By: Zainudin Zidane)*
The 212 Reunion which will be held by the Alumni Brotherhood (PA) 212 seems forced because it insists on being held during the Covid-19 pandemic. As has happened in previous times, the action will have a strong political overtone to provocation to corner the Government.
On December 2, the Monas Monument is usually filled with people who hold demonstrations, these actions can contain speeches, criticism of the government’s propaganda and it is possible that political campaigns will also be carried out.
The event is Reunion 212 which is planned to be carried out by a group of people who are members of the Alumni Brotherhood (PA) 212. Political observer at Al Azhar University Indonesia, Ujang Komarudin, said that the 212 Reunion could indeed be held because Indonesia is a country that adheres to democracy.
However, Ujang considered that Reunion 212 was a political movement. He also predicts that the event will also discuss matters related to the 2024 presidential election. In early December, PA 212 plans to hold a 212 Reunion. PA 212 Deputy Secretary General Novel Bamukmin said the theme to be held was to free Habib Rizieq Shihab (HRS).
On a different occasion, the Deputy Governor (Wagub) of DKI Jakarta, Ahmad Riza Patria, asked for the 212 reunion event to be postponed. This is because it is still in the Covid-19 pandemic situation. He also asked the awareness of the 212 Reunion committee to reconsider the event. He also invited all elements of society to be able to take part in efforts to control the spread of COVID-19.
Previously, Riza also reminded the Reunion 212 committee that the National Monument (Monas), Central Jakarta, had not been opened to the public. He also respects anyone who will use the facilities and places in DKI Jakarta. However, he asked to continue to pay attention to the money rules exist and apply.
According to Riza, violations of community activities alone have a high potential for transmission of Covid-19. Moreover, with activities that create large crowds.
At the 212 Reunion in 2018, orations related to the 2019 change of president continued to flare up, instead of maintaining ukhuwah, but the political impression actually damaged the dignity of the movement. Muslim scholar Alwi Shihab said a number of political elites in the 212 reunion movement at that time tried to mobilize the middle and lower class economic communities to overthrow the government in similar ways used by organizations such as Hizb ut-Tahrir in Syria.
One of the strategies used is to attract religious leaders, including habibs, to convince the public that the movement is based on Islamic teachings and values. Religious leaders are considered to have loyalists who are ready to obey any orders, including orders to hate political opponents.
The government does need criticism as a counterbalance, but that does not mean that the movement, which is planned to involve millions of Muslims, is used as a tool to curse and swear at the government, it is certainly not useful at all.
Of course, it is unfortunate if the 212 Reunion event was marred by campaigns for certain political interests. Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Youth Sunanto said that the substance of the 212 movement should be maintained, so that the 212 reunion should be filled with worship activities and away from practical politics.
On a different occasion PSI politician Muannas Alaidid was surprised by the 212 Alumni Brotherhood group who insisted on holding a reunion at Monas on December 2, 2021, even though the current condition of Jakarta was still surrounded by Covid-19.
He was also surprised that the group’s goal to escort the former governor of DKI Jakarta, Ahok, when he stumbled upon a blasphemy case had been fulfilled, but instead they wanted to hold an event called a reunion. He also sniffed at the many hidden agendas of the reunion event, the hidden agenda he meant was clearly a politically charged agenda.
We also need to know that the protests that were launched in 2016 not only led to 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. As a result, intolerance in Indonesia has increased, even Banser who is guarding the Church has been criticized.
The 212 reunion apparently contained not only a tabligh akbar, but also an invitation to hate certain groups whose goal was to support the election victory.
Of course, it is necessary to reconsider holding a 212 reunion with minimal urgency in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Don’t let the political nuances of the event make Indonesia even worse.
)* The author is a contributor to the Press Circle and Cikini Students
