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.