Public discourse best way to excise fundamentalism'<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Ensuring freedom of speech for everyone, not adopting draconian
\nlaws, is a more effective way to curb fundamentalism in the
\ncountry, experts said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Young Muslim scholar Ulil Abshar Abdalla said the teachings
\nand beliefs of fundamentalist organizations like Jamaah Islamiyah
\n(JI) that condone murder in the name of religion must be fought
\nthrough an open public discourse.<\/p>\n
Members of fundamentalist groups must be allowed to speak
\ntheir minds so moderate groups can counter their arguments,
\nallowing the people to see that fundamentalism is wrong, he said.<\/p>\n
\"If we open a public discourse, we can show them and also the
\npublic that fundamentalist ideas are wrong,\" he said at a
\ndiscussion on a proposed draconian security law.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesia would lose if it chose to fight extremist
\ngroups using a draconian law like Singapore or Malaysia's
\nInternal Security Act (ISA).<\/p>\n
With a draconian law like the ISA, fundamentalist teachings
\nand beliefs would go underground, he said.<\/p>\n
The best way to deal with fundamentalism is through open
\npublic debates, which can only take place if freedom of
\nexpression is guaranteed, he said.<\/p>\n
Human rights activist Asmara Nababan agreed that freedom of
\nexpression could not be lost. \"What would the country be if we
\nhad no freedom of thought?\"<\/p>\n
Both Asmara and Ulil support the government's decision not to
\ndraft ISA-like law for Indonesia.<\/p>\n
However, they were cautious about the government's plan to
\nrevise the antiterrorism law to give security forces more power
\nto act against suspected terrorists.<\/p>\n
\"If the revised law, for example, extends the arrest period
\nfor suspected terrorists from one week to two weeks, that would
\nbe tolerable. But if it touches other articles that protect human
\nrights, we must be cautious,\" Asmara said.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said the revisions will not impinge
\non human rights.<\/p>\n
The revisions, Susilo said, would only give the security
\nforces the necessary powers to prevent terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has been hit by a number of bombings over the past
\nfew years. The major attacks include the Bali bombings last year
\nthat killed over 200 people and last week's JW Marriott Hotel
\nbombing in Jakarta, which left 12 people dead.<\/p>\n
Terrorist group Jamaah Islamiyah has been blamed for both
\nbombings. JI, allegedly led by Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, reportedly
\naims to establish a pan-Islamic state in Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
Ba'asyir, currently on trial for treason and conspiracy to
\nassassinate President Megawati Soekarnoputri while she was still
\nvice president, was just reelected to lead the Indonesian
\nMujahiddin Council, a militant organization that openly campaigns
\nfor the implementation of Islamic law in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Ulil noted that militant fundamentalist groups were not
\nexclusive to Indonesia, but existed in many parts of the world.<\/p>\n
\"If you see radicalism in Turkey, Algeria, those radical
\ngroups are like haze spreading out to many places,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Only if they are given the opportunity to express their minds
\nand opionions will they not resort to violence, he said.<\/p>\n
Ulil, nevertheless, warned that opening a public discourse on
\nfundamentalism did not mean fundamentalist groups were free to
\ncommit crimes.<\/p>\n
\"When a fundamentalist commits a crime, security officers must
\ntake legal action,\" Ulil said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/public-discourse-best-way-to-excise-fundamentalism-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}