Law on mass organizations is merely about power

Abdil Mughis Mudhoffir and Rafiqa Qurrata A’yun
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PREMIUM

Melbourne/Jakarta / Wed, August 30, 2017 / 08:26 am

Law on mass organizations is merely about power

Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia members and sympathizers of Islamic organizations from Greater Jakarta stage a rally to protest the 2017 Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) on Mass Organizations in Jakarta on July 17. (JP/Ibrahim Irsyad)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo recently issued a controversial regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) that revised the 2013 law on mass organizations (Ormas), in response to increasing Islamic radicalism and vigilantism. The targets are organizations believed to be spreading ideologies that contradict state ideology Pancasila and the Constitution. This controversy divides those who believe the law is an effective way to protect society from intolerant groups and those who argue that the Perppu could lead to authoritarianism all over again. Both camps, however, agree that there an increase in the number of vigilante groups and in Islamic radicalism. They also assume that a legal approach is needed to address that issue, but disagree on the legal measures. Many analysis have shown that strong security measures do not guarantee diminishing Islamic radicalism. Its agents eve...