By: Zainudin Zidane
Reunion 212 is already full of political movements. The 212 reunion is also believed to be only a political platform for banned mass organizations that have been dissolved by the government.
When the 212 Reunion began, the main streets of the capital seemed to be dominated by the participants. Instead of voicing the tabligh akbar, this event became an arena for identity politics which also resulted in new disputes.
Moreover, since the 212 movement emerged, cases of religious intolerance in Indonesia have increased, the Setara Institute noted that in 2020 cases of intolerance increased to 270 cases where previously there were 177 cases in 2014.
We need to know that the protests that were launched in 2016 not only caused the downfall of a popular minority figure in Indonesian politics but also resulted in new sectarian strife across the country with the largest Muslim population in the world.
The FPI mass organization was also noted to have played a role in spearheading the movement against Ahok. Until finally Ahok managed to get into prison. No wonder that FPI retainers like Rizieq Shihab have a special stage in the reunion.
Meanwhile, the Initiator of the National Conscience Movement (GNK). Habib Syakur bin Ali Mahdi Al Hamid considered that the plan for the PA 212 grand reunion should be suspected of having profit motives from certain parties for the existence of their group.
This figure who is also concerned about radical and intolerant issues suggested that the government does not need to be reactionary in responding to the PA 212 reunion plan. Habib Syakur said Ngara should be a loyal listener and spectator, don’t want to follow what 212 wants.
Then when they wanted to hold a demonstration by bringing in a lot of masses, let alone ignoring health protocols, Habib Syakur said there were two appropriate steps. First, the issues they raise will only serve as notes for the government. Second, law enforcement officials can take legal action against those responsible for the action for ignoring health protocols.
We need to know that the Jakarta Provincial Government has confirmed that Monas has not been opened. Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ahmad Riza Patria, asked the committee to reconsider the plan for the 212 Reunion to be held in the midst of a pandemic. Riza said that Jakarta was not safe from the spread of the Corona virus.
On the other hand, the Chairman of the PKS DPP, Mardani Ali Sera, also asked the 212 Reunion Committee to hold a virtual event. According to PKS, all parties must be careful when carrying out activities in the midst of the corona virus pandemic.
The Indonesian people have known from the start that the PA 212 struggle is not a religious struggle, but a political struggle, because apart from aiming to overthrow Jokowi. Moreover, in the last 2019 election, PA 212 and most of the FPI elite did not receive the results from the KPU.
What is unfortunate about Reunion 212 is that millions of people are easily influenced by their propaganda that has political interests but is packaged nicely as if it were just an ordinary religious act. Of course, this proves that there are more and more conservative groups in Indonesia.
The participants of the 212 Reunion did not realize that what they were following was the trigger for the division of Indonesia. This is evidenced by the increasing number of residents who do not want other houses of worship near their homes, the more school children who do not want to choose the OSIS chairman who is not of the same religion, the more who want a caliphate or Pancasila state with sharia regulations.
It must be admitted that the politicization of something religiously nuanced is indeed a surefire way to increase the coffers of fame and perhaps also money, and FPI has many track records in its actions that are politically nuanced. FPI has officially revoked its permit by the government, the 212 Reunion will certainly be a stage for former FPI leaders to voice da’wah which is far from peaceful.
The 212 reunion should be a means of proselytizing to establish ukhuwah, not necessarily inflaming a narrative of mutual hatred so that divisions arise and have the potential to lead to intolerance. If Reunion 212 is inserted with hate speech, of course this event is not urgently carried out during the Pandemic.
The author is a contributor to the Pertiwi Institute
