Islamic organizations under the leadership of Hizb ut Tahrir / Indonesia held a press conference to reject the Bill of Mass Organization, on Tuesday 21 March 2013, at the Central Office of Hizb ut Tahrir / Indonesia, South Jakarta. Prominent people who came from various organizations agreed that the bill must be rejected for the following reasons:

1.       It has the potential to revive repression from the state towards mass organizations especially Islamic organizations critical of the regime. The prominents found certain articles in the draft of law that will send Indonesia back to the repressive era. The problematic articles are Article 2 that force all mass organizations to make Pancasila (5 principles) as the sole basis. While Article 7, 58, 61 and 62 give authority to regime to control and restrict mass organization from political activity. It is a setback.

2.       The bill appears discriminatory because there is different role between ordinary mass organization and wing organization of political party (Bill Article 4). It seems that political parties want to promote themseves. All social organizations must be subject to the bill except the wing organizations of political party.

To follow up the press conference, HTI along with other organizations are due to form a rally on Friday, 22 of March before the House of Representative after Jumat prayer.

Here are some of the prominents who attended the conference: M. Amin Lubis (Perti), Zulkifli dan M. Sabi Rauw (Al-Ittihadiyah), Mahladi (Hidayatullah), Azam Khan (Advocate), Zhahir Khan (DDII), Ahmad Michdan (Lawyers for Muslims), Muti (Sarekat Islam Indonesia), Eggi Sudjana (SIRI), Rahmat Kurnia (Chief of Lajnah Faa'liyah_HTI), Wahyudi al-Maroky (member of Lajnah Fa'liyah_HTI), Ismail Yusanto (Spokesperson of HTI), Rokhmat S Labib (HTI member), Yahya Abdurrahman (Chief of Lajnah Siyasiyah_ HTI), Agung Wisnu Wardana (Chief of Lajnah for Intelectual_ HTI).

The Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir in Indonesia

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