Ex-terror convict Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, known as the spiritual leader of shadowy militant group Jemaah Islamiyah that aims to establish an Islamic state in Indonesia, did the unthinkable on Wednesday as he participated in the Independence Day ceremony at his boarding school in the Central Java district of Sukoharjo. It was also the first ever August 17 ceremony to be held by the Al Mukmin Islamic Boarding School since Ba’asyir founded it in 1972.
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The elderly cleric has for long encouraged his followers and students to oppose the government unless the constitution is replaced by the Koran and refused to recognize any state symbol.
Dressing in white Muslim clothes and carrying a walking stick, Ba’asyir showed a deep reverence throughout the whole proceeding, reported press. “It was the first ever [Independence Day] ceremony here since the school was founded,” Ba’asyir, who was born 84 years ago today, told the news website.
His willingness to finally recognize state symbols apparently got government attention, as Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy was sent to preside over the ceremony.
Also present at the ceremony were the leaders of the local police and military offices who sat on the same row as Ba’asyir. The organizers said around 1,300 students took part in the ceremony with military personnel involved in preparation to train the national flag raisers days in advance.
The change in political attitudes of the Founders of the Islamic Boarding School Al Mukmin Ngruki, Sukoharjo, Central Java, Ustad Abu Bakar Baasyir / ABB and Habib Bahar Smith most likely indicates a change in the opinion of the two figures regarding the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and implies a change in their behavior through indications of their willingness to accept the state ideology of Pancasila. If deemed necessary, these two figures can optimize their testimonies related to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and Pancasila in various deradicalization activities targeting elements of radical groups who are undergoing legal proceedings.
Besides that the change in political attitudes of the Founders of the Al Mukmin Ngruki Islamic Boarding School, Sukoharjo, Central Java, Ustad Abu Bakar Baasyir and Bahar Smith is a positive signal from the emergence of awareness between the two of them after being “forged” with the law enforcement process they underwent. Looking at the change in the attitude of Ustadz ABB and Habib Bahar Smith, it is very likely that after going through the law enforcement process, the Leader of the Khilafatul Muslimin, Abdul Qadir Hasan Baraja can follow in the footsteps of Ustadz ABB and Habib Bahar Smith in accepting the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and Pancasila.
