Ahead of the Presidential Election Dispute Decision, UGM's "Srikandi" Reminds of Kartini's Struggle

Messages and hopes ahead of the Constitutional Court's decision regarding the dispute over the results of the 2024 Presidential Election were voiced at UGM.

KOMPAS/MOHAMAD FINAL DAENG

The reading of a statement by the academic community of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) titled "Kartini Rises: Upholding the Constitutional Court's Decision for Indonesian Democracy", which was held at the Balairung UGM in Yogyakarta on Sunday (April 21, 2024).

YOGYAKARTA, KOMPAS — Kartini Day is commemorated by a number of professors, lecturers, students and female alumnus of Gadjah Mada University, in Yogyakarta, Sunday (21/4/2024). The "Srikandi" voiced messages and hopes ahead of the Constitutional Court's decision regarding the 2024 Presidential Election results dispute.

The Kartini Day commemoration was held at the UGM Hall, Sunday at around 10.00 WIB. A total of seven women consisting of professors, lecturers, students and alumni took turns delivering their orations on stage.

At its peak, Professor of the UGM Faculty of Biology, Prof. Endang Semiarti, read a statement from the UGM academic community entitled "Kartini Rises: Guarding MK Decisions for Indonesian Democracy". The Constitutional Court (MK) decision regarding the 2024 Presidential General Election Results Dispute (PHPU) is planned to be read out in Jakarta, Monday (22/4/2024).

"Today, at Balairung UGM, we commemorate Kartini Day in a mournful atmosphere. The struggle for emancipation, which is an important pillar of democratic life advocated by RA Kartini, has been torn apart deeply when Indonesia is striving towards Indonesia Emas," said Endang when reading the statement.

KOMPAS/MOHAMAD FINAL DAENG

Participants commemorating Kartini Day at Gadjah Mada University Hall, Yogyakarta, Sunday (21/4/2024).

We commemorate Kartini Day in a state of concern. The struggle for emancipation, which was an important pillar of democratic life pursued by RA Kartini, has been torn apart deeply at a time when Indonesia is striving towards Indonesia Emas (Golden Indonesia). (Endang)

He revealed that violations of the constitution, laws, ethics, and national norms have been rampant in the past five years due to the ambitions of a handful of political elites. The direction of the nation's development will also be greatly determined by the Constitutional Court's decision on April 22.

"From Yogyakarta, we hope that the Constitutional Court, as the last bastion of justice, will use its conscience, common sense, and authority to make just decisions in order to uphold democracy and the constitutional mandate for the welfare of both the present and future generations," said Endang.

Also read: Kartini's Struggle and the Spirit of Change

Meanwhile, when delivering her speech, the Professor of Engineering at UGM, Prof. Wiendu Nuryanti, reminded of RA Kartini's messages which are still relevant to this day. She read out Kartini's letter to Nyonya Abendanon dated September 4, 1901. Nyonya Abendanon was a Dutch person who was one of Kartini's pen friends.

"Go, pursue your dreams. Work for the future. Work for the happiness of thousands of oppressed people. Under unjust laws and false notions of what is good and what is bad. Go! Go! Fight and suffer, but work for eternal interests," wrote Kartini as quoted by Wiendu.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

A mural of national hero RA Kartini is depicted on a warehouse wall in the Bhakti Jaya area, South Tangerang, Banten, Friday (15/4/2022).

Wiendu stated that, after 123 years, the content of the letter is still highly relevant to the current national situation we are facing. "The challenges of legal oppression and the distortion of what is good and bad will always be faced throughout time," he said.

Okky Madasari, a novelist and UGM alumnus, stated that Kartini's thinking is based on ethics, principles of upholding equality, truth, and social justice. "Kartini has always emphasized the people as the goal. This should be the principle of democracy," she said.

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According to him, democracy without equality and social justice will only become a mere myth. In addition, practices that justify ethical and legal violations for certain groups, family interests, and factions, make Indonesian democracy not based on the principles advocated by Kartini.

"We hope that the Constitutional Court, as the biological child of Reform, can be the guardian of the constitution in efforts to realize democracy," said Okky.