PDIP: The Government's Decision To Stop All FPI Activities Is Right

ILLUSTRATION / FPI High Priest Rizieq Shihab with his supporters (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Chairman of the PDI-P DPP Ahmad Basarah supports the government's decision to ban all activities of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). According to him, this decision was correct and of course it was taken through careful consideration and legal study.

"We fully support the government's move to ban FPI activities and activities. I am sure this has been through careful consideration and has gone through a thorough legal review," Basarah said in a written statement to journalists, Wednesday, December 30.

This support, he continued, was given because the government had made it clear that the FPI's Articles of Association contradicted Law Number 16 of 2017 concerning Community Organizations. Not only that, FPI often takes over the role of the state by carrying out a series of law enforcement activities such as sweeping which are often accompanied by violent actions.

Moreover, there are 35 FPI members who have been involved in criminal acts of terrorism and around 206 members who have joined organizations who have been involved in other general crimes. "In fact, in a video that was viral and was also shown in the government press conference during the announcement of the ban on FPI activities, it is clear that FPI has openly stated its support for the ISIS struggle," he said.

"With all the social, political and legal considerations, I think the government's decision is right to stop all FPI activities," added the Deputy Speaker of the MPR.

Basarah asked all community organizations in the country to take lessons on this prohibition. He said that freedom of association, assembly and establishment of organizations is guaranteed by the constitution. It's just that, without exception, anyone must obey the rules and regulations of the applicable law.

"Every activity of mass organizations is obliged to maintain the integrity, unity and integrity of the nation. Likewise with the activities carried out, never cause trouble, disturb public order, let alone tear the joints of diversity in the country," he said.

"Indonesia is a democracy based on law. In the name of law, we must support the government's steps in creating freedom of association and assembly based on the provisions of the prevailing laws and regulations, including the prohibition of activities of mass organizations deemed to have violated the law. This is in order to create a safe and orderly democratic life within the framework of the Republic of Indonesia which is based on Pancasila, "he concluded.