Chapter 3 - The Megawati Presidency: Challenge of Political Islam

Summary

Introduction

There have been concerns among many people that the growing anti-U.S. sentiments expressed in widespread, sometimes rowdy, street demonstrations in several cities in Indonesia could spell the end of the Megawati-led coalition government. Radical Muslim groups or hard-liners have been asserting themselves in a much more visible manner in the aftermath of terrorists’ attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in the United States, and the subsequent U.S. military retaliation against Afghanistan. These groups have accused President Megawati of being too sympathetic towards the United States. Her silence or her refusal to condemn the U.S. military strikes in Afghanistan has been regarded by the Muslim hard-liners as a reflection of her unfriendly attitude towards Islam and Muslims.

Certain individuals and Muslim groups have become increasingly critical of the Indonesian Government's attitude and responses to the U.S.–Afghanistan crisis. The most visible among these Muslim hard-line groups are the Front Pembela Islam (FPI, Islamic Defenders Front), Forum Komunikasi Ahlus-Sunnah wal- Jamaah (FKAWJ, Communication Forum of the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah) or more popularly known as Laskar Jihad (Jihad Force), and the Hizb al-Tahrir (Party of Liberation). Lately, other Muslim groups and institutions, such as the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI, Indonesian Council of the Ulama), have also become increasingly critical of the Megawati administration. Similarly, groups of Muslim students who are members or affiliates of the Partai Keadilan (PK, Justice Party) have also become more vocal; they staged the largest peaceful demonstrations against the U.S. military retaliation in Afghanistan.

The anti-American outbursts have undoubtedly put a lot of pressure on President Megawati. Some observers even believe that the Muslim hard-liners’ expressions of anti-Americanism would pose serious political threats to the political future of President Megawati. How serious are these threats?

This chapter discusses recent developments regarding radical political Islam and the challenge it poses to the Megawati government.