Easter 2018 in a Year of Politics

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

The drama of the story of Jesus\' crucifixion is visualized again in the celebration of Good Friday for Catholics in the Kerep Cave of Ambarawa, Semarang regency, Central Java, on Friday (30/3). The story of this crucifixion was a part of a series activities for the Easter celebration.

The atmosphere of political contestation ahead of the simultaneous regional elections in 2018 and the 2019 general elections serves as the backdrop of Easter in 2018. Hoaxes and slander reign.

There is a palpable sense of uncertainty in this year of politics. The Reform we achieved 20 years ago has given birth to freedom. Anyone can say anything they want through their social media platforms. Hatemongering, slandering others, glorifying certain figures and delegitimizing others or vain self-promotion are the reality of social media.

Social media seems to have divided the people in this nation. The upcoming 2018 regional elections and 2019 general election are the reasons for all of these political developments. History has shown that the rituals surrounding the regional elections, which will be held in 171 regions on June 27 this year, as well as the simultaneous legislative and presidential elections on April 17 next year, are nothing special. The nation has passed the test of democratic processes.

It needs to be acknowledged that our spiritual atmosphere in this year of politics may be uncertain. The political elites have shown how they are trapped in the “struggle” for the seats of power. Through social media, all means are allowed in their delegitimizing and deconstruction of their political opponents. Hoaxes have transformed into an industry of lies.

A number of our political elites are trapped in mutual accusations and endless arguments. Criticism without data, arguments with threats of using force and swearing have emerged in public spaces. Power must be grabbed by any means necessary, even if it involves vote buying. Political parties are bought, leading to cases of sole candidates. This is ironic. Democracy must be accompanied by contestation. We are concerned that, as we are entering another season of regional elections, a number of candidates have entered the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detention center as suspects.

It is in such a spiritual atmosphere in the nation that Christians celebrate this year’s Three Holy Days — Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The candles of Easter are lit with new flames signifying not only the commemoration of Christ’s death and resurrection. The Easter celebration must be given a new and more actual definition to be relevant with the nation’s spiritual atmosphere. Easter as a moment of freedom must gain a new definition.

Through this momentum of the Easter celebration, it is time that all parties take their roles to set the nation free from hoaxes and the industry of lies, as well as mutual slander. Leave old practices and establish new habits.

We hope that people in this nation will leave behind practices of dirty politics and establish more civilized politics, leave behind the politics of “stealing” through corruption and start politics of giving and sharing, as well as leave behind the politics of exclusivism and start more inclusive politics.

The momentum of the 2018 regional elections and 2019 general election must not destroy the kinship among fellow Indonesians. In this year of politics, democracy must not be upheld for the sake of democracy itself. Democracy must free the nation from the entrapments of poverty and corruption and lead us all towards prosperity and social justice. Democracy must help us weave our nationalism. Happy Easter 2018 to all those who celebrate it.