President Jokowi Asks People To Separate Politics And Religion In Today's Memory, March 24, 2017

JAKARTA Memories of today, seven years ago, March 24, 2017, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) emphasized that the Indonesian people must have the courage to separate between politics and religion. Jokowi said this was important because recent political contestation phenomena often used religious sentiment to win.

Previously, identity politics was often present in political contestations in the same class as the Pilkada. The narrative became stronger when the 2017 DKI Jakarta Pilkada was held. Identity campaigns have transformed into a powerful strategy to attract votes.

The democratic party should be celebrated with joy. However, the narrative only applies on paper. Implementation in the field is often different. Take for example the implementation of the 2017 DKI Jakarta Pilkada.

At first, the Pilkada, which presented three pairs of Cagub-Cawagub, walked with great fanfare. Moreover, two of them are strong candidates Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno against Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok)- Djarot Saiful Hidayat.

The two couples tried to campaign by complaining about ideas. However, Anies and Sandi's camp did not feel that fighting over ideas was the only way to win. Another strategy is used to win: identity politics. The strategy is considered effective because the opponent --Ahok -- comes from a minority religion.

Identity politics campaigns also have a big influence. Each of the supporters of Cagub-Cawagub was made not to get along. In fact, among different families, there is a difference in choice. Identity politics began to penetrate houses of worship.

Instructions to choose those who believe occur. This condition spread everywhere. The most populist effects are those who are pro against Ahok but Muslims will not want to pray for the body if they die. The banner appeared in several mosques in Jakarta.

This condition clearly tarnishes Indonesia's multicultural face. Differences should be a strength, not part of weakening each other.

Anies-Sandi was successful by launching a very sectarian identity campaign. Including (with prejudicIAL calls) in houses of worship, which are prone to triggering horizontal and vertical conflicts (because the former Ahok pair later became President). Populism was consciously adopted and launched at the expense of minority groups in order to win the seat of power," explained Poltak Partogi Nainggolan in the book Transition and theground of Post-Soeharto Democratic Consolidation (2021).

President Jokowi also sniffed out the presence of identity politics in the first round of the DKI Jakarta Pilkada. He thought it took him a long time to bring division, rather than unity. He wants to stop the trend of identity politics in the Pilkada.

He also appealed to all Indonesian people to separate between politics and religion on March 24, 2017. The separation was carried out to avoid horizontal confiction of ethnicity and religion. Because, diversity is the real power of Indonesia. A strength that unites, not divides.

"Indeed, our small friction is due to the election, because the gubernatorial election, the regent's choice, the mayor's choice, this is what we must avoid. It is properly separated, so that people know which one is religion, which one is politics."

"I just want to leave this while it's right in North Sumatra, I want to remind everyone that our nation consists of various ethnicities and religions, various races. The ethnic groups that I remember, the Gayo Tribe, the Batak Tribe, the Sasak Tribe, the Minang Tribe, the Dayak Tribe, the Javanese Tribe, the Sundanese, the Betawi Tribe, which is the easternmost tip of the Asmat Tribe, the Bugis Tribe, and others," said Jokowi when inaugurating the Nusantara Islamic Civilization Zero Point Monument in Barus District, Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra as quoted by Kompas.com page, March 24, 2017.