TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Unity in diversity

The running theme in the country's post-independence history is that only through unity among the political elite, the people and the Indonesian Military (TNI), did Indonesia manage to free itself from the shackles of colonialism. 

Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Fri, August 16, 2024

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Unity in diversity People buy decorations in the red and white colors of the national flag on a street in Jakarta on Aug. 11, 2024, ahead of Indonesia's 79th Independence Day on August 17. (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)
Versi Bahasa Indonesia

The theme of unity has always been the go-to slogan of the annual celebration of Indonesia's Independence Day. 

The running theme in the country's post-independence history is that only through unity among the political elite, the people and the Indonesian Military (TNI), did Indonesia manage to free itself from the shackles of colonialism. 

But it looks like that unity is in short supply today as the nation prepares to celebrate the 79th anniversary of its independence. 

Under normal circumstances, the news of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri skipping the Independence Day ceremony would barely make the headlines. After all, she has skipped the occasion multiple times in the past.

But her recent decision not to attend the Independence Day ceremony at the country's future capital and the pet project of outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo feels less like a routine gesture and more like an act of resistance. 

Ever since President Jokowi backed the presidential bid of Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, now president-elect, and tapped his own son Gibran Rakabuming Raka as Prabowo’s running mate at the expense of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI-P) Ganjar Pranowo, the personal relationship between Megawati and the President has been at rock bottom.

Viewpoint

Every Thursday

Whether you're looking to broaden your horizons or stay informed on the latest developments, "Viewpoint" is the perfect source for anyone seeking to engage with the issues that matter most.

By registering, you agree with The Jakarta Post's

Thank You

for signing up our newsletter!

Please check your email for your newsletter subscription.

View More Newsletter

And with the likelihood of two ministers nominated by Megawati being replaced in the looming cabinet reshuffle, it is difficult to expect that ties can recover any time soon. 

Megawati's refusal to join the Independence Day celebration at Nusantara also comes after President Jokowi's show of strength, if not unity, last week where he staged a full cabinet meeting at the planned new capital with the presence of almost all the ministers in the cabinet, including Prabowo. 

But maybe these cabinet ministers had no choice but to go to Nusantara, especially after what happened to Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto, who lost his job as Golkar Party chairman the night before.

And then of course there is the threat of a cabinet reshuffle, which has been bandied about for months, to cow political parties into submission. 

For parties outside of the ruling coalition like the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Democratic Party, a cabinet reshuffle will offer them access to power, and this is where we can run into problems, especially if we intend on having a fully functioning democracy.

We already see in the lead-up to the nomination process for gubernatorial elections, more popular and qualified candidates being sidelined in favor of individuals favored by the ruling Indonesia Onward (KIM) coalition.

And for political parties like the PDI-P, which has nominated scores of strong candidates to challenge the KIM's ticket in November’s elections, we can expect that they will soon lose their seats in the cabinet as a form of punishment.

For parties like the PDI-P that have fallen out of favor with the President, the shake-up will only strengthen their resolve in doing battle with the ruling coalition.

We already hear harsh words being exchanged between the leadership of the PDI-P and supporters of the President. 

The sad truth about the situation is that the PDI-P is now the only dissenting voice against the ruling government and that is bad news for democracy.

For a democracy to function, more dissenting voices should be heard and no amount of inducement or threats should sway anyone's opinion.

The nation's strength lies not only in its unity but also in diversity and today we run the risk of losing diversity in the country's politics.

Every politician and political party should be free to champion their ideas and political platforms and exchange them in the free market of ideas. 

Seventy-nine years after independence, this country deserves better than a false sense of unity. 

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Generating Questionnaires

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
We appreciate your feedback.