This time I will discuss freedom of opinion in Indonesia. What is freedom of opinion? Freedom of opinion is a right where every Indonesian citizen has the right to express their opinion, without coercion or pressure. Has freedom of opinion in Indonesia been expressed properly? Let’s discuss.
In my opinion, freedom of opinion in Indonesia has not been running as it should. Why? Because there are still many ordinary people who are oppressed by people who have influence in the government. This proves that freedom of opinion in Indonesia is not yet in accordance with what it should be.
Not only that, recently there was a case involving the DPR, where almost all Indonesian people carried out demonstrations. The demonstrations were carried out so that the people’s opinions could be heard, but in reality they underestimated ordinary people like us. They casually raised taxes without thinking about people like us.
After we demonstrated, were our opinions heard? In fact, no. The government only gave promises that in reality have not been fulfilled.
Not only that, there was also a recent case where a 14-year-old boy was hit on the head by a police officer until he passed away. We, the ordinary people, have voiced our opinions through social media, but until now the case has not been thoroughly investigated. Where is the space that Indonesia claims to give for freedom of opinion to all citizens?
It turns out that many people, including the government, still do not understand what freedom of opinion really means. Let us discuss what is allowed and what is not.
Freedom of opinion that we are allowed to do is: expressing aspirations, opinions, the voice of the people, complaints, and also our responsibility as Indonesian citizens.
This must use good and polite words, and not degrade others. We must understand that with freedom of opinion, we must not use it for things that go against norms.
That would make the meaning of freedom of opinion in Indonesia no longer the same as it should be.
I think maybe it would be better if, since elementary school, we were taught that it is okay to have different opinions. So that as we grow older, we are not confused about how to express our aspirations.
Because even the smallest opinion is very meaningful, and over time it will make our brain develop more.
By getting used to expressing opinions from an early age, it will help us in the future to handle problems, and also when we are having discussions.
Besides teaching children freedom of opinion, we must also teach children about responsibility.
In Indonesia, rights and responsibilities are equal, where every citizen has rights and responsibilities that are balanced.
By getting children used to understanding the importance of responsibility, when one day they make a mistake, they will be able to handle the problem.
And they will be responsible for the mistakes they have made.
The rights and obligations of citizens are regulated in the 1945 Constitution. Article 27 paragraph (1) states:
“All citizens shall be equal before the law and the government and shall be required to respect the law and the government, with no exceptions.”
This means every citizen must uphold the values of the nation and its rules. The law in Indonesia must be in accordance with what is written, there must be no differences, whether for ordinary people or representatives of the people.
Even though in reality, representatives still receive special treatment compared to ordinary people.
Which is not the same as what is written in the 1945 Constitution.
In Article 34 it is written that the State is responsible for taking care of the poor and abandoned children.
But in real life, there are still many people who lack food, and there are still those who do not have a place to live.
I hope that in the future the government will be more aware of these ordinary people who truly need support.
Yesterday I heard about a case where an elementary school child in East Nusa Tenggara chose to hang himself because he did not want to burden his mother to buy school supplies and books.
My heart felt so touched seeing such a small child already struggling with the harshness of this world.
In my opinion, this is an example that education in Indonesia is not yet evenly distributed. It is sad for Indonesian children who will continue this nation in the future.
The child’s family was also very sad, where his mother struggled to find ten thousand rupiah for daily needs. How could she send her child to school with so many needs? And the child was not alone, there were five children in the family.
We who hear the news also feel sad and very sorry. Is this what they say that the education system in Indonesia is already equal? And that educational assistance has been right on target?
In fact, many who receive assistance are not from poor families, but from wealthy ones. It does not mean wealthy people cannot receive assistance, but those who truly need it should be prioritized.
Then about the right to legal protection, I want to discuss corruption cases that we often hear about. The people have spoken up, they corrupt a lot of the people’s money.
But why have those cases not been fully reviewed? It is pitiful for ordinary people who have to pay high taxes only for it to be corrupted.
I hope in this new generation, we are kept away from things that should not be done. Being a good and honest person is not easy, but what is wrong with building an honest generation?
