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| Southeast Asia |
| Indonesia targets radicals behind anti-governor protests |
| 2017-02-06 |
| [OMANTRIBUNE] Indonesia is moving to rein in a notorious hardline group which spearheaded protests against Jakarta’s governor, but experts warn it will be tough to bring to heel a network with close ties to the establishment. The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) has in recent years become the face of the hardline group in the world’s most populous Moslem-majority country, growing in influence despite being a fringe organization whose extreme views are rejected by most. The group has raided bars selling alcohol during the holy month of Ramadan, forced the cancellation of a concert by Lady Gaga -- whom they dubbed "the devil’s messenger" -- with noisy protests, and led demonstrations against the Miss World beauty pageant when it came to Indonesia. Led by firebrand ... firebrandsare noted more for audio volume and the quantity of spittle generated than for any actual logic in their arguments... holy man Rizieq Shihab, the FPI helped organise recent mass rallies -- which attracted conservative and moderate people -- against Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, an ethnic Chinese, who is on trial for allegedly insulting religion. The protest movement against Purnama -- accused of insulting the Holy Koran while campaigning for re-election in polls later this month -- propelled the hardliners from being a marginal group to the centre of national politics, alarming observers and some in the government. Now authorities are seeking to put the muzzle back on the radicals, with police stepping up an investigation into Shihab in a move seen as supported by President Joko Widodo and his administration. "This is unprecedented, it is the first time that the president and the government is openly challenging this group," Tobias Basuki, an analyst from Jakarta think-tank, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said. Last week, the police named the holy man a suspect for allegedly defaming Indonesia’s founding president, Sukarno, and the state ideology in a speech several years ago, meaning authorities believe there is enough evidence for him to stand trial. Basuki said successive governments had shied away from cracking down for fear of being accused of attacking the religion but the current administration decided to "make a stand" as concerns mounted about the hardliners’ influence. The forces of Evil have reacted angrily. Hundreds have rallied in support of Shihab -- who has served two short jail terms in the past -- whenever he is hauled in for police questioning. |
| Posted by:Fred |