Demonstration at STAIN;
Is it democracy?

*Mr. PL (peace lover)
Shavie140188.blogspot.com

It was about 8.30 am on Wednesday. The teaching learning process at campus of STAIN Pamekasan run commonly. In a few minute, the lecturers and the students suddenly surprised when some students gathered. The students, who called on the name of United College Student Community (KMB), demonstrated in the yard of campus. It began from the east building of campus. While showing the poster, the demonstrators prosecuted the chairperson of STAIN, Dr. Idri, M.Ag, to stop from his occupation. They argued that he violated his vision and mission to make STAIN better. They also claimed that he wasn’t responsible for his occupation and couldn’t be a good pattern since he still became the lecture at IAIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya.
The situation became chaotically uncontrolled when the demonstrators asked all students to join the demonstration as supporter of their action. Unfortunately, it did not run well since nobody responded it. The students still stayed at classroom. It, of course, made the demonstrators on fire. As result, they threw some firecracker (petasan) at campus. Constantly, it made the teaching learning process at class uncontrolled. Many fresh students were panic and scared. Moreover, two students were fainted because of being surprised.
The action continued to be in front of center office of STAIN. The demonstrators were waiting the chairperson of STAIN, Mr. Idri. They wanted to get clear clarification from him. The demonstrator prosecuted in order that Mr. Idri approved the seven requests from demonstrator; one of those is the choice to stay in Pamekasan more and manage STAIN well or left his position to be the chairperson of STAIN if he could not focus on.

The demonstration met support and criticism
The event at STAIN, the demonstration above, got reaction from several circles. The reaction came from the intern and extern campus of STAIN Pamekasan. Those reflected that they cared of STAIN and paid attention for the development of democracy in educational institution.
The first reaction came from the intern campus of STAIN. The reaction was controversial, either support or criticism. The supporting circle of the action claimed that it became the learning of democracy for college student even for the sake of the successful manufacturing of STAIN itself; whereas the rejecting one argued that was educating way in responding the problem at campus. The criticism came from the fact that happened in delivering aspiration through demonstration at that time was brutal. It caused a lot of chaos and disturbed the teaching learning process at campus.
The second reaction came from extern campus, exactly from society around STAIN that got info from some mass media. It was also controversial and had the same reason as delivered by college students of STAIN. However, how could the writer know? It was not so surprising since today is transparent era. Everyone has right to respond any problem by good way. One of those ways is responding the problem of society through mass media such television, newspaper even radio. The comment was varying. Some of them rejected the action not because of the intention but because of inappropriate way. Other supported it since they argued that irresponsible leader couldn’t be defended. Demonstration at STAIN was questionable; is it a democracy? Is it appropriate way in delivering the aspiration? Therefore, we should understand the concept of democracy.

What is democracy?
Democracy, which derives from the Greek word "demos," or "people," is defined, basically, as government in which the supreme power is vested in the people. In some forms, democracy can be exercised directly by the people; in large societies, it is by the people through their elected agents. Alternatively, in the memorable phrase of President Abraham Lincoln, democracy is government "of the people, by the people, and for the people."
Freedom and democracy are often used interchangeably, but the two are not synonymous. Democracy is indeed a set of ideas and principles about freedom, but it also consists of practices and procedures that have been molded through a long, often tortuous history. Democracy is the institutionalization of freedom.
Democracy consists of four basic elements:
I want to begin with an overview of what democracy is. We can think of democracy as a system of government with four key elements:

1. A political system for choosing and replacing the government through free and fair elections.
2. The active participation of the people, as citizens, in politics and civic life.

3. Protection of the human rights of all citizens.
4. A rule of law, in which the laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens.

I. Democracy as a Political System of Competition for Power
Democracy is a means for the people to choose their leaders and to hold their leaders accountable for their policies and their conduct in office.

II. Participation: The Role of the Citizen in a Democracy
The key role of citizens in a democracy is to participate in public life. Citizens have an obligation to become informed about public issues, to watch carefully how their political leaders and representatives use their powers, and to express their own opinions and interests.

III. The Rights of Citizens in a Democracy
In a democracy, every citizen has certain basic rights that the state cannot take away from them. These rights are guaranteed under international law. You have the right to have your own beliefs, and to say and write what you think. No one can tell you what you must think, believe, and say or not say. There is freedom of religion. Everyone is free to choose their own religion and to worship and practice their religion as they see fit.

IV. The Rule of Law
Here is the significant part of democracy. Democracy is a system of rule by laws, not by individuals. In a democracy, the rule of law protects the rights of citizens, maintains order, and limits the power of government. All citizens are equal under the law. No one may be discriminated against on the basis of their race, religion, ethnic group, or gender. No one may be arrested, imprisoned, or exiled arbitrarily.

V. The Limits and Requirements for Democracy
If democracy is to work, citizens must not only participate and exercise their rights. They must also observe certain principles and rules of democratic conduct. People must respect the law and reject violence. Nothing ever justifies using violence against your political opponents, just because you disagree with them. Every citizen must respect the rights of his or her fellow citizens, and their dignity as human beings. No one should denounce a political opponent as evil and illegitimate, just because they have different views.

Based on those statements we can get the conclusion. The conclusion is that everyone has right to express the idea; however, it is limited by regulation arranged by government as fundamental of law. Those aspects are also implemented in many institutions even organizations. Everyone should supreme those aspects in democracy.

Is demonstration part of democracy?
This question appeared related to the event happened at STAIN. When the readers have got the regularly chronological incident at STAIN; the writer then invited the readers to comprehend the concept and elements of democracy. Now, is the incident part of democracy? Have the incident fulfilled the elements and requirements to be political learning for college students? Based on the completely clear explanation; demonstration is part of democracy since it is an alternative in delivering our ideas, response and problem. However, demonstration should not be brutal. We must respect one another in order not to make the situation become worse.
Delivering aspiration through demonstration should be based on regulation. According to legislation no.9 in 1998, demonstrator should obey regulations:
 Respect freedom and right other people.
 Respect applied regulation in the society.
 Obey law and regulation of legislation.
 Keep and respect safety and public order
 Keep the unity of nation
Islam also has advice in term of delivering our aspiration for other people especially for our government. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w said “Religion is an advice”; then the followers asked “for whom? He answered “For Allah, Messenger, the leaders and uneducated ones (HR. Muslim no.55). our religion ordered us to give advice. However, we should deliver it by using good way. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w said “Barangsiapa yang hendak menasihati pemerintah dengan suatu perkara maka janganlah ia tampakkan di khalayak ramai. Akan tetapi hendaklah ia mengambil tangan penguasa (raja) dengan empat mata. Jika ia menerima maka itu (yang diinginkan) dan kalau tidak, maka sungguh ia telah menyampaikan nasihat kepadanya. Dosa bagi dia dan pahala baginya (orang yang menasihati)”
(Shahih, riwayat Ahmad, Al Haitsami dan Ibnu Abi Ashim)