The motives of Pasukan Berani Mati ("suicide troops," according to the article) and exactly what was the last straw among the many crimes of the Islamic Defenders Front are not clear, but any pressure on the government to ban the group is good news for Muslims and non-Muslims alike in Indonesia. Now, will the Defenders attempt break up this march like the last one? "Indonesia: Muslims to march against radical Islamic group," from Adnkronos International, June 10:
Jakarta, 9 June (AKI) - Muslims in Indonesia have vowed to take to the streets of the capital Jakarta if the government does not ban the radical Islamic Defenders Front or FPI.
"Ten thousand militants are ready to march in Jakarta if the government does not impose a ban on the Islamic Defenders Front," said Ayub Junaidi, the coodinator of the militia group, Pasukan Berani Mati, in an interview with Adnkronos International (AKI).
Members of the PBM are currently gathering in East Java.
Established in 1998, the hardline FPI is known for attacking bars and clubs during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
On 1 June, the FPI was accused of having attacked a group that was rallying in support in of religious tolerance.
Some of its members were arrested, but many, including Junaidi, have called for the FPI to be banned.
Junaidi said that "the militia is made up of diverse groups of about 300 men each and all of them will be trained in such a way as to deal with the worse possible situations whether physically or mentally."
The militants are members of groups associated with the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest moderate Muslim organisation and the National Awakening Party (PKB), the party which represents the organisation.
The militants are gathering in the district of Jember in East Java, together with martial arts instructors and experts in the use of machetes and batons.
"We do not want to use violence, but if the FPI uses violence and the government does not act, then we are forced to do the same," said Junaidi.
The Pasukan Berani Mati, which literally means "troops ready to die" or "suicide troops" assembled for the first time in 2000, when the patron of the Nahdlatul Ulama, Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, was Indonesia's president and various groups were pressurising him to resign.
In that case, the militia came together as the security apparatus for the president.
According to a report on The Jakarta Post newspaper, another anti-FPI militia group led by Muslim cleric, Nuril Arifin Husein, is training in Semarang in Central Java.
However no details were provided about the make-up or orientation of this group.
Last week, Tatang Hidayat, the leader of a Muslim youth group, Gerakan Pemuda Ansor Banser, told AKI that the group "was ready to help the police against the FPI" but that this did not mean that " they were ready to fight."
The Gerakan Pemuda Ansor Banser is one of the paramilitary wings of the Nahdlatul Ulama.
I have several friends that have gone to Jember to train. The government won't do anything to stop these Koranimals so the "moderate" paramilitary will. Also, the FPI calling former president Gus Dur derogatory names didn't endear them to the NU and now FPI will have to deal with the fallout. Gus Dur is about the only prominent Muslim that I have any respect for here and I have had the pleasure of speaking with him on two occasions. He backs up his talk about interfaith peace and harmony by sending his paramilitary, Ansor, to protect churches every Easter and Christmas.
So many problems occur here in Indonesia because the government is inept on acting in religious matters ( Ahmadiyaah and other heretic sects, persecution of Christians, etc.) The constitution and Pancasila stand behind the protection of religious belief and practice. For normal countries, the decision to protect Ahmadiyaah is a no-brainer. The law says so. But, alas, in Indonesia, laws are not enforced, and usually broken, bent, or ignored at will by most of the population, especially by the government.
Not surprisingly, the violence demonstrated by the FPI is blamed on others by Islamists. Cries of the "FPI were provoked by Ahmadiyaah" show how retarded Islamists here are. Even House of Representatives Commission III Vice Chairman Soeripto said that the latest FPI violent incident was part of an anti-Islam American plot and that Mossad and the CIA had taken over FPI and Islamic militant groups and were working to discredit Islam. I guess that means that Abu Bakar Ba'asyir is actually a Mossad agent. And they wonder why we call them Islamotards.
Soon, big white infidel, it will be JUST like Algeria, and at night, the ninjas of the purer form of Islam, will come sneaking down and slice off the heads of the less pure Muslims, which is usually everyone else. This always happens when you run out of Jews and Christians to slaughter. Not that Indonesia ever had an infestation of Jews, but there are Sunday people around, and when they get spent, heads will still roll! There is never enough bloodshed in Allah's Lands.
bigwhiteinfidel
Here is a list of the damaged churches in the area of Jember and Jatim where there are no FPI but is a strong hold of Captain Indonesia (Gus Dur)
But before you look at the list, I would like to point out that many sex complexs in the area have been closed down and destroyed such as Besuki, Probolingo and Puger Kulon by Gus Durs goons ( Ansor Banser) also they have been heavily involved in the destruction mentioned in the list below.
