Indonesian Bishops' Conference Calls for Unity post Election

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Commission for the Laity at the Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (Kerawam KWI) calls on all of the levels of society to preserve the unity. It was said in the statement received by Tempo on Friday, May 23, following the recent rioting in several areas in Jakarta.

The riot broke as the result of the clash between the mass protesting election results in front of Bawaslu, Central Jakarta, and the police officers guarding the rally on May 21 to May 22.

KWI is concerned that until today, the public has yet to reunite due to the difference in political choices and dissatisfaction with the process and results of the election recapitulation.

In the statement, signed by Kerawam KWI head Mgr. Vincentius Sensi Potokota and secretary Rm.PC. Siswantoko, Pr, extends its gratitude and praises General Elections Commission (KPU) for the success of 2019 elections and Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) for its role in supervising the establishment of the democratic party in the country.

"We are also saddened and concerned about election officers (KPPS) who died and suffered from illness," it adds.

The commission also condemns violent and anarchist acts in delivering inputs or expressing disappointment regarding the dispute on elections as it harms democratic values.

They also call on everyone; not only the people but also the authorities, to respect and obey the constitution. Therefore, the law must provide a sense of justice for the community and the community must also believe in law enforcement officers while also watching them in civilized ways.

In its statement, KWI hopes that elite politics, religious leaders, and the general public can work together to create a peaceful situation in order to avoid provocation that leads to violent acts.

It says that the National Police (Polri) and Military (TNI) have safeguarded the community to remain in peaceful condition and maintained the integrity of the NKRI. Therefore, society should also consciously take care of the environment and their respective worship houses in order to prevent unwanted thing to occur.

Besides calling on the people to reunite, KWI calls on the people to remain vigilant toward powers or parties who intentionally use the current political situation in Indonesia for certain purposes that are against the state ideology (Pancasila) and democracy values.

Laila Afifa