Caliphate Is Starting to Erode Pancasila, Defense Minister Says

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu argues that Indonesia’s ideology known as Pancasila is starting to erode among society and partially attributes it to the caliphate concept that is starting to look attractive for a group of people.

“Now, Pancasila is starting to get corroded. It won’t be too much of a problem today, but [it might be] in the next 20-30 years. If we let this happen, the leaders of tomorrow might still be a college student now, but if the person becomes a president, army commander, or police chief, and they adopt the caliphate it would be the end of this nation,” the minister said in a casual gathering among active and retired military members at the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) headquarters in East Jakarta today, June 19.

According to Ryamizard, the Ministry’s study found that Pancasila is being doubted by a number of groups in Indonesia. The study found that 23.4 percent of university students agreed with the concept of jihad to establish an Islamic state or caliphate.

This statistic found among school students also saw 23.3 percent of them preferring the concept of a caliphate.

The same could be said to the groups of people in the private industry, civil workers, and those working in state-owned enterprises. Defense ministry study also revealed that 9.1 percent of the people who were asked disagrees with the Pancasila ideology.

“There is roughly three percent and there are soldiers in the military who disagree with the Pancasila. This is devastating,” said Ryamizard who fears the absence of Pancasila will drag the nation into a situation the Middle East is currently facing.

EGI ADYATAMA

Read: Defense Minister Points out Threatening Caliphate War of Mindset