RECENT clashes in Tangerang, Banten, between members of the Forum Betawi Rempug (FBR—Betawi Brotherhood Forum) and Pemuda Pancasila (PP—Pancasila Youth) has reignited debate over the place of ormas (social organizations) in Indonesian society, including calls for them to be banned. It has also raised broader questions regarding the seemingly inseparable relationship between ormas and violence, criminality and political conflict.