Opening New Perspective on Politics

Church and Political Training

April 17, 2019 is the most challenging general election for Indonesians because they will elect legislative members in 3 levels covering regional, provincial, national DPR, Regional Representative (DPD), and the President and Vice-President simultaneously. It is admitted that the general election is the most democratic tool for electing representatives and leader. According to General Election Commission (KPU) data, young voters, aged 17-30 years, reaches 60.345.070 people. It means that young voters have big contribution in determining the direction of this nation ahead.

This reality becomes a concern of Stube-HEMAT Sumba, an institution mentoring students and young people in Sumba, by having a training on Church and Politics with a theme, "Are we ready to give our best for Nations and countries in the general election?". It was held at GKS Okanggapi, a branch church of GKS Umamapu (15-17/2/2019 ), that attended by twenty-eight students from various campuses in East Sumba, such as Unwina Sumba, STT Terpadu Waingapu, Lewa STT GKS, AKN of East Sumba, and Ana Tana Community.

"The training on Church and Politics is a kind of activity to prepare young people to welcome general election on April 17, 2019. Hopefully they will realize their responsibility as citizens to participate in elections and be able to determine the best choice for this nation. In addition, later they will be able to be agents to give correct understanding to public about politics", said Apriyanto Hangga, one of the working team of Stube-HEMAT Sumba.

Some figures and practitioners who are competent in their fields provided reinforcement to participants, including Rev. Alfed Djama Samani, S.Th, general chairman of GKS Synod. He explained the role of the church in political life. He revealed, "People who think that politics is dirty are wrong, but it can be understood that politics is also the same with other fields to pay attention to all groups, because politics concern the lives of many people." So young people need to improve their perspective on politics.

Next, Umbu Pajaru Lombu, SH., MM delivered a material for Beginner Voters and Their Impacts on Election Results. He encouraged millennials to realize the role of voters, map and determine the right choice for people who are fighting for the right politics.

Then, Hina Mehang Patalu, SE, a member of the East Sumba Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) explained the Bawaslu's task as the election organizing body to carry out prevention, supervision and enforcement so that the Election ran well and smoothly. Basically, every Indonesian citizen has the same right to oversee the implementation of elections, especially millennials who are familiar with technology can play role more to oversee the election.

Major General (ret.) Jan Piter Ate, a retired TNI and political practitioner explained the impact and benefits of political results on various policies relating to people's lives. He also reminded young people as 'agent of change' through politics, because in politics all policies relating to the direction of the nation were determined and the policy had an impact on society.

Vebiati Lende, a student of STT GKS Lewa revealed, "At first I was not interested in politics because I thought that politics was dirty and evil. But in this training, my perception changed, it turned out that politics was initially good, but politicians who cheated caused people considered that politics is dirty. In fact, I want to participate in the election because the government has tried to make the election run well. Young people must vote to find the right person having leaderships and integrity".

Young people need to understand that church and politics because they are in different spaces and cannot be united, but both aim to realize human welfare. Young people, let’s participate in elections for Indonesia's progress. (Naser Randa Hailu Poti).