NU hails govt for dissolving HTI

Jakarta, NU Online
General Chairman of the Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) KH Said Aqil Siroj has praised the Jokowi's government for dissolving Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) as a mass organization that could undermine the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) by replacing Pancasila with the Khilafah system.

"This (dissolution) is a very appropriate policy. NU greatly appreciates and supports what the government has done," Kiai Said told reported here on Monday (8/5).

According to him, HTI is an organization that clearly contradicts the ideology of the State of Indonesia, namely Pancasila. He said any organization seeking to replace Pancasila should be dissolved and banned.

The leader of Al-Tsaqafah Islamic Boarding School (pesantren) also expressed gratitude to the government for disbanding the transnational organization.

"The government has dissolved HTI, I express my gratitude, support, respect," he explained, calling on the government to pay more attention to the HTI activists and sympathizers so as not to become wild and not to take radical actions.

"How to manage the former HTI activists so as not to become wild," he explained.

Kiai Said explained, HTI activists should be given enlightenment and understanding of the history of Indonesia, the roles played by, especially Muslim scholars (ulema) in seizing and maintaining the Indonesian independence.

"It must go through persuasive approaches and give them an understanding about what is the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, why should it be a nation-state and not an Islamic or tribal state,"

According to him, Indonesian Muslims no longer need to change the state ideology Pancasila. "We have accepted from our ancestors, and fill it with the spirit of building (the nation)," he said.

He hoped and believed that Indonesia would remain intact and united if its government is firm, saying that NU would always be behind a legitimate government.

"Do not let Indonesia split apart like the Soviets, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, or other Arab countries. Indonesia will remain intact," he concluded. (Muchlishon Rochmat/Masdar)