TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Around 5,000 people from various organizations in Bali gathered in the Puputan Renon field in Denpasar on Monday, February 6, 2017. The masses urged President Joko "Jokowi” Widodo to disband the Islamic Defender Front (FPI), which they believed to be a threat to the country’s value of diversity.
During an event titled "Defend the Culture, Defend Indonesia, and Maintain Unity", Gus Nuril, a prominent figure of the Nahdlatul Ulama, was present and managed to rile up the masses through his speech. "From Bali, we hoped that our aspirations to disband the FPI will be heard by the government and ruler of this country," Gus Nuril said.
Gus Nuril said that the presence of FPI, which intends to force certain ideology into Indonesians have created public unrest, even among Muslims. Gus Nuril asserted that FPI often easily brands people with different beliefs as infidels.
Public organizations in Bali have agreed to join an form the "Balinese People Components" and issued a declaration condemning FPI, which they believed to take refuge behind religion to carry out intolerant actions. Balinese people had previously expressed their strong protests following a statement issued by FPI spokesman Munarman, saying that there are customary police in Bali who forbid Muslims to do their Friday prayer.
The group demanded FPI and other intolerant organizations be disbanded and urged Bali Chief of Police to resolve the defamation case involving Munarman. "We will guard and gave our lives to defend Indonesia," said I Gusti Ngurah Harta, a prominent figure from the Sandhi Murti public organization.
ROFIQI HASAN
