Multiplication of Stube HEMAT in Raja Ampat

The election of Raja Ampat regional head (Pilkada) in 2020 was unforgetable because there was an interesting phenomenon that there was only one candidate pair and the candidate competed with a blank voting box. This case is an interesting lesson related to politics and it raises questions, such as why there is only one candidate, are there no other potential candidates, whether the politics is no longer interesting, are people reluctant to get involved in politics, and other questions.

Regional election (Pilkada) is a part of democracy that allows the people to take part in determining the government which is manifested in electing leaders and representatives directly. In connection with the question, political education is important to increase public awareness to participate in democracy, in this case, a regional leader election.

Political education with context of Pilkada in Raja Ampat Regency is important because it will equip the people with the correct knowledge and understanding to have political attitude, in this case, how to vote. Multiplication of Stube HEMAT in Raja Ampat, which assists young people and students, facilitated student activists in Raja Ampat and Sorong to learn about regional elections and the phenomenon of a blank voting box. This is part of political education for young people and students so that later they do not just make a choise but also have strong reason why to make it.

The discussion was held on November 4, 2020, in the meeting room of the Wong Solo restaurant and was attended by dozens of activist students of the Stube HEMAT Multiplication program in Raja Ampat. Rev. Grace Nanuru, S.Th., who is also a Stube Multiplicator, guided the discussion of students from Unamin, Unimuda, and Stikes Sorong campuses. In this discussion, it was revealed that the existing political dynamics warmed up the preparation situation of Raja Ampat regional election. The incumbent who had supported by twelve parties made difficult for other prospective candidates to get support in the Pilkada. It created turmoil both at the elite and community levels because it hampered the process of democratization and the people had no other choice.

Even with the following dynamics, there was a movement that eventually formed a ‘success team’ to promote a ‘blank box’ in the Raja Ampat election. The emergence of two groups between pro candidates and pro blank box led to frictions between them and it was seen on the heating comment war on social media groups.

At the end of the discussion, as a joint conclusion, students do not need to act frontally but can provide the correct understanding that this condition is part of the political dynamics, not to cause disputes that harm the community. Students are expected to participate on December 9, 2020, to vote as a manifestation of democracy in Raja Ampat regency. (TRU)