|
| This aerial view shows Indonesian Muslims fill the streets around the National Monument during a rally against Jakarta's minority Christian Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama who is being prosecuted for blasphemy, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Dec 2, 2016. Several hundred thousands of conservative Muslims rallied in the Indonesian capital on Friday in the second major protest in a month against the minority Christian governor. (AP Photo) |
JAKARTA, Indonesia — A senior Indonesian cabinet minister on Thursday said the government is not losing the fight against radicalism despite the success of hardline Islamic groups in attracting hundreds of thousands of people to protests against the capital's Christian governor .
We are not losing control
Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who is close to President Joko Widodo
Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan , who is close to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, said the government needs to reinforce Indonesia's founding ideology "Pancasila" which has been neglected since the fall of dictator Suharto in 1998 ushered in democratic rule.
Pandjaitan told a Jakarta Foreign Correspondents Club event: "We are not losing control."
The Jakarta governor, Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama , is on trial for alleged blasphemy and faces up to five years in prison.
Massive protests demanding his arrest have challenged the image of Indonesia as practicing a moderate form of Islam and shaken the secular government. The blasphemy furor has also given a national stage to the Islamic Defenders Front, previously better known as a morals vigilante group with members involved in protection rackets.
Its leader, Rizieq Shihab, told a Dec 2 protest in Jakarta that Indonesia would be peaceful if there was no blasphemy and other problems such as gays.
Pandjaitan suggested the government has Shihab in its sights.
"We have quite detailed data about him. We'll see what happens. We know what we are going to do," he said. "The president is very brave, to do whatever is necessary for the benefit of this country. No hesitation at all."
A Nov 2 protest against Ahok in Jakarta turned violent, with one death and dozens of police and protesters injured.
