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Inaction against vigilantes, Indonesia in auto-pilot mode

Almost 14 years ago, authoritarian ruler Soeharto was dethroned in a wave of reform that swept over the country

Al Makin (The Jakarta Post)
Singapore
Tue, May 8, 2012

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Inaction against vigilantes, Indonesia in auto-pilot mode

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lmost 14 years ago, authoritarian ruler Soeharto was dethroned in a wave of reform that swept over the country. Indonesians then eagerly welcomed the process of democratization, through which hopes of justice and freedom in the country have been nurtured.

However, the well-known Indonesian proverb seems to ring true: Being releasing from tiger’s mouth, we are now caught by crocodile’s. Although the military regime built by Soeharto was gone, a different kind of tyranny has come to be. Vigilantes and thugs in the garb of Islamic conservatism and radicalism have intimidated the public, whereas the government, including the police, did almost nothing to stop them.

New groups of Islamic vigilantes or thugs led by habibs (originally referring to the beloved people believed to be descendants of the Prophet Muhammad) with white robes, long beards and hoarse voices are mushrooming in Jakarta. What they want to show us through their street activities is that Islam is identical with fear and threats.

In their protests, they yell, “God is great” to scare people. They sometimes wear white Muslim hats to convince their followers of their fake piety. But some also wear motorcycle helmets to protect their heads in case of fierce physical fights erupt and the throwing stones begins.

These radical organizations were founded to accommodate those who love the street as their medium of intimidation. But recently, their method has developed. Streets and the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Jakarta fail to satisfy those who want to parade in the public as the most religious and pious Indonesians.

In order to claim to be the guardians of Islam, their actions have found a new form. Last week, they came to Salihara house, South Jakarta, halting a discussion forum where Irshad Manji, a Canadian Muslim feminism activist, was arranged to speak before Indonesian readers during the launch of her book about God, love and liberty.

The police, on the other hand, supported the logic employed by those who wore white hats and motorcycle helmets. There were thousands of reasons fabricated in order to stop the discussion.

The legality of the foreign speaker, the permit from the authorities and the possibility of the event
provoking public outrage, just to mention a few, were the reasons given to cut short the discussion. Those who hold power never want to lose face.

Many on Facebook, Twitter and other social media wonder why the police sided with those who trespassed on other’s property with threats and intimidation. Nobody knows the true answer.

But a Jakarta-based Muslim intellectual and a friend of mine, during my research interview for my next book, tentatively titled Apostate in White Robes, told me that conspiracy theories seem to ring true with regard to mutual cooperation between authorities and radical mass-based organizations.

This is a secret, but I am sure many already heard the following story. Simply put, there is nothing new about this. In a police raid on the house of the FPI (Islamic Defenders Front) leader Muhammad Rizieq Syihab, some documents were confiscated. The documents revealed cooperation between a top retired general who founded a political party and the leader of the Islamic vigilantes.

One may be led to conclude that their thuggery was not triggered by a certain level of stupidity, but rather by a smart and calculated strategy. Indeed, they are not mere dumb puppets. They know politics and how to play their part in a political game. Their arguments to justify their moves are sophisticated enough and supported with legal terms.

The leaders of these hard-line organizations also know how to sell something to politicians; in return they receive both financial benefits and protection.

Many have speculated that such groups have links with the police and state intelligence, although these claims are difficult to substantiate. Conspiracy theories go further to claim that these vigilantes are no longer used by the current government. They often take to streets and intimidate people just to attract the attention of the government and the people as if to say “Look, we still exist!”

Ironically, the way the police handled the vigilantes in action is far different from the way they handled recent student demonstrations.

During the mass protests against the government’s plan to increase fuel prices held at various campuses, the police displayed a stern attitude. In a big “chaotic” demonstration, some students were chased.

They sought shelter in campuses, looking for safety by mingling with other students. But as soon as the police found them, the students were beaten black and blue. A number of brave but unarmed lecturers tried in vain to stop the torture.

In the recent tragedy at the Salihara house, the police simply fulfilled the vigilantes’ demands.
The discussion was halted. Irshad Manji was rushed out. The organizer of the forum was summoned for interrogation (The Jakarta Post, May 5, 2012).

Where is the government, whose duty is to enforce the law?

By maintaining his trademark inaction, cool and Javanese wisdom of silence, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has put the government on auto-pilot mode. The public is curious if he will let both ideologies fight and take sides when the winner emerges. But for sure, if he does not comment, he is safe and his image remains clean.

No comment from SBY on the persecution of minorities, from Lia Eden’s torture and jail sentence to church’s controversies in Bogor and Ahmadiyah people’s torture and attacks on their mosques constitute this auto-pilot mode.

One lesson from the Salihara tragedy can be learned. Due to the absence of the authority’s protection, the local people of Pontianak, Kalimantan rejected the FPI by force, setting an excellent example.

The following day, another forum featuring Irshad Manji was held by the AJI (the Alliance of Independent Journalists) in Kalibata and guarded by the Banser (the youth wing of Indonesia’s largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama). The Islamic vigilantes did not have the guts to approach closely and bother the forum (The Jakarta Post, May 6, 2012).

Since the country is on auto-pilot, just arm yourself to protect your own safety.

The writer is a lecturer at the Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University, Yogyakarta and visiting research fellow at the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore.

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