I myself would not trust Gus Dur as I do not forget the role NU, Ansor Banser and Gus Dur,s family played in the 1965 massacre.
At SIDOTOPO, Surabaya - Province of East Jawa, 9 June 1996. Ten (10) churches were destroyed and robbed together with the sexual harassement within 1 (one) day by 3000 people
Kediri - Province of East Jawa, 14 June 1996. Gereja Kristen Jawi Wetan (GKJW) was attacked and destroyed by 2500 people at 2.00 pm
PARE, Kediri - Jawa Timur, 25 Juni 1996. Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GPdI) was destroyed by some people, the church's music instruments and other equipments were taken out and burned by 200 people.This incidents occured at 12.00 noon time.
At SITUBONDO , PANARUKAN, WONOREJO, ASEMBAGUS, BESUKI, RANUREJO - Province of East Jawa, 10 October 1996. There were 24 churches altogether destroyed and burned by 3000 people. At this incidents 5 people (Rev. Ishak Christian and his family) were killed as martyrs. They were burned in their house. Those 24 churches are as folows:
At Village of ARJASA , Situbondo - Province of East Jawa, 13 January 1997. Gereja pantekosta di Indonesia (GpdI) was closed by the head of district of Arjasa (Mr. Mansejar) for unknown reason.
At SUMENEP, Madura Island - Province of East Jawa, 11 February 1997. Gereja Sidang Persekutuan Injili Indonesia (GSPII) was closed by the decree of the head of regency of Sumenep.
At the City of SURABAYA - Province of East Jawa, 13 March 1997. Gereja Kristen indonesia (GKI) - Address :Jl.Ngagel were stoned by some Senior High Technical Shool students.
At the City of SURABAYA - Province of East jawa, 28-30 March 1997. Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI)"Petra" was stoned by some people coming from the running train wagon.
At WIDODARI, Regency of Ngawi - Province of East Jawa, 28 March 1997. Gereja Bethel Indonesia(GBI) "Immanuel" pos PI cabang Kedung Gudel - burned.
At the City of SURABAYA - Province of East Jawa , 12 April 1997. Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI)- Address: Jl.Sulung AND another Gereja Katolik - Address: Jl. Kepanjen were stone by unknown group of people at 19.00. local time.
At the City of SURABAYA - Province of East Jawa, 13 April 1997. Gereja Protestan di Indonesia bag.Barat (GPIB) - Address: Jl. Bubutan next to the Police Station were also stoned by some people.
At SEMANDING, Regency of Tuban - Province of East Jawa, 15 Mey 1997. Gereja Pantekosta Pusat Surabaya (GPPS) - Village of Bejagung- was burned.
PAMEKASAN, Island of Madura - Province of East Jawa , 23 Mey 1997.
Gereja Katolik destroyed
At BANGKALAN,Island of Madura - Province of East Jawa , 14 June 1997. Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI) AND Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GPdI) were destroyed and burned.
At Village of BETET , District of Pesantren, Municipality of Kediri -Province of East Jawa, 10 July 1997. Gereja Pantekosta Tabernakel "Yesus Penolong" was closed down by Government of Municipality Kediri.
At KANDANGAN ,Regency of Kediri - Province of East Jawa , 27 July 1997. Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GPdI) "Puthuk" was burned by three (300) people at 22.30 local time .
At MUMBULSARI,Regency of Jember Jember - Province of East Jawa, 17 October 1997. Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GpdI) was robbed/ransacked and destroyed. Finally the church was ordered to be closed.
PLOSOREJO, District of Garum, Regency of Blitar - Province of East Jawa , 27 October 1997. Gereja Kristen Baithani - destroyed.
TANGGUL, Regency of Jember - Province of East Jawa , 3 & 10 November 1997. Gereja Bethel Indonesia (GBI) Bethany was closed by the Government staff of Ministry of Religion.
At SANAN KULON, Regency of Blitar - Province of East Jawa , 13 November 1997. Gereja Utusan Pantekosta (GUP) was forced to dismantled/demolished while the other church of Gereja Tuhan di Indonesia (GTDI) was burned..Three policemen were injured.
