"If our founding fathers struggled for independence to the last drop of their blood, it is our generation today that has to defend the characteristics of Indonesia to the last drop of their blood. It is for this reason, the government strongly rejectJakarta (Antara News) - Indonesia is not an Islamic state although more than 80 percent of its 250 million people are Muslims, and therefore it rejects the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)s ideology on its land.
"Indonesia is a state that believes in one supreme God but it is not a country based on a certain religion," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said when delivering his last state-of-the-nation address related to the 69th anniversary of Indonesias Independence at the Parliament Building in Jakarta, on August 15, 2014.
Proclaiming its independence on August 17, 1945, Indonesia has its state ideology called "Pancasila" (Five Principles) consisting of Belief in the one and only God; Just and civilized humanity; Unity of Indonesia; Democracy guided by the inner wisdom in the unanimity arising out of deliberations amongst representatives; and Social justice for all the people of Indonesia.
Indonesia, which officially recognizes six religions: Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism, has announced its rejection of the ISIS and has banned the teaching of ISISs ideology in the country.
In his address, Yudhoyono urged the public to maintain their identity as Indonesians which are characterized by Pancasila - diversity, the spirit of unity, tolerance, politeness, pluralism and humanity.
"If our founding fathers struggled for independence to the last drop of their blood, it is our generation today that has to defend the characteristics of Indonesia to the last drop of their blood. It is for this reason, the government strongly rejects the propagation of the misguided teaching of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Indonesia because it is completely against, and even detrimental to our identity," he said.
The governments stance on the ISIS was praised by the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR). "The House supports the firm stance of the government that bans the ISIS ideology in Indonesia," House Speaker, Marzuki Alie, stated while opening the joint session of the House of Representatives (DPR), the Regional Representative Council (DPD), and the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR), with the presidents address being the only item on the agenda.
The ISIS ideology was extremely radical and had the potential to hinder national security and stability, Alie stated.
The government and the public must safeguard Indonesian unity by rejecting movements or organizations such as the ISIS whose ideology contradicts Indonesias Pancasila ideology, he emphasized.
Most Muslim-based organizations in Indonesia have denounced the violence committed by the ISIS and rejected its ideology.
The ISIS movement was more dangerous than the radicals in this country, Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) general chairman, Din Syamsuddin, has stated.
"If other groups (the radicals) make America an enemy, the ISIS makes Muslims their enemies," Din said recently, adding that the ISIS can destabilize the nation and the state.
The ISIS becomes very dangerous because it is laden with violence, destruction, demonstration, and use of weapons, according to him.
In spreading its teachings, the ISIS justifies violence, such as suicide bombings, looting banks, mass murder, rapes, as well as damaging sanctuaries.
MUI and representatives of 38 Muslim organizations in the country have prohibited the ISIS, but decided there was no need to set a "fatwa haram" (illicit edict), he pointed out.
To prevent the spread of ISIS teachings in Indonesia, the Indonesian National Police is collaborating with immigration officials to tighten the supervision of Indonesian citizens traveling to Iraq and Syria.
"The police is working closely with the immigration office and coordinating with the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights for identifying Indonesian citizens who go directly to Iraq and Syria or through the countries of the Middle East," Indonesian National Police Chief, General Sutarman, stated in Jakarta recently.
The police had received information that there were 56 Indonesians who went to Syria, of which four had died, according to him.
The police has mapped a local group, which is allegedly affiliated with the ISIS, and communities who have been influenced by their ideology.
A joint team of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) and police personnel recently arrested seven people suspected to be supporters of the ISIS movement, including their chief, Chep Hermawan.
Chep Hermawan was arrested after he declared himself the ISIS chief for the Indonesian region several days ago along with six others at a gas filling station in Cilopadang, Cilacap, Central Java.
Meanwhile, the Jakarta Police has been monitoring the cyber world to track the developments of the ISIS.
"We are patrolling the cyber world to monitor the ISIS networks in Indonesia," Adjunct Senior Commissioner, Hilarius Duha, the Jakarta Polices Cyber Crime sub-directorate head, stated recently.
The monitoring was crucial to detect any spread of the ideology or teachings banned by the Indonesian government, he added. The Jakarta Police has also sent security officers and intelligence agents to detect the likely presence of ISIS members, he noted.
A public campaign was also carried out to increase public awareness of the dangers of ISIS, he added. ***1***
(f001 )(INE)
Reporter: Fardah
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
