The Jakarta Post, March 06, 2007
Time to get tough on country's Islamic radicals
Muhammad Nafik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Hard-line Muslim leader Abu Bakar Ba'asyir upped his campaign for Islamic law when
he marched with dozens of his followers to the presidential office on Feb. 22.
The rally followed his recent tour of several parts of Indonesia to promote sharia after
having completed his 30-month jail term in June 2006 for his role in the 2002 Bali
bombings.
On leaving the prison for his hometown of Surakarta, Central Java, Ba'asyir received a
hero's welcome from hard-liners with his Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI), the
Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and Hizbut Tahrir.
An equally warm reception greeted him when he made his recent tour.
However, the cleric met resistance in some areas, including on the industrial island of
Batam, which abuts Singapore, when he went there to deliver his sermons.
Ba'asyir had received his 30 month jail term for blessing the 2002 Bali bombings that
killed 202 people, including 88 Australian holidaymakers. Five months after his
release however, the Supreme Court accepted his case review plea and acquitted him
of all terror charges linked to the Bali blasts. The court also ordered the government to
rehabilitate his tarnished image.
At the Feb. 22 rally, Ba'asyir demanded a meeting with President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono, in order to instruct him to enforce sharia on the country. The president,
according to his spokesman Andi Mallarangeng, could not receive the 68-year old
cleric, citing his busy agenda and the standard procedure of giving prior notification.
Yudhoyono's decision to shun Ba'asyir deserves applause as it illustrates the
government's rejection of Islamic radicalism and extremism. If he had met with
Ba'asyir, it would be deemed that Yudhoyono was awarding Ba'asyir with state honor
and undermining religious moderation, pluralism and tolerance. This would hurt
Muslim moderates.
Receiving Ba'asyir and his followers at the State Palace would also cast doubt
amongst Western nations on Indonesia's commitment to the fight against
conservatism, radicalism and terrorism.
Indonesia has come under fire from the United States and Australia, among others, for
failing to keep Ba'asyir -- who is listed as a terrorist by the United Nations for his
alleged link to Jamaah Islamiyah -- imprisoned. The world body has also ordered the
freezing of all Ba'asyir's assets and the imposition of an overseas travel ban against
him. Insp. Gen. Ansjaad Mbai, who heads the anti-terror desk at the chief security
minister's office, said last June that Indonesia would carry out the UN's wishes.
Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid set an example for getting tough
with religious extremism. In April 2000, he expelled the leader of hard-line Islamic
group Laskar Jihad, Ja'far Umar Thalib, from the State Palace for "impolite behavior".
Group members had rallied outside the palace to oppose Gus Dur's plan to lift the ban
on communism.
Months before his ouster from power in July 2001, Gus Dur also issued an order to
revoke sharia-oriented ordinances. The order, however, fell into deaf ears. He blamed
this inaction on the Supreme Court.
Despite the credit due to him for his move to deny Ba'asyir state honor, Yudhoyono
remains reluctant to take action against the sharia-inspired ordinances currently
implemented in dozens of regions across the country.
Many view the enactment of the Islamist ordinances as a victory for conservative and
radical elements in a nation that mostly embraces a more moderate brand of Islam.
Not only the Islamic-based parties, but also major secular political groups support the
ordinances to appease Muslim voters and solicit their support in elections.
The government has no excuse no to scrap the Islamist ordinances, which only create
or increase discrimination in public life. The enforcement of sharia leads to classifying
non-Muslims as second class citizens, which is against the Constitution.
Strong support from Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah -- the country's two largest
Muslim organizations, who are known for their moderation -- is badly needed to
encourage the government to immediately act against the bylaws. The two Islamic
mainstream groups agreed in November last year to disseminate the teaching of "true
jihad" to fight terrorism and extremism, but the deal has not been translated into any
concrete programs.
The two Islamic organizations also need to take the lead in making the voice of
moderation heard in all forums -- including street rallies if necessary. This move will
counter the aggressive and massive campaigns of hard-liners, including Ba'asyir.
The enactment of sharia-based ordinances in regions would develop religious
conservatism in the country, at the expense of the moderate and modern Islamic
movement to build civil society that promotes pluralism and tolerance.
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