A Dangerous Shortcut

The government has overreacted by issuing Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) No. 2/2017. This regulation, which allows for the banning of organizations seen as being at odds with the Pancasila state philosophy or the 1945 Constitution, endangers democracy. Many non-government organizations, not only the hardline Islamist Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), can become the potential target. Moreover, there was no need to issue this Perppu in the first place because the banning of organizations is already covered by Law No. 17/2013 on Mass Organizations.

July 18, 2017