SONGGON- Regency of Banyuwangi - Province of East Jawa , 23 December 1997. Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GpdI) was burned while the Pastor was not at the church.
KALISAT Regency of Jember - Province of East Jawa 19 January 1998. Gereja Kristen Jawi Wetan was closed by the order of the head of the local district.
PUGER, Regency of Jember - Province odf East Jawa , 20 January 1998. Gereja Pantekosta diIndonesia (GpdI) was stoned by some unknown people.
At the village of BULU BANJAR - Regency of Tuban - Province of East Jawa 28 January 1998. Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia (GpdI) were destroyed. For example : Chairs, sound system, fan, podium , name board were heavily damaged.
Jewel Atkins
Banyuwangi has long been known as one of the most powerful centres of black magic in Indonesia, along with Banten in West Java and the island of Lombok. According to anthropologist Kusnadi, from the University of Jember, Banyuwangi's fertile land has bred a farming culture with close links to the spiritual world. As a buffer zone between the islands of Java and Bali, Banyuwangi also has a long history of violent struggle which in the past often met with failure. This combination of fertility and failure led to an obsession with sorcery among the peoples of Banyuwangi.
http://www.insideindonesia.org/edit62/jason.htm
Infidel K9,
I am aware of the past atrocities of the NU in my area (I live in the Jatim area). If you notice there were a lot of Gereja Pantekosta di Indonesia churches attacked. Myself and my family belong to this church.
While not ignoring the past, Gus Dur's recent actions have been helpful to Christians and he continues to push for inter-faith harmony and cooperation here. It's nice to be able to go to church at Christmas or Easter and not have to worry about being bombed or have militants enter the church and start attacking congregation members like in the past. One can only hope that more and more Muslims here take the same attitude. Most of the Muslims here where I live are against violence. These "kafirized" Muslims don't follow "Islamic" ways and disagree with them. They are still Muslims but enjoy clubbing, shopping at western style shopping malls, wearing western style clothes, eating at western style restaurants, watching western TV programs on satellite and local TV and have incorporated western society into their lifestyle. It's these Muslims that are the only hope for a world at peace between religions. More should be done to encourage these Muslims.
Gus Dur is not perfect but at least his people are willing to fight "now" for harmony amongst the faiths and willing to take on the Islamists here. That's a hell of a lot more than any group of Muslims I see in any other country around the world. I've marched with protestors in the recent demonstrations against the FPI and if needed, I will fight with the NU paramilitary against radical Islamists. Indonesia is my home. I'd rather live with Muslims that will cooperate with this kafir for peace and harmony than Muslims who want this kafir to submit, or die.
Actually 'Pasukan Berani Mati' should be translated as 'death defying troops.'
bigwhiteinfidel
They are still Muslims but enjoy clubbing, shopping at western style shopping malls, wearing western style clothes, eating at western style restaurants, watching western TV programs on satellite and local TV and have incorporated western society into their lifestyle.
What you describe can be found in Surabaya and Malang, yet come out of these two cities, and it is void of all you describe. Go East of Malang/Surabaya the you wont find any western style shopping malls, or western style restaurants (Mcdonalds/Pizza Hut). It is mostly chinese and expats who eat at the western style restaurants, the same as the people who go out clubbing. Out side of these two cities you maybe lucky to find a Karoke bar, where the men outnumber the women/hookers twenty to one, as the men never bring their wives out.
Also most Javanese don't not watch satellite TV as it far to expensive. I live in a town the same size as Jember, and only three people have Indovision.
As for NU and Captain Indonesia(Gus Dur), I remember the Pasuran Riots and the aftermath, where Gus Dur was kicking up a stink because the police had arrested several hundred fanatics including Afghans and Irians.
So the Pasukan Berani Mati are conspiring to engage in an uprising if the govenment doesn't ban the FPI.
The "moderates" are training "with martial arts instructors and experts in the use of machetes and batons" because they disapprove of the FPI, and with "march in" and on Jakarta if they dont get their way.
So much for the state monopoly on violence. In a healthy society I'd say arrest both groups for conspiring to break the peace, forming an unlawful militia, and anything suitable from the anti-terrorism laws - e.g. subversion in Australian law. Of course Indonesia has had decades of mob violence politics - it was actively encouraged by president Suharto, so Indonesia is not a healthy society.