Muslim groups demand imposition of 'syariah'
JAKARTA (JP): Another huge rally marked the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Tuesday when over 1,000 Muslim protesters from various groups demanded the inclusion of syariah (Islamic law) into the amended Constitution.
Comprising mostly of Islam Defenders Front (FPI) supporters, the demonstrators criticized the MPR legislators for their reluctance to add a clause which would oblige Muslims to comply with syariah, better known as the Jakarta Charter, to Article 29 of the Constitution.
Although facing unforeseen defeat, the United Development Party (PPP) and Crescent Star Party (PBB) repeatedly urged for the entry of the clause.
The FPI masses, who came from Greater Jakarta and towns in West Java, Central Java, Maluku and Sumatra, were sent from the organization's headquarters in Petamburan, Central Jakarta, at about 10 a.m. to the MPR complex, just one-kilometer away.
Some 100 activists of the Islamic Youth Movement (GPI) and Indonesian Islamic Students (PPI) later joined the rally in front of the MPR entrance gate.
Another 100 people, claiming to represent the Indonesian Students Action Front (KAMMI), mingled with the crowd. Unlike the other Muslim protesters, KAMMI demanded that military representatives be removed from the Assembly. They said the Assembly's decision to maintain the military faction until 2009 was a breach of the reform movement.
A traffic jam was the immediate result of the demonstration, the first to involve FPI members, whose recent activities have included raids on discotheques and places reported to be involved in prostitution.
FPI field coordinator Siradj Alwi argued that the adoption of the Jakarta Charter would instead prevent protracted wars of ideologies, which, he said, was the root of national disintegration.
He contended that the clause was far from discriminative but realistic and proportional due to the fact that Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country.
Muslims make up 90 percent of the country's population of 210 people.
"The interests of followers of one religion cannot be scarified for the sake of the interests of other religions," Siradj said in his speech.
Security officers allowed some 30 representatives of FPI, including its chairman, Al Habib Muhammad Rizieq Syhihab, to meet with MPR deputy speaker Yusuf Amir Faisal of PBB.
During the meeting, Yusuf assured the Muslim activists that the fight for their demand would continue.
"The wish to insert the Jakarta Charter has been the concern of Muslims since 1945, but, unfortunately, not all Muslim politicians in the MPR can accept the desire," Yusuf said.
The FPI members dispersed after the call for noon prayers was heard.
Late in the afternoon, the City Front activists took their turn. Defying the police cordon, the spirited protesters brought down the MPR gate after their entry to the compound of the Assembly was rejected. (prb/dja/nvn/44)