TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Issues regarding SARA (ethnicity, religion, and race) is expected to damage the political atmosphere of the upcoming 2018 simultaneous regional head elections (Pilkada 2018).
SARA issues are predicted to rise again since it is an effective tool used by several groups in certain political affiliations to attack and sway voters away from rival candidates. “It can be confirmed that it will increase,” said Adrianus Meliala, Professor of Criminology Science at Universitas Indonesia’s Social and Political Sciences Faculty on Tuesday, December 26.
“Many people are astonished by its effectiveness to attack a political rival,” Adrianus added. These types of people choose not to focus on the negative effects that can emerge within the society.
Another problem worth highlighting is the sluggish reaction from state authorities in dealing with criminal cases related to SARA. “The perpetrators consider it an insignificant act since they are not aware that they have violated the law,” said Adrianus.
Adrianus urges authorities to assert the punishments for hate speech spreaders. He suggested that the police institution and judiciaries to show a level of toughness within the next month or two, which will make people think twice before conducting acts that are considered to be SARA.
Political observer Ray Rangkuti of the Lingkar Madani Foundation said that the use of SARA issues as tools used for political gains can potentially last up to the 2019 legislative and presidential election. “Political parties are carrying a huge responsibility to anticipate this matter,” he said.
ADAM PRIREZA | DEWI NURITA | ZARA AMELIA
