1Berita News – The 6th President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), highlighted the wave of petitions and critical statements made by campus academics towards the current era of Jokowi’s government, which occurred during the 2024 elections.
SBY stated that the movement emerging from various regions and involving several rectors, professors, and students essentially voices the importance of Indonesia’s elections being peaceful, honest, and fair.
“Implicitly, they are concerned if the 2024 elections do not proceed peacefully, honestly, and fairly,” SBY said in his political speech ‘Indonesia 5 years ahead’ in Cibubur, Bekasi, West Java, on Wednesday (7/2).
On the other hand, SBY also pointed out the emergence of political statements that he deemed excessive. Among them, if the presidential election only takes place in one round, it means it’s unfair. And if the presidential election is deemed unfair, then the people will not accept it, and the country will be ready to experience turmoil.
“This situation did not occur in the four previous elections,” added the Chairman of the Democratic Party High Council.
Therefore, SBY felt it necessary to express his views from a pulpit. He emphasized that accusing or even ensuring that this presidential election will definitely be unfair is an excessive thought.
However, on the other hand, SBY also reminded that ignoring the voices outside who are concerned that the presidential election might be unfair is not a wise thing to do.
“So here’s my train of thought. We want, and I believe our people also want, the 2024 Presidential Election to be legitimate. Legitimate and accepted by the people. With this legitimacy, our new leader will have strong legitimacy,” he said.
In the past week, both public and private universities have issued statements criticizing the Jokowi era democracy, which is considered to have regressed, and demanding a fair and honest 2024 election.
Starting from the Bulaksumur Petition at UGM, Yogyakarta on January 31, the statement of position has continued to spread across campuses throughout Indonesia.
Essentially, the campuses express criticism as well as concerns about the neutrality of state organizers in the 2024 elections and the regression of democracy.
