Religious leaders stress freedom of choice in election

Religious leaders say that Indonesians should vote according to their consciences in the April 9 general election.

The Catholic, Hindu, Muslim and Protestant leaders made these comments during a Feb. 11 meeting in Ende, East Nusa Tenggara province, organized by the local Church´s commission for ecumenical and interreligious affairs.

About 40 religious leaders attended the meeting, which had the theme, “Interreligious leaders´ orientation for peaceful general election.”

Indonesia holds general elections every five years. Forty-four political parties are competing in the upcoming poll to elect legislative members.

Seminary lecturer Divine Word Father Paulus Budi Kleden said the Catholic Church “does not identify itself with any party” and definitely does not suggest that members vote for a particular candidate in the upcoming election. The Catholic priest pointed out that the Church does not agree with Catholics not voting because of apathy, but if their motive for not voing is reasonable, “we must respect their consciences.”

Similarly, Anom Triyadna from the Indonesian Council of Hinduism (Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia) maintained that ideally, every citizen should vote, “but we must respect someone´s freedom of choice if there is reasonable motive for not voting.”

Basirun Samlawi, from the Muhammadiyah University in Kupang, recalled that the Indonesian Islamic Scholars Council had appealed to all Muslims to vote in the general election. “Such an appeal is necessary to maintain democracy,” he said.

If elections aim at improving national life, “then exercising the right to vote is an obligation.” He added, “Muslims are obliged to vote for a good legislative candidate.”

Reverend Yohanes Leymani, from the Evangelical Church in Timor, said people should be allowed to choose political candidates “based on their conscience.”

“We must respect their freedom of choice,” he stressed.

Philipus Harni, a lay Catholic participant at the meeting, shared that religious leaders should encourage their people to vote for capable candidates regardless of ethnic or religious affinities.

“Voting for a candidate just because he or she is of the same ethnic group or religion as the voter, and not because of his or her capability, is of no use for healthy political development,” he said.

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