Mathias Diederich
A Closer Look at Dakwah and Politics in Indonesia : The Fartai Keadilan
Some Insights into its History and an Analysis of its Programs and Statutes (!)
Introductory remarks : some characteristics of the political situation during the Soeharto regime
A tremendous amount of literature has been dedicated to the relationship of Islamic groups and the Indonesian government, especially during the Soeharto era (Orde Baru - "New Order", from the mid 1960s to 1998). While foreign scholars could treat this matter freely, their Indonesian colleagues had to express themselves more carefully.
The same holds true for the different opinions of Indonesian Muslims on the relationship of Islam and the state. The state philosophy Pancasila dominated the official discourse of the government, especially during Soeharto's Orde Baru, emphasizing that the five officially recognized religions were to be treated in the same way and no special role should be granted to Islam the religion of the majority of the Indonesian population. A crucial point in this context has always been the question of whether the so-called Piagam Jakarta should be part of the Indonesian constitution or not. The Piagam Jakarta stipulates that Indonesian Muslims are obliged to live according to the syari'a. Neither the first Indonesian president Soekarno, nor his successor, Soeharto, had accepted the Piagam Jakarta.
1. This article is based on a lecture entitled "Réflexions sur l'analyse des partis islamiques en Indonésie" given at École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, in Paris on 28th March 2002.
Archipel 64, Paris, 2002, pp. 101-115
