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IL News 002/2014
Leimena President Jakob Tobing explains the importance of the role of Indonesian citizens— including those overseas—in this year’s election to Indonesian students and young professionals in Singapore in a seminar organized by the Fellowship of Evangelical Students (FES) Singapore on January 18, 2014. Indonesia was born out of the struggle of the people with diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds but with the same goal: an independent, united, sovereign, just, and prosperous Indonesia, from Sabang to Merauke. Since the collapse of the New Order regime and the amendment of the 1945 Constitution, building democracy and the rule of law has become an attempt to continue the struggle to achieve that goal. 2014 Election is an important part of this effort, but it will only be useful if the people vote. A month later, Jakob Tobing re-emphasized this while speaking at a seminar entitled “Active and Critical Participation of Christians in Yogyakarta in the 2014 Election”, held by Duta Wacana Christian University, in collaboration with the GKI Church of Yogyakarta District and the Christian Church Cooperation Agency in Yogyakarta, on February 12, 2014 at the university campus.
To the Myanmar delegation in the “Indonesia-Myanmar Dialogue for a Democratic Constitution, Free & Fair Elections and National Reconciliation” in Jakarta, Leimena President Jakob Tobing shares his experience as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee who led the constitutional amendment process from 1999 to 2002. Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Agus Widjojo (far right), Vice Chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly at that time, also joined the dialogue. This dialogue between Indonesia and Myanmar was held on February 17, 2014, by the Habibie Center. The hope is that Indonesia’s experiences can be beneficial for the future of Myanmar, because the successful and peaceful transition to democracy in Indonesia has been acclaimed by many international observers, especially now that there are political turmoils in many countries trying to leave authoritarianism and become a democracy.
On March 1, 2014, in Manado (North Sulawesi), the General Synod of Churches in North and Central Sulawesi (SAG Sulutteng), which has 13 church synod members, held a seminar on Political Education for Church Members. Leimena President Jakob Tobing, as a speaker, called all church members to understand that voting in the Legislative and Presidential Elections is not only a right, but also our moral and social responsibility, because our vote will also determine who will lead this country as the members of parliament and the President/Vice President. Therefore, the political parties and the leaders to choose must have a clear track record that shows, at the minimum, a commitment to the Pancasila ideology and the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, to democracy, rule of law, and human rights principles. National leaders must respect diversity, reject any discriminations, and have the ability to rally the nation to work together as a team to build the system, rather than become a solo player. North Sulawesi Vice Governor Djouhari Kansil gave the keynote speech to open this seminar. As described by the SAG Sulutteng General Secretary Rev. Lamberty Mandagi, this event was a follow-up to the 4th National Consultation (Jakarta, October 25-27, 2013) held by the Fellowship of Churches in Indonesia, Fellowship of Indonesia Evangelical Churches and Institutions, Fellowship of Indonesian Pentacostal Churches, and Leimena Institute.