A country, which applied free vote for people, has many works to resolve. People usually ask many things to government to be fulfilled. Sometime, they ask in the contrary of its plans. Ignoring is impossible because they pressure by anarchy.
Democracy means (country with a) system of government in which all the people of a country can vote to elect their representatives.[1] Our beloved country,
In 1960 – 1965, Democracy of Leadership named to the period, which a leader convinced about his done received, and refused voting. Democracy system did not run. The leader still dominated the power in the country.
Democratic society
Democracy is identical with a group of people which given an opportunity to take a part in a constitutional procedures that determine how a government functions. The group represents another people votes, opinions and complaints asking for changing needed. Sometime, some policies do not conform to social can influence each people perception of the policies decided. People react and try to replace or make up for new policy, which is suitable for their wish.
Democracy needs some pillars. Here are:[2]
- Sovereignty of the people.
- Government based upon consent of the governed.
- Majority rule.
- Minority rights.
- Guarantee of basic human rights.
- Free and fair elections.
- Equality before the law.
- Due process of law.
- Constitutional limits on government.
- Social, economic, and political pluralism.
- Values of tolerance, pragmatism, cooperation, and compromise.
At the first pillar, sovereignty of people is a main basic pillar of a democratic society. The society dominate whole power in government because each peon, whose position as representative in government, elected by people.
Political parties have a big role in supporting democracy. They concern to reborn not only a peon who capable and representative but also totally expected to improve democratic and political system. For instance, a self – government (autonomy) has been developed in many regions of
Basic human right
In a democracy society, government guarantees human right. In a world where freedom is practiced, basic human rights always become main priority. The government should protect rights, such equal treatment, freedom of speech and many others. In such international agreements, basic human rights are categorized:[3]
- Freedom of speech, expression and the press.
- Freedom of assembly and association.
- Freedom of religion.
- Right to equal protection of the law.
- Right to due process and fair trial.
It means that government completely transforms human aspirations into right where freedom of speech, expression and the press are not prevented but limited into rules. Freedom of religion opened widely that every people can perform his or her belief. Freedom and association is in where people may join and meet legally. They also have a right to equal in law and trial where position, status is not in effect. All people are on a straight line.
Protest
Citizens have right to protest some policies of the government by demonstration, strikes or other form of direct actions. They act to participate in government of the country. It means that they really take a part in deciding new policy. If citizen regard the policy is not fit, they will express refusal or disagreement of it by demonstration non-violent or anarchy.
Such protests have always been part of democratic society. For instance, hundreds of people displaced by the mudflow disaster in sidoarjo, east java demanded government and PT Lapindo Brantas compensate them for their destroyed land and houses. They protest Lapindo to pay cash compensation. [4] In political case such in Timor Leste, thousands of angry supporters of Timor Leste rabel leader Alfredo Reinado burnt tyres and threw stones in the capital on Monday to protest against a raid by international troops on the fugitive’s hideout.[5]
Those events showed us how effective protest is against unwanted policy violently or non-violently. However, sometimes it does not change the condition and government going on their decision to lunch new policy.
Protest in a Democratic Society is a Right and Must
Someone has right to express what he complains about and feels that thing doesn’t fit. In democratic society, the expression to do so is always identical with protest. They demand from government that they don’t fit with policy lunched. If people don’t use their right to change any policy needed, it means that they let government run the country authoritarian. As the effect, people will suffer.
Sometime, when people choose a leader, they don’t think any bad factor of him. A leader usually promises many things in order people choose him. He doesn’t care that there is an area living by the poor. Increasing any food or kerosene price has a big effect for them. Though when the leader speeches, before being a president, he promised to increase prosperous for the poor. In fact, no changes can change the life.
Students always do protest. They can raze a leader from his power. But it is not only that, they also have a big role for changing of the country, as we know that students have a job as agent of change. It means that only they can change a condition to be better then before. Some movements of student of university build a power preparing to control any unfair policy. They are ready to scarify their life only for changing to the better condition and life.
Protest is a right and must to build a strong country not only in economic aspect, but also in education and social politic. We have to give an achievement to appreciate their struggle for defending this country from our own hidden enemies.
M SAYID WIJAYA
