Fabian Januarius Kuwado, Jakarta – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has reaffirmed that the state ideology of Pancasila is the one and only ideology that is acceptable in Indonesia.
The President made this affirmation when speaking before 1,500 Indonesian military (TNI) soldiers following Friday prayers and lunch at the Kartika Hall in Tanjung Datuk, Natuna Islands, Riau, on Friday May 19.
“Once again, the Pancasila state is final. No further discussion will be tolerated”, said Widodo as quoted by an official Palace press release.
Because of this therefore, if any social organisation wishes to abandon or undermine the ideology of Pancasila or other pillars of the state, namely the 1945 Constitution (UUD 1945), the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) or Unity in Diversity (Bhinneka Tunggal Ika), it will deemed as contradicting the most fundamental values of the Indonesian nation.
Widodo also confirmed that the state will not stay silent in confronting movements that undermine these pillars. “If there is any ormas [social organisation] such as this, yes, we will clobber (gebuk) them”, said Widodo.
This applies not just to anti-Pancasila groups but the state will also “clobber” social organisations that follow communism.
This is regulated under Provisional People’s Consultative Assembly Decree Number 25/1996 (Tap MPRS XXV/1966) which states that the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) is a banned organisation.
“Yes, we will clobber them, we will stamp them out, this is already clear. Don’t question this again. Don’t question this again. The legal umbrella is clear, the TAP MPRS”, said Widodo.
Widodo also spoke about the issue of clobbering anti-Pancasila and communist social organisations during a meeting with senior media chiefs at the State Palace on Wednesday May 17.
Widodo said that the constitution guarantees freedom of association but if an organisation opposes the Constitution it will be “clobbered”.
The president asserted that any organisation that openly opposes Pancasila, the UUD 1945, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika or the NKRI cannot be permitted. The government, said Widodo, will not hesitate to act against any such organisation.
“I was inaugurated as president and I hold to the Constitution, the wishes of the people. No other. If for example the PKI resurfaces, they’ll just be clobbered. The TAP MPRS is clear on this ban”, said Widodo.
Notes
The use of the term gebuk is reminiscent of remarks made by former President Suharto in 1997 when he said that he would resign if it was the will of the people but vowed to “clobber” anyone who tried to force him out of office unconstitutionally. “If the people want Pak [Su]Harto to step down, thank you, I shall receive it well. For the sake of the people and our Constitution, I will accept the decision”, he was quoted as saying. But, he warned, if they tried to seize power unlawfully, he would, as he had vowed to previously, “clobber them because they are violating the Constitution”.
[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was “ Jokowi: Ormas Anti-Pancasila dan Komunis, Kita Gebuk, Kita Tendang”.]
