The friction that arises from the severity of political contestation, for example, leads to the emergence of social problems and disputes, which are increasingly sharpening in the public sphere. Social media is a place to express scorn and hatred against political opponents. Tolerance of groups with different political views is becoming thinner, worsening inner wounds that are often based on suspicion, prejudice, fear, even hatred without reason.
Amid such friction, civil society figures are frequently asked to help control the situation. General chairman of the Muhammadiyah Central Executive Board Haedar Nashir, joked about this at a discussion and book launch for Membaca Indonesia #MenyatukanKepingan (Reading Indonesia #UnitingThePieces) by Kompas’ Politics and Law Desk in Jakarta on Monday (13/8/2018).
"We just look cool and are needed when the situation is difficult. Not because of respect. If the situation has no solution, they just come to us," he said, greeted by laughter from the audience.
The speakers included House of Representatives Speaker Bambang Soesatyo, People\'s Consultative Assembly Speaker Zulkifli Hasan, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Agus Rahardjo, chairperson of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board Marsudi Syuhud, and deputy to the presidential chief of staff Eko Sulistyo. Implicitly, Haedar captured the latest socio-political atmosphere. Civil society groups such as NU and Muhammadiyah become a reference point for all parties, including the political elite, to "extinguish" a heated situation. Unfortunately, Haedar further said, when the problem is over, civil society seems to be abandoned again.
Role of figures
Sociologist at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Sunyoto Usman, said that primordial ties in Indonesia were still strong. This is also the reason why religious elites and religious leaders from civil society groups are often asked to give opinions or suggestions about problems that occur in society.
"Including when there is a conflict, the religious leaders are asked to give advice. However, in terms of seeking political support, religious leaders or local figures are also utilized to gain support," he said.
On the same occasion, Haedar Nashir also quipped at the expense of political and religious figures who experienced a kind of disorientation, by using the story of Abu Nawas, a figure in the folk tale 1,001 Nights. Someone was busy in his yard. When asked what he was looking for, he replied that he was looking for lost items. Then he was again asked where the items were lost. He replied that they were lost inside the house.
"Why don’t you search for them in the house first, why did you go straight to the yard? The man’s reply was because the house was dark. Many leaders and religious leaders in making decisions experience disorientation in religious and political perspectives," Haedar said.
The discussion was here and there filled with messages, symbols and often criticism, but the atmosphere remained "friendly". Several guests, who were state organizers, chose to sit at the back of the room and did not want to be asked to sit in the front row. For example constitutional judge Saldi Isra and a member of the General Election Organizer Honorary Council, Ida Budhiati, who sat with activists and journalists.
Corruption eradication
Bambang Soesatyo also talked about the issue of the Criminal Code Bill, which had been widely discussed in the public space because it was feared to weaken the KPK. Bambang Soesatyo, who sat a few meters from Agus Rahardjo, explained the House\'s performance, including in discussing the Criminal Code Bill of the Dutch colonial legacy in order to be truly in accordance with the national legal system, Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.
"Of course, it will not be leaving the KPK and not weakening the KPK. That\'s our promise. So we will certainly hear input," said Bambang.
Several participants in the discussion room seemed to smile thinly. When he got the chance to speak, KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo also briefly promoted the importance of handling private sector corruption. Agus brought two books he downloaded from the internet to be handed over to House Speaker Bambang Soesatyo and People’s Consultative Assembly Speaker Zulkifli Hasan, who sat next to him.
Agus cited a story in the book about a fish supplier who has a good relationship with chefs in hotels and restaurants so that his fish is sold well. As long as they approach the chefs to promote fish, the relationship is not a problem. However, once the fish supplier gives something to the chef, he can be involved.
"In fact, what is the relationship between the chefs and the fish supplier. The assumption is, when he gives something, the selling price of fish is high. Restaurants will also sell their food at higher prices. Conflict of interests, bribery is something that is taken seriously," Agus said.
Public room
The meeting room, which was transformed into a place of discussion, seemed to provide a public space for figures of different backgrounds to exchange ideas.
Erik Ringmar in his book, A Blogger\'s Manifesto (2007), underlined the importance of shared spaces for exchanging ideas in democracy. According to him, conversations from civil society groups form a public space, shared spaces that are outside the scope of the individuals and are also outside the scope of the state.
A lecturer of political communication at Paramadina University, Hendri Satrio, said the public space played an important role in democracy because it provided a place for the public to express their views freely. Over the last several years, the development of the internet has opened public spaces in the realm of networking to a degree that is not limited by space.
However, he also saw that even with digital penetration, meetings in offline public spaces are still needed. Face-to-face meetings are still considered the best form of communication because they can eliminate prejudices. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain a balance between providing online and offline public spaces.
"In digital media there must be certain perceptions because participants don’t see each other directly. Therefore, meetings in offline public spaces become a sort of filter from online public spaces. Discussions in the online realm need to be combined with discussions in the offline realm," he said.
As the internet has increasingly become a part of social and political life in this country, is there anyone who likes to exchange ideas in offline spaces?
(RINI KUSTIASIH)
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