PDI Perjuangan agrees to Islamic law in Aceh<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In a surprising move, the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) unexpectedly expressed
\nacceptance of the implementation of Islamic law in Aceh, backing
\ndown from a previous statement it had issued earlier.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Roy B.Janis said on Tuesday
\nthat there were no more problems in the implementation of Islamic
\nlaw as the country had acknowledged it for decades in several
\naspects of daily life.<\/p>\n
\"Actually, the country had already implemented Islamic law
\nespecially in marital and probate laws. Not just in Aceh, but in
\nall parts of the country, so we should not make a problem out of
\nthis,\" Roy said in a media briefing after the party's weekly-
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
He further underlined that in Aceh the implementation of
\nIslamic law had already been decided by Law No.44\/1999 so there
\nwas no need for further discussion on the matter.<\/p>\n
\"What is important for PDI Perjuangan is that the
\nimplementation of Islamic Law in the province will not present a
\nthreat to the unitary state and should strengthen our country,\"
\nRoy remarked.<\/p>\n
Last week, the largest party in the country indicated that it
\nwould reject Islamic law saying that it was against the basic
\nprinciples of the country as mentioned in the 1945 Constitution,
\nthe state ideology of Pancasila and the principles of a unitary
\nstate.<\/p>\n
It was a very unpopular decision as many see the
\nimplementation of Islamic law, as demanded by the Aceh people, to
\nbe one of the possibilities of winning over the hearts of the
\nAcehnese and to calm their call for freedom.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman Wahid also blasted the decision saying
\nthat the government will go ahead with the implementation of the
\nlaw despite opposition from PDI Perjuangan.<\/p>\n
Islamic law is stated in the Special Autonomy draft of Aceh
\nNanggroe Darussalam that is currently being discussed by the
\nHouse of Representatives special committee.<\/p>\n
The proposed draft also gives the province wide authority in
\nsecurity, financial and legal matters.<\/p>\n
However, PDI Perjuangan did not provide further elaboration as
\nto how the draft actually proposed to cover the wide range of
\naspects for implementation that would include financial and legal
\naspects as the current Law No.44\/1999 only allows the province to
\nimplement Islamic law in social, educational, religious and
\ncultural fields.<\/p>\n
When asked if PDI Perjuangan agreed to the implementation of
\nIslamic Law, Roy said, \"Agreed...there is no problem whatsoever.\"<\/p>\n
He even said that the party's earlier statement might have
\nbeen made in a different context and not regarding the
\nimplementation of Islamic law. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pdi-perjuangan-agrees-to-islamic-law-in-aceh-1447893297",
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