YOGYAKARTA - Professor of Political Sciences who is also Dean of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of UGM, Prof. Dr. Pratikno, said that democracy is not identical to voting or election, but it covers the process of openness, close relationship between leaders and people as well as the leader's job to work for the interests of the people. "The essence here is the involvement and close relations between the community and leaders, openness and mutual respect. The leaders work for public interest," Pratikno said in the discussion on the Draft Yogyakarta Specialty Bill in determining the position of Governor of Yogyakarta.
The opinion was delivered by Pratikno in a Talkshow Yogyakarta, Pillar of the Republic of Indonesia, on Wednesday evening (4/12). Presenting as speakers in the discussion are GBPH Joyokusumo and Kyai Jazir. According to Pratikno, democracy is not merely having 'ritual' election of future leaders, but the important point to be learned is the spirit to reach the substance of the ongoing democratic process. "It is not merely an instrument of democracy, but substance of people's close relations to the leaders," he added.
In connection with the 66th commemoration of Yogyakarta anniversary, which was once the capital of the Republic of Indonesia, Pratikno assessed that Yogyakarta has a political role in the founding of this Republic. In addition, Yogyakarta has a crucial role in integrating all components of the nation, initiating the modern government and the concept of decentralization. "The important pillar was maintaining the Republic of Indonesia to remain robust, if integration, morality and participation of government to protect the people had not been started from Yogyakarta, the Republic of Indonesia would have fallen apart," he said.
UGM historian, Prof. Dr. Djoko Suryo, said that Yogyakarta when becoming the capital of Republic of Indonesia had laid the foundation of democratization in governance with the establishment of level I to level II and III governments. "Furthermore, it became a role model for the governance of the republic," he said.
GBPH Joyokusumo said that Yogyakarta Special Province is the only area that has a status of privilege. According to Joyokusumo, the privilege is in contrast to that of other special areas, such as Jakarta, Aceh and Papua. "There are no longer many discussions about “specialty” in terms of history and why it can be special, but these do not formulate the significance of this specialty," he said.