Freeze of FPI militia hailed, other paramilitary groups told to disband
Freeze of FPI militia hailed, other paramilitary groups told to disband
Muhammad Nafik and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto and
Muslim scholars hailed on Thursday the announced freeze of the
paramilitary wing of the militant Islam Defenders Front (FPI)
with a call on all other extremist groups or militias to
immediately disband.
Many other paramilitary groups affiliated to political parties
and those belonging to Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, the
nation's two biggest Muslim organizations, should also freeze
their operations since their mission was no longer relevant in
the reform era, they added.
Speaking to journalists who asked him to comment on the
cessation of FPI's violent activities, Endriartono said security
was a matter that must be entrusted to the government and not to
the civilian paramilitary groups.
"We do not need such civilian groups. The police handle the
security and if the people need help, there are official security
posts across the country," he said.
Endriartono said the presence of those civilian militia
organizations had adversely posed threats to security and order.
"It is quite easy to provoke conflict among many groups and it
would be very dangerous if they (opposing groups in the country)
start to rise up against each other," the four-star general
added.
Earlier last week, Endriartono made a similar call for other
extremist and paramilitary organizations to cease their
militaristic operations.
FPI, notorious for vandalizing bars and nightclubs, decided on
Wednesday to indefinitely freeze its armed group's activities in
Jakarta and throughout Indonesia.
The disbandment came less than one month after Laskar Jihad, a
much larger paramilitary group, which was blamed for much of the
sectarian fighting in Maluku and Central Sulawesi, dissolved
itself.
That came in the wake of foreign pressure on Indonesia to get
tougher against militant groups following the Bali bombing which
claimed at least 190 lives, mostly foreigners.
Also, Muslim scholars hailed FPI's announcement as a proper
decision, urging similar civilian paramilitary gangs to follow
suit in an effort to nurture the nation's young democracy.
"It is a positive campaign for Islam amid the global fight
against terrorism," Ulil Absar Abdalla, of the 40-million strong
NU, told The Jakarta Post.
He praised Endriartono for making such a forceful call for all
paramilitary organizations to disband. "I admire his stance. He
is the right general to lead the military at the right time."
NU leader Solahuddin Wahid said the FPI's decision to dissolve
itself would help boost the image of Islam despite the fact that
the hard-line group did not represent Indonesian Muslims, most of
whom claim to be moderate.
Solahuddin, also a deputy chairman of the National Commission
on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), said the existence of paramilitary
gangs was a negative influence on democracy and security, and
"does not develop the nation".
He said he believed that the dissolution of FPI was a result
of fear by its sponsors of being accused of involvement in
terrorism amid the global war on it.
Ulil said the FPI dissolved itself as the hard-line group had
lost its "political protection from generals". Heavier public
criticism against the gang also forced it to disband, he added.
He urged the government to use the Bali bombings as "momentum"
to get tougher against all paramilitary gangs by pressuring them
to quit their violent ways.
The FPI claimed it operated solely to rid the world of sin,
but owners of the entertainment spots said they had been targeted
after failing to pay protection money to the police.
In a sign that the authorities were adopting a tougher line
against radicals, police last month arrested FPI leader Habib
Rizieq Shihab, along with nine of his followers on charges of
vandalism connected to their latest attack on a billiard center
and nightclub in Central Jakarta. Rizieq is now under house
arrest.