So that things like this will not happen again in the future, let this be a dark history that does not need to be repeated.
Indonesia’s guideline is Pancasila, so we should follow all the values contained in Pancasila.
I believe Indonesia can be as advanced as Japan, or even more, if our way of life is based on Pancasila.
In our generation, I hope Indonesia will not only be known for its islands and friendliness, but also for progress in education and high tolerance among races, religions, and ethnic groups.
Because Indonesia is truly that beautiful and that vast. We can prove to other countries how great and amazing Indonesia is.
I apologize if my essay or criticism offends any party. I do not mean to, I only want to help voice the people whose voices have not been heard.
We all only hope that Indonesia will become better in the future.
One last thing I want to discuss is about the awareness of Indonesian citizens themselves.
If we truly want to progress, we must start loving our own country and our environment.
For example, buying domestic products, prioritizing national interests over personal interests, and respecting the environment by not littering.
Especially maintaining our attitude when in other countries to protect the good name of Indonesia.
We must realize how special this country is. Therefore, it is our responsibility not to damage nature, such as excessively using coal mines, oil, and deforestation.
As Indonesian people, it is our responsibility to continue protecting nature, so that the beauty of Indonesia can last for our future generations.
Once again, I emphasize that this is my opinion. I truly hope my opinion will be heard. Because through small opinions and criticisms, we can fix what is not yet perfect and not yet enough.
And I hope that when students, ordinary people, and critics give their opinions, please listen. Together we build Indonesia, improve and renew systems that are not good.
Who knows, small opinions that seem insignificant may one day help Indonesia become the most democratic country, in accordance with its title, and also make Indonesia a developed country.
Besides national legal sources, Indonesia also refers to international principles such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was adopted by the United Nations in 1948. Article 19 of the UDHR states that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression without interference.
In the context of democratic practice, various news and reports from national mass media are also important sources to see how freedom of opinion is implemented in Indonesia. Demonstration cases, government policies, and legal protection issues often become topics of public discussion.
In my opinion, public discussion today is easier, it can be done through several applications such as Instagram, X, or TikTok. Even though many still use impolite language, at least there is discussion about public issues there.
Without realizing it, we often do this in daily life. Many of us comment on videos and issues exposed on social media. That already includes real discussion.
Maybe we can improve it by participating in competitions so that our language structure becomes neater, and we can deliver the people’s aspirations and opinions to the government. This is one way for us to become closer to the government and also to have more critical thinking.
Nowadays many children lack social interaction and also lack thinking skills. We must give support and encouragement so they are able to keep up with this modern era.
That is why educational assistance in Indonesia is very important, so that it can educate the nation’s children. In the future, they are the ones who will lead this country. This shows that this generation is very important and we must guide them so they are able to follow the development of this era.
Therefore, because it is the right of every citizen, from the deepest of my heart I hope that educational assistance can be expanded. It is sad for children who are smart but have to drop out of school because of economic factors.
Based on the discussion that has been explained, it can be concluded that freedom of opinion is one of the important pillars in Indonesian democracy. This right has been guaranteed in the state constitution and various laws and regulations. Legally, every citizen has the same right to express aspirations, criticism, and opinions without pressure or coercion from any party.
However, in practice, freedom of opinion in Indonesia still faces various challenges. There are still cases where the voices of ordinary people are not fully heard, as well as inequality in law enforcement. This shows that the implementation of democratic values has not fully run according to what is written in state regulations.
Therefore, awareness and cooperation from all parties are needed, both government and society. The government is expected to be more open to criticism and public aspirations, while society must also express opinions politely, responsibly, and in accordance with applicable norms. Thus, freedom of opinion will not only be a written right, but truly felt and carried out fairly for Indonesia’s progress in the future.
I think that is enough about the opinions and wishes that I have kept for a long time. I was still hesitant to express them, but in the end I was able to express them through this writing.
I apologize if this writing is not neat and if the language used is not appropriate.
By: cindi aprian bakdania permata sari
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