UII Calls for Permanent opposition to Maintain Democracy

The Indonesian Islamic University (UII) Yogyakarta demands that all state administrators uphold national ethics, respect the rights and freedoms of citizens, and restore the principle of judicial independence. This was conveyed by the UII Yogyakarta extended family on the free democracy platform as a form of concern about the death of Indonesian democracy. During the event, academics and democracy activists called for creating a permanent opposition against the dynastic political regime.

“Substantive democracy is dead, political ethics are castrated, state civility is denied, and welcome to a new style of authoritarianism that exceeds the Soeharto regime,” said UII Professor of Media Science and Journalism, Masduki, in his oration at the UII Campus, Yogyakarta (14/3).

They consider that the 2024 election will be the worst election in Indonesia’s history because there has been manipulation of constitutional channels and mechanisms. This was proven through the intervention of the Constitutional Court (MK), which approved Gibran Rakabuming Raka as a vice presidential candidate. UII views this as an attack on the independence of the judiciary and ignores the mandate of the 1998 Reformation.

“Encouraging political parties to maintain their independence so that they are empowered to uphold the sovereignty of the people and are able to carry out their role in building ethics and political culture in the lives of society, nation, and state,” said UII in a written statement.

The masses also urged the political party that lost the election to become a balancing opposition that adheres to the constitution and to use the right of inquiry and other political and legal steps to punish President Jokowi, who is proven to have carried out openly corrupt practices in power. Apart from that, they also asked election management institutions such as the General Election Commission (KPU), the General Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu), and the Honorary Council for Election Organizers (DKPP), as well as the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia (ORI) to investigate all election fraud, including that committed by President Jokowi. .

“We call on national crisis figures to unite and create a permanent opposition against the dynastic political regime which is a predator and a killer of democracy,” stressed the Chancellor of UII Yogyakarta, Fathul Wahid. []