Government bans book published by Al Arqam<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Singgih yesterday announced the
\nban against another book published by the Malaysia-based Al Arqam
\nmovement, saying that its content could incite conflicts among
\nMoslems in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The book, entitled Presiden Soeharto Ikut Jadual Allah
\n(President Soeharto follows Allah's schedule), carries the
\npicture of the President on its cover and is written by the Al
\nArqam leader Abuya Syeikh Imam Ashaari Muhammad, who has been
\npersona non grata in Indonesia since last week.<\/p>\n
\"This book is banned because the content could disrupt peace
\nand public order, and could incite conflict within the Islamic
\ncommunity and between people of different faiths in Indonesia,\"
\nSinggih told reporters after meeting with Soeharto at the Bina
\nGraha presidential office.<\/p>\n
\"This is a matter of SARA,\" he said, using the Indonesian term
\nto denote issues considered politically sensitive, which deal
\nwith issues of ethnicity, religion or race.<\/p>\n
\"Those who have a copy of the book had better turn it over,\"
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
The book, originally published in Malaysia in 1993, has been
\nreprinted in Indonesia by the local Al Arqam publication company.
\nThis is the third book by the Al Arqam, popularly known as Darul
\nArqam here, to be banned in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The government has been under pressure to ban the Darul Arqam,
\nthe name of the movement in Indonesia, from the Indonesian Ulemas
\nCouncil (MUI), who says Arqam's teachings have deviated from
\nIslamic principles.<\/p>\n
Malaysia formally banned the organization on its soil last
\nweek.<\/p>\n
Asked whether the ban against the book was a prelude to
\noutlawing the organization in Indonesia, Singgih said the two
\nwere separate matters.<\/p>\n
\"I still have to study the opinions of the minister of
\nreligious affairs, the security apparatus and the MUI,\" said
\nSinggih, whose office has the power to ban any organization.<\/p>\n
\"Just because Malaysia has banned it, doesn't mean that we
\nwill follow suit,\" he said. \"We have to think this through
\ncarefully and take everything into consideration before I can put
\nmy signature (on the order.)\"<\/p>\n
Kedungombo<\/p>\n
The Attorney General yesterday also reported to the President
\nabout the status of a land dispute in Kedungombo, Central Java.
\nThe case became a major controversy after the Supreme Court ruled
\nagainst the government in favor of the displaced farmers.<\/p>\n
Singgih said his office yesterday formally submitted its
\npetition for a review of the court case by the Supreme Court,
\nciting its objection to 31 points in the Court's ruling.<\/p>\n
The government, for example, is objecting to the Rp 2 billion
\n\"non-material\" losses it had to pay the farmers. It is also
\nobjecting to the suggestion that there was never any attempt to
\nsettle the issue peacefully with the farmers.<\/p>\n
He denied the suggestion that the government was using its
\npower to influence the Court. \"We're pursuing this through legal
\nchannels and we want to settle this matter through legal means.\"<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court, in reversing the rulings of two lower
\ncourts, ordered the government to pay Rp 50,000 per meter square
\nto the displaced farmers, as compared to the Rp 4,000 offered by
\nthe government and the Rp 10,000 sought by the farmers.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, the Semarang District Court in Central Java said
\nthat it had received an order from the Supreme Court for stay of
\nimplementation of the ruling pending the outcome of the case
\nreview. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-bans-book-published-by-al-arqam-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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