Constitutional Justice Saldi Isra delivering a keynote speech at the opening of Constitution Week XIII of the Law Faculty of Andalas University coinciding with its 70th anniversary and the Constitution Nagari Award to Pasia Laweh Nagari, Friday (20/08/2021). Photo by Humas MK /Ilham W. M.

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Friday, August 20, 2021 | 13:17 WIB

JAKARTA, Public Relations—The Center for Constitutional Studies (PUSaKO) of the Law Faculty of Andalas University (Unand) collaborated with the Constitutional Court (MK) to hold the Constitution Week XIII on “Developing Constitutionalism in the Nagari” on Friday, August 20, 2021. The event was officially opened by Constitutional Justice Saldi Isra. Secretary-General M. Guntur Hamzah, Head of the Public Relations and National Affairs Department Fajar Laksono S., Unand Rector Yuliandri, Unand Law Faculty Dean Busyra Azheri, Wali Nagari of Pasia Laweh Zul Arifin, and PUSaKO director Feri Amsari attended the event virtually.

In his speech, Justice Saldi discussed the nagari structure, which he believes reflects elements of an independent state. He said the constitution may be written and unwritten, and that the unwritten constitution may be practiced in daily life, while constitutionalism concerns the spirit of the constitution. So, he said, in constitutionalism there is an understanding of how far the constitution can provide boundaries of state management. Meanwhile, nagari is one of the smallest units that explains the concept of the state.

While quoting western experts, Justice Saldi said some of the aspects of nagari in the Minangkabau community were similar to those of poleis in ancient Greece. The structure of the nagari reflect elements of an independent state in that it has clear administrative borders, residents, and a clear organizational structure. In the nagari, he said, there is an executive body called the wali nagari, a legislative body, and a judicial body.

“So, it is not wrong that western authors, especially anthropologists, say that the nagari is similar to the polis in ancient Greece. This element persisted and brought the nagari to the founding fathers because the nagari actually reflects state government in the smallest unit,” he said.

Justice Saldi also said that, based on Article 18 of the 1945 Constitution before the amendment, the founding fathers brought forth the characteristics of the regions as a starting point in designing the relationship between the central and regional governments. Thus, regional characteristics such as the nagari were not eliminated because, he explained, the spirit of state government was diversity, which had existed long before the independence.

Responding to the event’s theme, Justice Saldi expressed his appreciation of the selection of one of the nagaris in West Sumatera as a constitution nagari (village). He hoped the nagari would lead others in improving the understanding of the Constitution. He also encouraged stakeholders—Unand Law Faculty, PUSaKO, and researchers in West Sumatera—to start writing about the nagari’s contributions in building Indonesia’s democracy.

Online Competitions

Secretary-General M. Guntur Hamzah also delivered a speech at the event that the PUSaKO has held routinely in its efforts to improve constitutional understanding among students. He said the Constitution Week XIII had to be cancelled last year due to uncertainties amid the COVID-19 pandemic and it was held this year in a circumstance so different from the previous ears. The entire competitions in the event were held virtually. The participants were accompanied by their school staff from their respective residences or schools.

“Although the competitions are held virtually, the spirit and substance remain. Through this event, instilling constitutionalism remains possible and we should improve our awareness of the Constitution because the challenge to the state’s constitutionalism in the future will be more diverse,” he said.

The annual constitution week will take place for 3 days (Friday-Sunday, August 20-23, 2021). Select students from senior high schools (SMA) in 3 provinces—West Sumatera, Riau, and Jambi—joined the event. They will be competing in a debate competition, a scientific writing contest (LKTI), and a speech contest. The event coincided with the 70th anniversary of the Law Faculty of Andalas University and the handing out of the Constitution Nagari award to Pasia Laweh Nagari in Palupuh Subdistrict, Agam Regency, West Sumatera Province.

Writer        : Sri Pujianti
Editor        : Lulu Anjarsari P.
Translator  : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 8/23/2021 10:05 WIB

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian version, the Indonesian version will prevail.

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