PBNU Wasekjen: Ban FPI To Protect Communities

Illustration An action participant from the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) rides a motorbike between police officers (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Deputy Secretary General of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board Masduki Baidlowi believes that the government's decision to ban all activities of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) is precisely to protect the wider community.

Moreover, the legality of the FPI does not exist without having a Certificate of Registration (SKT).

"So, the ban is just an affirmation, because FPI has actually dissolved by itself, in the absence of a legal standing in the form of an SKT. The government's firm step is to protect the wider community," said Masduki Baidlowi, in a statement reported by Antara, Friday.

According to him, the community organizations (ormas) have often caused a commotion.

"Many other larger groups of people were screaming because of the commotion. Now, the government has acted decisively to protect the larger community," he explained.

Masduki thought that the uproar that had split Indonesian society into two camps, especially on social media (medsos) only happened before and during the 2014 and 2019 Presidential Elections.

"However, it turns out that the division has continued until now. In the end, the government has acted decisively. That's right," said Masduki who is also the spokesman for Vice President Ma'ruf Amin.

Freedom, continued Masduki, cannot be exploited in such a way, because it borders on the freedom of other parties.

"This applies to all, not only FPI," said the former member of the DPR RI from PKB.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the PBNU, Marsudi Syuhud, assessed that the government has banned all FPI activities due to legal standing or legal standing.

He gave an example of several socio-religious organizations that have remained in existence in Indonesia today, including NU, Muhammadiyah, Matlaul Anwar, Al Irsyad, and Persis.

These organizations, Marsudi explained, follow the rules by meeting the legal requirements of the government.

Previously, the government had announced that the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) was a banned organization based on the Joint Decree (SKB) of six ministers and institutions.

"The government prohibits FPI activities and will stop any activities that will be carried out because FPI no longer has a legal standing either as a mass organization or as an ordinary organization," said Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, during a press conference at the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs Office, Jakarta, Wednesday, December 30. .

Since June 20, 2019, FPI has de jure disbanded as a mass organization, but as an organization FPI continues to carry out activities that violate order and security and are against the law, including acts of violence, sweeping unilaterally, provocation, and others.

Mahfud said that based on statutory regulations and in accordance with the Constitutional Court decision dated December 23, 2014, the government prohibited FPI activities and would stop any FPI activities.

"If there is an organization acting on behalf of FPI, it is deemed not to exist and must be rejected, starting today," said Mahfud.