The national spirits should always developed and nurtured to face the multi-faceted interests, such as corruption, radicalism, identity politics (discrimination) and other aspects and in the frame to strengthen the optimism of Indonesians. The national awareness is a necessity to form a nation’s harmony to move on toward common welfare.

The optimism is expressed in the seminar bearing the “Defending Nationalism from the Radicalism” theme held at the Faculty of Agriculture of UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta on Sunday, May 21st, 2017). The enthusiasm shown by the students participating in this activity indirectly indicates that the awareness and values of diversity in developing the love and sense of belonging to each other are very important for the Nation and State of Indonesia. We have witnessed that for the last several months, Indonesia has been shaken by identical politics in the form of excessive abuse of religion, race and ethnicity.

As stated by Kombes Pol of DI Yogyakarta (Police head of Special Province of Yogyakarta), Rudi HeruSusanto, who was present and became a speaker, who said “Radicalism has often times been hidden behind primordial issues, and at the same time, the identity politics. Primordial issues are primary tools to influence the public, while in fact the agents manipulate them for their own group.”

That statement is confirmed by Masyhuri, S. Sos., who is now the Deputy Secretary of PWNU of the Special Province of Yogyakarta.  He said that followers of religious radicalism mostly believe that that they are the al representatives of truth. The ism has the potential to destroy the national identity of any nation.

More than 2,600 students throughout Indonesia have used the jihad (martyrdom) in the name of a religion. As shown in the results of the research done by UIN (State Islamic University) Hidayatullah, Jakarta. “They have become the victims of doctrines of radicalism recently shaking the stability of Indonesia. All of the nation’s children should work together and walk hand in hand to develop Indonesia to make it a developed country receiving international honor”, he added.

A nation having a strong foundation to support any shocks or shakes crated by irresponsible, bigoted individuals  intending to destroy the unity and harmony of Indonesians and more over to separate themselves from Indonesia. Such challenges must be immediately curbed, either by law enforcement or public awareness from different social elements who have the awareness of how important it is  to maintain the unity and continuity of the Unified Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), as said Agung Supriono,S.H., the head of  Kesbangpol for the region Yogyakarta when he was met in the lobby of the Faculty, after the completion of the program, which was followed by the Indonesian anthem “Indonesia Raya” and “Buruh Tani” led by Baros, a student of the Faculty of Agriculture of UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta.

Zia Ulhaq Jondullah, a student UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta who was joining this Nationalism program expressed her appreciation and said that activities like this program should be conducted regularly, as it is very important to maintain our national identity in order to avoid being colored by interest and power only. We may provide activities that refer to the national welfare the whole nation commonly seek for. This way the spirits of nationalism will be maintained and instilled in the heart of every man and woman of our community. Drs. H. A. Hafidh Asrom, MM., a member of the DIY-House of Representatives,  also hoped that with the seminar on nationalism the public, including the young generation, will be able to implement the nationalism awareness in our real actions.

The culmination of the program was the NKRI pledge by inter-campus students represented by their respective campus LPM, Students’ president and extra-campus organizations existing in all regions of DIY (Special Province of Yogyakarta)