The government’s plan to ban the social organisation Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) has raised questions about the existence of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) which has been criticised by groups that are not sympathetic to the FPI. What is the government’s response to this?

“Based on existing data, there is no problem with them (the FPI). On the issue of the FPI there are legal issues right and there is the police to handle that”, said Home Affairs Minister (Mendagri) Tjahjo Kumolo at the State Place in Jakarta on Friday July 12.

Kumolo said that the FPI is different from the HTI. The HTI is explicitly anti-Pancasila and aims to create an Islamic caliphate or an administration based on Islamic law. But the Indonesia’s founding principles are clearly spelled out in the Constitution, the state ideology of Pancasila and Unity in Diversity (Bhineka Tunggal Ika).

“We have said from the start that no evidence has been found that these other social organisations are explicitly anti-Pancasila, explicitly anti-NKRI [Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia]. All of them must have detailed records”, said Kumolo.

“This touches upon the greater public good, everyone is entitled to [freedom of] assembly, association. [If] their goals are clear, their registration is clear”, he asserted.

The issue of Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution and the NKRI has already been finalised. There cannot be any more additions. -- Mendagri, Tjahjo Kumolo.

Speaking at a press conference meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Politics, Security and Legal Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Wiranto explained that aside from the HTI having the goal of establishing an Islamic caliphate, its ideology has already been outlawed in 20 countries, including Islamic countries.

“[Based] on police reports, the presence of the HTI is opposed by many, horizontal conflicts within society has also occurred between those that reject them and the HTI themselves”, said Wiranto at his office earlier this afternoon.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was Mendagri: HTI Anti Pancasila, FPI Enggak Ada Masalah.]

Source: https://kumparan.com/muhamad-iqbal/mendagri-hti-anti-pancasila-fpi-enggak-ada-masalah