There have been many people discussing the history of democracy in the world and in Indonesia, we have fully understood the intricacies and origins of the development of democracy. Democracy has developed since a very long time and can be recognized as the savior of the fate of some human beings from injustice. As we know, if the concept of democracy does not exist, maybe until now we still see a lot of injustices such as the colonialism of a country or the system of human slavery that still exists today.
In Indonesia, the democratic system has undergone a phase of change from the beginning of independence to the current era. All phases of change that make Indonesian society more mature in living the life of nation and state.
So, what are the characteristics of a true democracy? What is life like in a country that adheres to a democratic system, I will try to review it in this my post session.
The characteristics of life in a country that adheres to an true democratic system
1) Individual Freedom
One of the most important factors that makes a democratic system as a state system that respects a person's right to life is by applying it and giving freedom to each individual (citizen). Every citizen is given the same rights and obligations between individuals. In the sense that every citizen is recognized for his freedom to voice opinions, ideas, ideas, aspirations towards the government or at public deliberations. Citizens also have the opportunity to create and develop themselves according to their wishes. And every citizen in the eyes of the law is the same, so justice will be realized.
Thus acts of persecution, intimidation, and criminalization of certain individuals and groups do not occur. If in a country there are still actions persecutions, intimidation and criminalization, then it can be said that the democratic system that is enforced is wrong, or it may not understand well the meaning of democracy.
2) Human Rights Guaranteed
The characteristics of the two countries that adhere to a democratic system are the existence of human rights guarantees, in the sense that every human being who lives under the auspices of a country with a democratic system will get the same rights and obligations as state colors, such as legal defense, protection from the state and life community freely without discrimination for each individual.
The following are some human rights that must be guaranteed by a country that adheres to a democratic system.
- Right to live.
- The right to develop themselves.
- Right to law, get a job, the right to government and the right to get citizenship status.
- Religious rights according to beliefs.
- The right to communicate and obtain information.
- Right to personal and family protection.
- Right to inner well-being.
- The right to fulfill or cannot reduce human rights under any circumstances (ie the right to life, the right not to be tortured, the right to freedom of thought and conscience, rights are recognized as individuals before the law, and rights are not prosecuted on retroactive law.
- The right to be free from discriminatory treatment.
- Right to cultural identity.
- Right to traditional society. [Source: Relations between Democracy and Human Rights in Indonesia]
3) Press Freedom
Freedom of the press is also a necessity in a democratic country. This means that the mass media has the right to disseminate information to the public with reasonable rules. Like information among the government and around the life of the nation and state, open the issue of sara, hoax news or false information. The mass media must be neutral and fair in disseminating information to the public.
In Indonesia itself, during the reign of President Soeharto the press freedom had not been enforced. The freedom of the press at that time was very limited, the press only informed the benefits of the government's work program.
Actually, the press should be neutral, impartial to any party, and can be used as a forum for people's aspirations to convey to government officials.
4) Have a clear and real legal concept
Countries that adhere to a democratic system are very important to have a clear and concrete legal concept. The state does not want a conflict that can cause violence among the people and just the opposite, the state wants peace. The state is very based on the law, not inclined to the existence of dictatorial state leaders, which limits the movement of citizens or the will of the people. A dictatorial leader should not exist in a democratic country because it will only damage and injure the prevailing democratic system.
5) Freedom of Education
Every citizen who lives in a democratic country is very free to get full education, as already mentioned above in human rights, that every citizen is given the freedom to study as high as possible without limitation. Even every individual is allowed to get an education abroad, even though they still gets protection as a citizen through ambassadors or state representatives.
6) Government / Power / Sovereignty Is Real in the People's Hand
Another distinctive feature of a democratic country is that its government is purely in the hands of the people. Of course in this case, most of us must have known the main concept of democracy, namely the government from the people, by the people and for the people. So, in a democratic state government, the people have the right to participate in monitoring the running of the government system. The people can choose their representatives to sit in government offices through people's representative institutions, such as the DPR, DPRA, DPRK, DPD, or MPR.
7) General Elections
In a democratic country, general elections are not a foreign thing again. Because of the government from the people, by the people and for the people, the people are given the freedom to make their choice to choose their leaders based on the majority of the majority. Usually, general election are held every 5 years once like in Indonesia or certain periods. The general election is very important to do, because it is very effect to determines the fate of the nation and state for the next 5 years.
8) Most votes become decisions
One of the main methods used by democratic countries is deliberation and freedom of opinion as a decision-making step, so in a democratic system, the majority of votes generated from deliberations will be decisions that cannot be contested or often called "the most votes are God's votes". Just as it applies to the general election period in Indonesia, the candidates who get the most choices from the people who will become the leaders of the state for 5 next years.
9) Freedom of Organization and Association
Communities living in democratic countries have the full right to establish or follow certain political organizations / parties. This is evidenced by the existence of many political parties or community organizations that emerged in the midst of society in democratic countries.
Through the existence of political parties and community organizations, citizens can unite the same vision and mission from one another. Besides that, it can also be used as a means to convey aspirations, criticisms and suggestions to the government. But unfortunately, the existence of excessive political parties and community organizations, usually used by certain parties as a tool of irresponsible interests, such as dropping the good name of another group/party.
Thak You For Your Time
