'Conservatives are on the rise'

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 04/26/2006 10:50 AM  |  Jakarta

The Internet has become a refuge for peace lovers as they post petitions to demand hardline groups like the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) be dismissed. Many people disagree with the violent and intimidating actions the FPI use to uphold their perceived Islamic values. The Jakarta Post asked people about the issue.

Felix Sutandyo is 25-year old foreign exchange trader. He lives in Puri Indah, West Jakarta:

I think it is a shame that a group of thugs claiming to be the defenders of Islam can march down to every place they think is full of sin and create a riot there. That is what the FPI is all about.

I agree that in a sense, these kind of movements reveal the dynamics of our society, but the government needs to draw the line on this kind of chaos before it grows bigger.

Not all members of our community are well educated. A large percentage of people can still be exploited by the FPI. Those people are the ones the government must think about.

Arvina Ernanda, is 33-year old interior designer who lives in an apartment block in Kuningan, South Jakarta:

We see more that nowadays the conservatives are on the rise. Democracy gives them more space to show their force.

The FPI and their unlawful raids and campaigns are part of this.

I do not think there is a way to prevent conservatism from growing in our society. It will be kind of like a cycle. There are going to be times when people are going to have enough of these people and start resenting them.

It has started now, with several people trying to get those who do not agree with the FPI to speak up.

That is a very appropriate way to deal with the FPI. Something that starts as a civil movement must be responded to with another civil movement. The government will only have to watch out when the clashes start to grow big.

--The Jakarta Post

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