Next Indonesian V-P – Another General ‘Close To’ Fanatics?

So Metrotvnews.com tells us that the National Democrat Party has begun to eye TNI Commander General Gatot Nurmantyo as a running-mate for President Jokowi in the next presidential election? The news item adds that Gatot is believed to be able to attract votes from Muslims, especially the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI).

http://news.metrotvnews.com/politik/nbw36PRb-jokowi-gatot-diyakini-mampu-raup-suara-fpi

It’s not unusual for high-ranking soldiers in many countries to look at politics as a suitable change of career.

Think back to Eisenhower and De Gaulle.

But after the shock many people got when Jokowi decided to share a platform with the FPI’s leader, Habib Rizieq, who openly asserted that Jakarta’s ex-governor Ahok should be put to death for ‘blasphemy…

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“We encourage the government to process the death penalty for Ahok as soon as possible,” said Rizieq.  http://www.suara.com/news/2016/10/14/134313/

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Rizieq, far-left, listens contentedly to Jokowi’s speech

So Has Indonesia Come To This? Paradise Lost? 

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…when instead the President could have confronted that sectarian fanatic, it’s alarming that General Gatot’s alleged ability to win the approval of Rizieq’s thug-gang is seen as a big plus.

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“Close to the Islamic community, close to FPI, etc. It is good to fill the space…”  So says a political analyst with  Indonesia Political Review (IPR) who added that Gatot ”is also  close to the scholars!”

When that word ‘scholars‘ is used here, it doesn’t just mean people who study a lot, or even a little!

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It refers to the MUI, the Indonesian Council of Scholars, a frequent source of outlandish intolerance, whose outbursts we’ve covered aplenty.

 Bali Hindu King – Don’t Kill Our Cows! Muslim ‘Scholars’ – Get Lost!!  

 Islamist ‘Scholars’ – “Don’t Complain if You’re Attacked!” 

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Syamsul Maarif,  General Secretary of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Jakarta

“If the act of adultery is by a married person, then stoning is the sentence, while if unmarried, then it’s whipping,” he said. 
 http://www.suarapembaruan.com/home/mui-dukung-pelaku-kumpul-kebo-dipidanakan/32705

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Who knows if this predicted pairing will come to pass?

But what’s worrying is the alleged closeness of the country’s top officer with violent, lawless bigots.

One hopes the assertion is unfounded.  General Gatot Nurmantyo has yet to issue any denial, so far as I know.

Whatever, it is a matter of public interest, not least in the light of that exculpation of the white-shirt gang reported some months ago, from Indonesia’s top cop, General Tito Karnavian, who praised Rizieq!

“He was very tolerant actually… FPI is an Islamic organization so very tolerant of other religions,” he added. 

Video Viral, Tito Karnavian: FPI Ormas Islam yang Sangat Toleran

That assessment of the gang and its leader parked a storm of protest.

Many good Indonesians, including millions of Muslims, were and are dismayed at the very thought of the FPI or any sectarian cliques having friends in high places.