Leaders of eight universities in the Special Region of Yogyakarta issued a call for peaceful and dignified elections at the Universitas Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Central Building on Friday (November 24).
The call aims to encourage a peaceful, dignified, and high-quality campaign as the country approaches the campaign period starting on November 28.
“As a national agenda, we must collectively oversee to ensure that it proceeds constitutionally and has legitimacy according to democratic principles,” said the Rector of UGM, Professor Ova Emilia, MD, at the beginning of the joint call reading.
“Elections have significant meaning in maintaining the state and nurturing democratic governance to realize prosperity for all the people of Indonesia, as mandated in the constitution.”
Professor Emilia continued that the 2024 democratic elections have become increasingly crucial as Indonesia remains a vital reference for the functioning of democratic systems amid the decline of extreme democracy in various countries.
The campaign period is a crucial stage that serves as a platform for introducing political programs, candidates, and political parties with their work plans while identifying their track records.
The universities involved in this declaration are UGM, UNY, UPN Veteran Yogyakarta, UII, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, USD, UAJY, and APMD.
One of the essential points emphasized is the substantive and high-quality nature of the campaign.
“Let us realize a substantive and high-quality campaign, marked by dynamic and constructive dialogue, an interactive process to build consensus on strategic matters concerning the future for the goodness and progress of Indonesia,” said the Rector of UII, Professor Fathul Wahid.
Moreover, the election campaign is expected to prioritize the maturity of attitude, thinking, and political attitude of leaders and candidates in responding to and managing all differences and diversity of perspectives as a natural reality in democratic events.
“Avoid destructive attitudes, arbitrary actions, violent behavior that damage and divide the nation’s components, avoid and prevent hate speech, hoaxes, defamation, and sowing discords that tend to harm the people of Indonesia and sacrifice national interests because it is a form of democratic regression,” continued the Rector of USD, Dr. Albertus Budi Susanto.
University leaders also encourage all election participants, election organizers, and state apparatus to prioritize compliance with applicable regulations and laws, maintain integrity and honesty, act reasonably, and commit together to realizing a dignified and credible election as the key to maintaining high-quality democracy.
“We invite all components of civil society, the academic community, journalists, religious figures, non-governmental organizations, and various concerned and committed parties to actively participate as part of the effort to succeed in the national agenda through educational, enlightening, and critical methods, as part of the responsibility of nurturing Indonesia’s democracy,” concluded the Rector of UPN Veteran Yogyakarta, Professor Mohammad Irhas Effendi.
Author: Gloria
Photographer: Firsto