Commentary: FPI acts are a blessing in disguise for SBY, police

Kornelius Purba ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 06/04/2008 10:14 AM  |  Headlines

If I were President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, I would be very thankful to the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) members for their brutal actions Sunday against activists of the National Alliance for the Freedom of Faith and Religion (AKKBB).

If I were the President, I would promote Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Budi Winarko for quickly blaming the AKKBB for the violence, and especially for doing little to prevent and stop the attacks.

They would be my saviors at this very difficult time.

If I were President Yudhoyono, I would try to buy time by delaying the arrest of the people responsible for the violence. To be honest, who would not be afraid of people who appear on TV with no fear because they know the government is powerless against them?

Like the President, I also would not have the guts or the interest to condemn and arrest them immediately. If Yudhoyono is afraid of them, it is understandable.

The incident is also a good lesson for human rights activists and for Indonesian citizens who naively demand equal rights for all. Constitutional equality is only on paper. Not all people agree with the violence, but also not all people are against the acts of terror. Both parties deserve respect, but the more powerful the party, the more respect -- actually, to be precise, fear -- they can expect.

And more importantly, if I were the President, I would be grateful that at least for a while, the FPI violence has diverted the people's anger and attention away from my decision to raise fuel prices and my inability to shed the title "Mr. Doubtful".

I could not be blamed for Sunday's terror, because I never asked the FPI to attack, and more importantly the group members claim to represent the majority of the population in Indonesia.

Don't talk about morals or human rights here. I'm not a scientist. All citizens have their constitutional right to express their views in their own way.

In public, I would certainly condemn such brutality and scold my ministers and National Police chief Gen. Sutanto for their sluggish action to uphold the law. The police's harsh tactics to silence student protesters are laudable, as is their lack of action to stop the beatings of AKKBB activists.

Don't ask my personal view about the destructiveness. As a civilized person, I still have a conscience. But also do not forget that nothing is personal in politics. Based on political calculations, it is more efficient to let violent groups terrorize the public rather than let the police prosecute the violators.

Unfortunately, I am only an ordinary Indonesian citizen. By any standard, I belong to a minority group, whose views and faith are always declared wrong by those who believe God has trusted them to represent the majority of the population.

I don't want to be hospitalized just because I express my honest opinion about those who believe that God obliges them to silence those who have a different faith and convictions from them. To be honest, I am a coward in facing people who believe they are free to break my nose and injure my head with their fists, only because I do not belong to their group.

It is wrong to conclude that Indonesia's image abroad has been damaged just because CNN reported on the bloody incident. The international community fully accepts the government's explanation that Indonesia is a very peaceful, tolerant, moderate and democratic nation. We are a smiling nation. Indonesia is a great nation, and the world should learn from Indonesia's way of life. And even if it is true that our country is becoming more horrifying, there are many people in this world who like to experience horrors. Indonesia can be a perfect place to satisfy their psychological needs.

It is true that we have been told by our religious leaders that we should fight against liberalism, pluralism and secularism. Like our election system, which is based on popular votes, the minority must follow the majority. They must forget their own identity and political aspirations and follow the majority of those who unilaterally claim themselves to be the true representative of the majority.

Many Indonesians are outraged by the acts of terror against those who wanted to express their belief in the constitutional rights of freedom of religion and expression. But they do not dare to reveal it in public, because they do no want to be harassed like the AKKBB activists.

For those who read this column and disagree with my views, please do not be outraged and beat me up. If you raid my house, please do not torture my wife. She is in a wheelchair, please show her a little mercy. And more importantly, I write this as part of my obligation as an employee of this newspaper company. Nothing personal, please.

The writer can be reached at purba@thejakartapost.com

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