Public discourse best way to excise fundamentalism'

Public discourse best way to excise fundamentalism'

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Ensuring freedom of speech for everyone, not adopting draconian
laws, is a more effective way to curb fundamentalism in the
country, experts said on Thursday.

Young Muslim scholar Ulil Abshar Abdalla said the teachings
and beliefs of fundamentalist organizations like Jamaah Islamiyah
(JI) that condone murder in the name of religion must be fought
through an open public discourse.

Members of fundamentalist groups must be allowed to speak
their minds so moderate groups can counter their arguments,
allowing the people to see that fundamentalism is wrong, he said.

"If we open a public discourse, we can show them and also the
public that fundamentalist ideas are wrong," he said at a
discussion on a proposed draconian security law.

He said Indonesia would lose if it chose to fight extremist
groups using a draconian law like Singapore or Malaysia's
Internal Security Act (ISA).

With a draconian law like the ISA, fundamentalist teachings
and beliefs would go underground, he said.

The best way to deal with fundamentalism is through open
public debates, which can only take place if freedom of
expression is guaranteed, he said.

Human rights activist Asmara Nababan agreed that freedom of
expression could not be lost. "What would the country be if we
had no freedom of thought?"

Both Asmara and Ulil support the government's decision not to
draft ISA-like law for Indonesia.

However, they were cautious about the government's plan to
revise the antiterrorism law to give security forces more power
to act against suspected terrorists.

"If the revised law, for example, extends the arrest period
for suspected terrorists from one week to two weeks, that would
be tolerable. But if it touches other articles that protect human
rights, we must be cautious," Asmara said.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said the revisions will not impinge
on human rights.

The revisions, Susilo said, would only give the security
forces the necessary powers to prevent terrorist attacks.

Indonesia has been hit by a number of bombings over the past
few years. The major attacks include the Bali bombings last year
that killed over 200 people and last week's JW Marriott Hotel
bombing in Jakarta, which left 12 people dead.

Terrorist group Jamaah Islamiyah has been blamed for both
bombings. JI, allegedly led by Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, reportedly
aims to establish a pan-Islamic state in Southeast Asia.

Ba'asyir, currently on trial for treason and conspiracy to
assassinate President Megawati Soekarnoputri while she was still
vice president, was just reelected to lead the Indonesian
Mujahiddin Council, a militant organization that openly campaigns
for the implementation of Islamic law in Indonesia.

Ulil noted that militant fundamentalist groups were not
exclusive to Indonesia, but existed in many parts of the world.

"If you see radicalism in Turkey, Algeria, those radical
groups are like haze spreading out to many places," he said.

Only if they are given the opportunity to express their minds
and opionions will they not resort to violence, he said.

Ulil, nevertheless, warned that opening a public discourse on
fundamentalism did not mean fundamentalist groups were free to
commit crimes.

"When a fundamentalist commits a crime, security officers must
take legal action," Ulil said.