm and democracy that has been relentlessly fought for since 1998 is now backtracking.
He argues that this step back is seen in the political situation ahead of the 2019 General Elections (Pemilu) which is saturated by certain groups enforcing their political choices.
“The effect is the rise of excessive fanaticism which eventually becomes counter-productive to the goal of developing the nation,” said AHY at Djakarta Theater in Central Jakarta today, March 8.
AHY highlighted the sense of political competition and arguments that arise among families and friends. Especially in Whatsapp group chats that are supposed to better connect people through text messages but are now often used as a medium to entice arguments.
“In other words, unknowingly we have harmed ourselves merely because of fanaticism toward a certain political view,” he said.
AHY did not stop there, he also pointed out simple acts or decisions that now easily spark political arguments such as different hand gestures, use of different colors, and intolerance both on social media and in the real world.
BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI
