HTI Suspects Political Motive behind Plan to Disband Organization
9 May 2017 10:36 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) spokesman Ismail Yusanto said he was taken by surprise when he heard the government’s plan to disband the organization. He suspects political motive behind the plan.
“Let alone the third warning, the HTI has never even received the first warning. We were taken by surprised when [the plan to dissolve the organization] was announced in the afternoon [yesterday] as if it’s an urgent issue,” Ismail said yesterday at the HTI headquarters in South Jakarta.
Nevertheless, Ismail said that the organization had earlier tried to hold talks with the government to no avail.
“We had tried to meet the authorities but we have received no response so far. We had sent a letter to the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister, but there is still no response,” he said.
The suspicion of the political motive behind HTI dissolution has grown stronger since the government has only issued the plan yesterday. “HTI has been preaching [its ideas] for a long time. Why now? Why after 212 [anti-Ahok] rally; why after Jakarta election? We don’t get it,” Ismail said.
He said that the HTI will not stop its activities despite the government’s stance. The HTI will see how the plan develops. “We will keep going because a legal decision has not been made on the dissolution. A decision on dissolution cannot be done arbitrarily.”
Ismail said that a mass organization cannot be disbanded without going through due process. The process cannot be undertaken without the issuance of warning notices.
The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto stressed that the government will not arbitrarily disband the HTI. He said that due process of law will be sought.
YOHANES PASKALIS