In the recent days, Indonesians have got a new –but indeed is not– term to be familiar with: NII (Negara Islam Indonesia or Indonesian Islamic State). The abbreviation attracts public attention ever since the foiled attempt to explode Christ Cathedral church as well as since reports continue to grow about missing persons suspected to be the victims of NII recruitment.
So popular the organization so that it draws comments from the country’s elites, ranged from the Army Chief of Staff, the Minister of Education, to the President himself. Condemnations and vows of commitment to handle the problem are usually what the comments are about. NII is seen as the best representation of radicalism and how religious extremism becomes a threat to Indonesia. It works underground, far beyond public and state scrutiny. Shortly speaking, NII is like ghost whose presence we cannot identify but whose notoriety on radicalism frightens us all.
The Obvious
Unfortunately, in contrast with attention given to the ghost, public and the government in particular seem to give much less attention to other problem of radicalism. Cases of violence towards Ahmadiyah, vandalism of worship houses, growing intolerance in the country, or disobedience of Bogor Regency Administration towards Supreme Court’s decision on GKI Yasmin, are just examples about which the government indeed could, but so far has not, done more to handle the problem.
Recent study by Paramadina Foundation on church erection in Jakarta, for example, shows that churches that had experienced problems in the construction process but later were able to solve it all were supported by the government, including the police as security apparatus. The government support has been the crucial part for the churches. On the other hand, churches that still experience problems to date, have no such privilege. Either the government actively opposes the church (like what happens in GKI Yasmin) or it leaves the churches to deal with their problems alone.
The ironic thing is, violence towards Ahmadiyah and resistance towards particular worship house are easily visible, felt, and found. Even the organizations involved in the actions can be mentioned easily. They are not ghost. We can touch them, and they do not work in underground. But for most of us, what is easily seen is less interesting than intangible ghost called NII. We care less about religious violence than talking about NII.
Handle First What is Seen
Such unequal treatment by the government towards NII and other radical groups raises question about how serious the government is willing to handle the problem of radicalism. The problem is not in the NII. The problem is not in the FPI, FUI or other radical groups either. The problem is in the radicalism.
I have no doubt that if the government serious, it would be able to crack NII down. Why would I doubt that? Even the terrorist group Jamaah Islamiyah is powerless before the police. But the problem is, even after NII no longer exists, there will be another NII to form if radicalism is still prevalent in the country. The same also goes to the notorious FPI or FUI. They can be disbanded, but another radical group would rise if what is lacked in the mind is respect towards others.
What the government should do then is not merely chasing ghost –making public statements about intangible NII– but also handling the root problem of radicalism. First, it should promote education that emphasizes tolerance, pluralism and multiculturalism rather than narrow religious understanding. This is undoubtedly a hard challenge as a study in 2008 from UIN Syarif Hidayatullah found a majority of Islamic studies teachers in Java opposed pluralism and ideas of tolerance. Second, the government must take actions against vandalism taking cover in the name of religion. Such step might be politically unpopular, but it definitely speaks louder than rhetoric about ghostly NII. The message the government sends will be crystal clear: “Radicalism in any form will not be tolerated. We take steps against the visible; certainly we will do the same against the invisible.” Other than taking such steps, we will just chase ghosts and overlook what is obvious.