TPDI Expects 2024 Presidential Election Will Commit To Protect Republic Of Indonesia From Politic Of Identity

Illustration of the 2024 General Election. (Antara)

JAKARTA - The coordinator of the Indonesian Democracy Defense Team (TPDI) Petrus Selestinus reminded that presidential candidates in the 2024 presidential election must have the commitment to protect the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and care for diversity.

"The presidential candidate in the 2024 presidential election must be a presidential candidate who has a high commitment to protecting the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, caring for diversity, maintaining national integration, and able to continue President Jokowi's development program," said Petrus in his written statement, as quoted from Antara, Sunday 20 November.

This commitment, he continued, is important to ensure that there are no presidential candidates who use the politic of identity or the politicization of religion and take advantage of radical-intolerant groups for mere electoral gain.

"This is what the 2024 presidential candidates need to realize that radical and intolerant groups will take advantage of every political moment to enter power," he said.

Apart from the presidential candidates, said Petrus, political parties must also ensure that they do not nominate presidential candidates who have a low commitment to nationality and diversity.

According to Petrus, the role of political parties is very important because they are the ones who will determine the presidential-vice presidential pair that will be carried out in the 2024 presidential election.

"Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Special Elections Article 222 has stated unequivocally that the presidential-vice presidential pair is supported by a political party or a combination of political parties. This means that political parties have a big role in ensuring that the 2024 Presidential Election is held in a peaceful and safe manner by carrying the presidential and vice presidential candidate who is committed to caring for the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and diversity," he explained.

BNPT Prevention Director Brigadier General R. Ahmad Nurwakhid added all elements of the nation are concerned about the potential for an increase in radicalism movements ahead of the 2024 Simultaneous Elections which are triggered by the politic of identity, based on religion or the politicization of religion.

According to him, the potential for radical-terrorist groups to take advantage of the election momentum is always there by playing up the issue of the politic of identity.

"The potential is always there, we are just guarding it, minimizing it so that the potential doesn't develop. We have proven that we can eliminate the potential threats of terrorism and radicalism today so that yesterday the G20 event could run safely, smoothly, and successfully," he said.

The BNPT, said Nurwakhid, will take various steps and efforts to prevent the politic of identity and transnational ideology from entering the democratic party.

"BNPT is a non-ministerial institution under the government whose job is to formulate policies, implement and coordinate elements of the nation and state, of course, we also include discussions, dialogues or coordination with all elements including political parties," he said.

He added that radicalism and terrorism are common enemies of all humanity, all nations and all religions. Therefore, efforts to eradicate terrorism and radicalism are a shared responsibility. "It can't be borne by the government alone," he said.