Pancasila: A Bridge for all Differences

The commemoration of Pancasila Day is a common reminder to maintain the unity and integrity of the nation. One way to do so is by accepting and being grateful for diversity.

TANGKAPAN LAYAR

Screenshot from the Presidential Secretariat\'s Youtube account when participants in the ceremony attended the Commemoration of the Birthday of Pancasila, Tuesday (1/6/2021).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Even though Pancasila has been instilled in our lives since the Republic of Indonesia was founded, the challenges we face are not getting any lighter. Therefore, the commemoration of Pancasila Day on June 1 must be used to strengthen the values of Pancasila in society, the nation and the state.

This message was conveyed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo during a commemoration of Pancasila Day on Tuesday (1/6/2021) held both offline and online. Also present at the event was Vice President Ma\'ruf Amin, by video conference from his official residence on Jl. Diponegoro in Central Jakarta.

After participating in the event, the Vice President wrote on Twitter that Pancasila existed to serve as a kalimatun sawa (meeting point). Pancasila was a bridge for all differences, be they differences in ethnicity, religion or other beliefs that existed in Indonesia.

Keeping the values of Pancasila

Commitment to maintaining the values of Pancasila has been expressed by various groups of native faiths who believe in God. They hold this principle even though they are still vulnerable to discrimination.

Gunretno, the central figure of Sedulur Sikep in Bombong hamlet, Pati regency, Central Java, said that what was contained in Pancasila as the basis of the state was considered in line with the teachings of Samin Surosentiko, which were still being applied by his followers, called Sedulur Sikep. The values taught by Mbah Samin, such as honesty and brotherhood (harmony), are closely related to Pancasila.

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> Focus on the Application of Pancasila Values

> Pancasila in Application

Although Sedulur Sikep in Pati do not go to formal schools, they follow and apply the values of Pancasila. All of these values have existed for a long time.

“Ojo nglakoni drengki, srei, panasten, dahwen, kemeren, be-dhog colong pethil jumput. [Do not be envious, greedy, hot-tempered, curious about other people\'s business or a theif].” That is surely Pancasila. Pancasila, if properly implemented, would make the country “peaceful”, said Gunretno.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Participants of the Pancasila Day Commemoration on Jalan Margonda Raya, Depok City, West Java, wear traditional clothes while distributing stickers with the image of the state symbol of the Republic of Indonesia, Garuda Pancasila, Tuesday (1/6/2021). The action was held by the Alumni Family of Universitas Gadjah Mada (KAGAMA) Depok and the Harmoni Warna Indonesia Community by distributing stickers with the image of Garuda Pancasila to people crossing the road.

According to the head of the Warga Sapta Darma Association (Persada), Naen Soeryono, Sapta Darma followers are also encouraged to actively contribute to their communities. Believers are considered to have a role in creating tolerance in society.

“Followers of native faiths have the principle that wherever they live, they must maintain the environment. Our soul and bodies are for the country because we eat, breathe and drink in this country,” he said.

This is in accordance with the Wewarah Tujuh (Seven Teachings) which serve as the guideline for Sapta Darma followers. In Wewarah Tujuh, devotees are taught to serve the state and obey the law. The teachings of Sapta Darma also encourage followers to help others selflessly.

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> The Paralyzed Pancasila Ideology

> Test of Pancasila Implementation

In Cirebon, West Java, as many as 13 young Muslim and Christian youths offered an online interfaith prayer. This event was held by Inspiration House (IH), a community engaged in education and tolerance. On Pancasila Day, they prayed for the welfare and unity of the nation and that the COVID-19 pandemic would end soon.

"Lord, if all citizens practice Pancasila, I believe that intolerance will not exist in Indonesia. Peace is beautiful, so make peace for this country,” said Eka Wulan Yunita, 21, the coordinator of the interfaith prayer event.

For Eka, interfaith prayer is a way of practicing Pancasila. "This is important for unity so that there is no intolerance that discriminates against other people\'s backgrounds," she said.

Efforts to maintain tolerance are also carried out by the Fahmina Institute, a nonprofit organization that works on issues regarding Indonesia, humanity and justice in the Cirebon area. One of program is through the village youth assistance program and seeks to prevent radicalism.

Rosidin, the director of the Fahmina Institute, said the assistance had been carried out in 14 villages that were suspected to be prone to radicalism since 2018. In the last seven years 46 people from Cirebon and surrounding areas have been arrested by the National Police’s Densus 88 antiterror squad.

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> Pancasila Emergency

> De-ideologizing Anti-Pancasila Movement

"It seems that the government does not have a serious strategy to deal with radicalism, including how to integrate terrorist actors who have been released from prison into the community," he said.

Seeing this phenomenon, his group trained local youth to identify radical movements to create activities that promote diversity. One sign of radicalism is when certain people reject the Aug. 17 flag hoisting event for Indonesia’s Independence Day.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

A participant in the commemoration of Pancasila Day on Jalan Margonda Raya, Depok City, West Java, distributes stickers with the image of the state symbol of the Republic of Indonesia, Garuda Pancasila, Tuesday (1/6/2021).

Devi Farida, 21, felt a paradigm shift after joining the Fahmina Institute program. Previously, she misjudged Muslims who came to the church for gatherings. "I also fell victim to the hoax that non-Muslims and China wanted to dominate Indonesia," she said.

Her understanding changed when she attended the 2016 Love Peace School (Setaman) program, the Fahmina program. She now knows people of different religions better. Her mind is also more open after joining the Nahdlatul Ulama Women\'s Student Association (IPPNU) Paburan.

Offenses

The government has a big role to play, as do community and religious leaders.

According to SETARA Institute data, from 2007 to 2018, 2,400 violations of freedom of religion and belief (KBB) occurred in Indonesia. The three regions with the most incidents were West Java with 269, East Java with 270 and Jakarta with 291.

In 2019, 200 KBB violations occurred, with 327 actions. In 2020, there were 180 KBB violations with 422 actions.

“This needs to be handled comprehensively. The government has a big role to play, as do community and religious leaders," said SETARA Institute research director Halili Hasan.

A special staff member for the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP) steering committee, Antonius Benny Susetyo, said Pancasila had not yet become a societal habit, so there were still those who often judged people of different beliefs. This was why it was important that Pancasila values be instilled from an early age.

(WKM/CAS/SKA/DIT/ELN/ITA/ IKI/PDS/IDO/DIA/REN/GIO)

This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswoko.