A man casts his vote during the simultaneous legislative and presidential election on April 17, 2019 at a polling station in Banjar Blungbang of Penarungan village in Badung, Bali.(JP/Zul Trio Anggono)

As the country’s political machine revs up for the 2024 presidential, legislative and regional elections, the police, politicians and experts have weighed in on the dangers of identity politics while expressing their hope that the democratic celebration would be free of campaign strategies that aimed to sow division.

The Indonesian concept of identity politics is synonymous with using religion to mobilize voter support for political parties and their candidates. It has played a prominent role in polarizing and dividing the voting public in past elections to result in long-lasting tensions.

The National Police stated on Tuesday that the police and other election stakeholders were forming a special task force to combat provocation and hate speech in the lead-up to the presidential and legislative polls slated for February 2024.

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by Dio Suhenda (The Jakarta Post)

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