YLDA with Garda Bangsa Chair Camelia Puji Astuti

What does the term "Garda Bangsa" mean?

Garda Bangsa, literally means "Nation Guard". Our organization uses the term as an abbreviation of our full name "Gerakan Pemuda Kebangkitan Bangsa" which means "Nation Awakening Youth Movement", and we represent the youth wing of the "Nation Awakening Party" (PKB) of Indonesia.

How does Garda Bangsa promote the ideals of freedom and democracy?

We advocate freedom and democracy primarily through our POLITICAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING EFFORTS for the youth.

What would motivate young Indonesian Liberals to join your organization?

Our close association with the largest Islamic Mass Organisation (Nathlatul Ulama) in Indonesia distinguishes ours as the Liberal Youth Group with the greatest capacity to demand and eventually affect change. We also accept members from all gender denominations, social, racial and religious backgrounds, thereby allowing for a level platform of political discussion within our organization. While we are identified as a Muslim political party, we are also known all throughout Indonesia as promoting respect and tolerance for other cultural and religious beliefs.

What distinguishes Garda Bangsa from its mother party, the National Awakening Party?

Garda bangsa serves as the entry point and educational support system of the National Awakening Party focused on Youth Development. Young Muslim Liberals must join Garda Bangsa before they are allowed to participate in PKB activities.

Evaluate the socio-political activity of the Youth in your country. What role do they play in Indonesian politics and how do they deliver?

The youths play a pioneering role in Indonesian socio-politics and have inspired numerous reforms throughout history, especially since the reform period of 1998. Participation in party youth wings has also increased as young voters become increasingly policy-conscious. One could say that socio-political activity amongst the youth is now reasonably strong in Indonesia.

Which of the current issues are most pressing for youths in Indonesia? What is Garda Bangsa's solution to these issues?

The social perception of the youth and what they can do in Indonesia is largely negative. They aren't taken seriously and instead, are seen as irresponsible troublemakers. We at Garda Bangsa, on the other hand, believe that the youth have great potential and the capacity to create positive change in our community. Furthermore, we believe that helping the young gain access to network of organizations espousing liberal-democratic values and share and develop ideas with peers and seasoned policy makers will allow them to develop leadership skills invaluable to their future as leaders of our country. Also, by allowing the youth to actively participate in political discussion with our mother party, the PKB, Garda Bangsa gives them the opportunity to develop analytical and communication skills while inspiring them to pursue an interest in solving social problems alongside personal development.

Indonesia is the largest Islamic Nation in the world. Given the widely perceived conservative political inclination of other Islamic Nations, evaluate Liberalism within the context of your country.

The socio-political climate of Indonesia is largely moderate and allows liberals the same rights as other political groups to contribute to policymaking and governance. Liberal values are practiced by many Indonesians in day-to-day life, even if there is a negative social value judgement against "Liberalism" as an ideology. This is because the liberal platform is misinterpreted by a vast majority of people who are not familiar with liberal tenets. There is a lot of effort, however, coming from organizations like Garda Bangsa to change this perception through political education. In our own ways, we see these programs as very successful.

What do you have to say about YLDA?

YLDA facilitates dialogue and peer learning on an international level for Young Liberals in Asia and I think it is a brilliant opportunity for Garda Bangsa members to diversify their understanding of local and international socio-political issues. By exposing them to liberal perspectives from different political settings, our members are able to understand different issues around Asia, thereby gaining a broader analytical insight, which allows them to solve social problems with a more dynamic approach. YLDA also gives us the opportunity to present Garda Bangsa's take on international and local issues, which not only gives us a voice in an international platform but also allows other countries to learn from a liberal sensibility unique to a predominantly Muslim Society.

Where will the Garda Bangsa-YLDA partnership be in the next five years?

I see a successful and thriving cooperative partnership between Garda Bangsa and YLDA in promoting liberal democratic ideas within Indonesia, not only in the next 5 years but in the long term as well.

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