Indonesian Government Urges Crackdown on Violent Groups

Jakarta Globe, Markus Junianto Sihaloho | August 31, 2010

The government called for a crackdown on any organization that disturbs public order or promotes anarchy and violence on Monday, in response to a rising tide of violent mob crimes. (AFP Photo/Adek Berry)  

Jakarta. Government leaders agreed on Monday to push for law enforcement to act firmly against any organization that disturbs public order or promotes anarchy and violence.

“We are pushing the state apparatus to strictly execute the laws dealing with violations and anarchism by certain mass organizations,” Priyo Budi Santoso, the deputy house speaker and a Golkar Party member, said following a meeting with several ministers and top officials dealing with political, legal and security affairs.

Present at the meeting were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali, Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi, State Intelligence Agency Chief Sutanto and National Police Chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri.

The attendants, who gathered in the wake of recent violent attacks on religious minorities by Islamic hard-liners, agreed that the state will never accept any violence carried out in the name of ethnicity, race or religion, Priyo said.

They also called for strong measures against organizations that could threaten the country’s sovereignty, such as separatist groups.

Golkar lawmaker Nudirman Munir said that the government needed to take tougher action against civil society groups in Papua which have been calling for a self-determination referendum there.

“If we let them do that, they will become bigger,” he cautioned.

The meeting also called on the House of Representatives to immediately launch a revision of a 1995 law on mass organizations, Priyo said.

“What we discussed during the meeting should become the basis of the revision,” Priyo said.

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Said Abdullah said the police should arrest members of any organization using violence in the name of religion, stressing that such behavior amounted to terrorism.

He also criticized the police for appearing too passive in dealing with such groups. Bambang, though, said the police simply did not have enough personnel to deal with all violations.

“But we are still serious about law enforcement. We have even sent the leader of that certain group to prison,” he said, alluding to radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, who was arrested in mid-August on terrorism charges relating to his connections with a paramilitary training camp in Aceh.

Djoko said he believed that most mass organizations were resistant to any government “guidance,” but vowed to enhance programs to strengthen dialog between the government and prominent organizations.

“We do need to tell them that all organizations must respect Indonesian laws,” Djoko said.

Meanwhile, the PDI-P urged the government to revoke a joint decree requiring approval from local residents before a house of worship is constructed.

“Why should we have a regulation that requires permission from local residents if any religion wants to build a new house of worship?” Said questioned, agreeing with charges that the regulation has produced only conflict.

However, Suryadharma said the decree was approved by senior representatives from the six major religions recognized by the government.

“If we freed any religion to build their houses of worship, would it prevent us from further conflict? I don’t think so. The decree is useful in preventing conflict among religion communities,” Suryadharma said.