A Muslim supporter of the Indonesian section of the pan-Islamic organisation Hizbut Tahrir holds a flag in the road during a protest against this week's visit by US President Barack Obama at the US embassy in Jakarta on Nov. 7, 2010.
The government has just announced that it will seek ways to disband radical Islamic organization Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia.
The plan was announced by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto this afternoon during a press conference at the ministrys headquarter in Jakarta.
Wiranto said the plan was based on President Joko Widodos concern in rising radical and intolerant groups within the society.
We have been through a long process to study the thousands, even hundreds of thousands, civil organizations in Indonesia. We want them to stay in the corridors set by the Law on Civil Organizations regarding their values, characteristics and goals that have to be in line with Indonesias ideology of Pancasila, Wiranto said.
Thats why this afternoon were announcing the result of the study weve done on Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, or HTI.
First of all, as a legal civil organization, HTI hasnt taken a positive part in the development process to achieve the national goals. Second, their activities are indicated to be against the values and goals of Pancasila, which were stated in Law No. 17/2013 on Civil Organizations.
Wiranto added that HTIs activities have also created collisions among the people that threaten national safety and public order.
This decision does not mean the government is against Islamic organizations. We just want to guard Indonesias unity, based on Pancasila and the constitution.
Neither Wiranto nor Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly and National Police Chief Tito Karnavian who were also in attendance said furtherabout the plan or the timeline of the disbandment.
Wiranto only promised that the disbandment will go through a proper legal process through the court.
Well go through one of the courts, so it will be fair, he said. But this process has to be done so we can prevent the seeds that can threaten public safety and order.
HTI has long been a source of controversy, especially regarding their vision of making Indonesia an Islamic state.
"Mana buktinya HTI anti pancasila dan NKRI?" pic.twitter.com/8IrJyC4PDg
dhani (@arman_dhani) May 5, 2017
Previously, former Sports and Youth Minister Adhyaksa Dault was under fire when a video of him expressing support for khilafah ancient Islamic way of government during an HTI event in 2013 went viral.
About Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia
Hizb-ut Tahrir or better known as Hizbut Tahrir in Indonesia is an international Islamic political organisation. Originally established in 1953 in Palestine as a Sunni Muslim organization in Jerusalem by Syaikh Taqiuddin al-Nabhani rahimahullah, the organisation aims to the re-establishment of the Islamic Khilafah or Islamic State.
The movement then wasintroduced in Indonesia in 1983 by Abdur-Rahman al-Baghdadi. The country soon became the strongest base of the group. Hizbut Tahrir demands to restore the Islamic Law, replacing thecountry's current system of law that, according to them, is not in accordance with the Islamic Law and hasbeen influenced by western ideology.
Reactions towards the plan
Meanwhile, in social media, people have different reaction towards the government's plan to disband HTI. While many are thankful and support the decision, some are pessimistic that the plan will have a real effect, as the disbandment will not dissolve HTI's ideology. Some also worry that the disbandment will be the first step of government's interference in people's right to convene.
Disbanding HTI doesn't really solve anything does it? Just because it's disbanded, doesn't mean it's adherents go away.
Ruli Harahap (@ruliharahap) May 8, 2017
Dissolving Hizb ut-Tahrir will be tough - they can bring a crowd. Took this pic at HTI womens meeting in January. pic.twitter.com/JwebxdYYvO
Adam Harvey (@adharves) May 8, 2017
(brl/red)
