NU calls on TV stations not to air hardline views

Jakarta, NU Online
Deputy Secretary general of the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Imdadun Rahmat has called on TV stations not to air hardline views of any mass organizations rejecting Pancasila as the national ideology.<>

Imdadun made the statement following one of the leading Indonesia's public broadcasters TVRI for airing hardline views of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI).

As reported, on June 6th, Television of the Republic of Indonesia (TVRI) aired edited, one-hour footage of an HTI congress that took place four days earlier in Jakarta, with the theme "Change the World through Khilafah".

In the broadcast, Farid Wajdi, chairman of the central board of HTI, was seen stating that democracy is a form of kufur (denial of God) because its fundamental principle is liberalism, and that freedom of religion had created a number of cults that should not be protected.

In conclusion, he argued that democracy and nationalism must be left behind and replaced by a Khilafah Islamiyah system (Caliphate).

The programme drew broad outrage, from religious leaders, activists and common people.

"How come TVRI aired a hardline Islamic group meeting, which clearly rejected Pancasila and democracy?" Imdadun Rahmat told Khabar Southeast Asia here recently.

"TVRI has bigger obligations than a private broadcasting company. It has an obligation to promote the values of Pancasila and promote the Indonesian motto of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (unity in diversity)," he said.

Going further, Imdadun argued that TVRI should raise awareness in civil society about the dangers of transnational radical organisations such as HTI – especially when those organisations openly reject Pancasila democracy.

Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq