As widely reported by the media lately, it has alarmed many security and political circles but other quarters are convinced that it will not flourish.
Posing a serious threat to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), the NII movement will not be able to flourish as it lacks widespread public support.
Even state officials and religious figures, who prefer to maintain the philosophy of Pancasila that rejects the state dominated by any one religion, have voiced their strong opposition against the establishment of NII in the country.
"There is no room for that radical group of people who want to see the Indonesian country an Islamic state, for all that steps out of the track of NKRI is illegal," Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar said in Denpasr, Bali, on Thursday evening.
Speaking after a banquet, hosted by Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika, Patrialis said the NII movement aimed to disrupt the the Unitary State of Indonesian Republic.
The justice and human rights minister added the NII movement was feared to divide the national unity and integrity and therefore it could not be tolerated.
"We are brothers in one nation and we don`t want to see the nation disintegrated. Therefore there is no importance of such a movement," Patrialis said.
Related to the rampant brainwashing action by NII activists at a number universities in the country, the justice minister said it was conducted by only a few people.
"The brainwashing activity at certain campuses was done by only a few people of NII activists who did not understand," Patrialis asserted.
But he called on the people to remain vigilant and take precautions against NII movement.
"The people should not be easily provoked by the existence of NII movement but remain vigilant," Patrialis said.
Meanwhile, Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika also confirmed Patrialis` view and warned the people in the resort island to beware of the NII movement.
"We have to remain vigilant because such a movement continues to exist and wants to divide the NKRI," Pastika said, adding that although NII movement has long existed, it has been latent for it originated from an ideology.
According to him, such an ideology-based movement has lately been disturbing people in some areas across the country.
"They are a heretical group with their own perception which is also schismatic, and therefore they are not a religious movement," Governor Pastika said.
Asked about possible existence of that radical group in Bali, the governor said he would submit it fully to the Bali police chief to take anticipatory steps.
Concerned with the reemergence of NII that posed a threat to the sovereignty of the NKRI, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday called for a stop of the movement.
"Any kind of threats to the four pillars of the state, namely NKRI, Pancasila, 1945 Constitution, and the Unity in Diversity should be stopped for it is the responsibility of all national elements to do so," the president said.
The head of state asserted that the threats to the four pillars by using religion and ideology should not be underestimated.
"There is an ideologically and religiously motivated radicalization movement that we must be aware of," the president said.
According to the president, there was nothing wrong with religion, but the fault lies in the radicalization efforts with the basis of religious teaching.
"In the long term, the threat of radicalization efforts, if ignored, will alter our national character," president Yudhoyono said.
Even Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Amidhan has also urged the government to take firm action against radicalism and the Indonesian Islamic State movement.
Speaking in a discussion at the legislative building here on Thursday, the MUI chairman said the government should do something about the recent increasing radicalism and NII movement because it would jeopardize the unity and integrity of the NKRI.
"The government should be firm. Even the government has known the location of the movement and the party who is responsible in the radicalism acts," Amidhan said.
Amidhan said that various violent acts such as in Cikeusik and Temanggung were intentionally created to corner the Muslim community.
Besides the MUI chairman, deputy House of Representatives Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso also urged the government to immediately root out NII networks suspected to have already infiltrated universities in the country.
"The government must have the courage to crush the NII so that it would not cause more damage," Priyo said here on Thursday.
He said preventing and eradicating NII networks was one of the tasks of the nation especially the government through its intelligence agencies.
"I have asked Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Santoso and the intelligence agency to immediately neutralize these terrorist and other sinister networks," Priyo said.
In reality, the security minister admitted that the government has already taken action against the propagators of the radical ideology before.
"The government has already anticipated misleading ideologies such as `Darul Islam` (DI) and NII," Djoko Santoso said here on Thursday.
He said the government had also taken firm actions against the propagators of the ideology in previous periods.
"Until now the government keeps monitoring all kinds of misleading movement. We will face them together, not only the government but also ulemas and community leaders. (There has not been any) ignorance. A lot of legal actions have been taken," he said. (*)
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
