Polarization, black and negative campaigns, and identity politics, which were seen in 2018–2019, could recur in 2024, Human Resource Assistant to the National Police Chief Inspector General Dedi Prasetyo cautioned at the police soccer cup event here on Friday.
"Such certain groups want to make the situation heated in order to make a certain group win," Prasetyo said.
He invited the media and other parties, including the community, to make the 2024 General Elections peaceful.
The Polri has formed the Nusantara Task Force, which will collaborate with religious leaders, community leaders, youth leaders, and the mass media to share positive information to fight polarization during the political year and the general election implementation.
The general elections should be free from issues and incidents that could divide the nation, Prasetyo added.
He further said that if no presidential-vice presidential candidates win the first round, a two-round system, which will extend the election event until the mid of 2024, will be carried out.
"Next year, the police will have a huge duty, while media partners will have to inform and educate the public in order to maintain unity, diversity, and religious moderation," he added.
Meanwhile, Head of Public Relations at Polri Inspector General Sandi Nugroho said the police and the mass media are strategic partners in maintaining order and preventing public security disturbances.
Therefore, he said, all components of the nation must maintain public order by being "cooling systems" in heated situations.
Ahead of the 2024 elections, Polri's public relations division has been strengthened by the formation of a new working group and new functional positions, Nugroho informed.
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Translator: Laily R, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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