Respond paper on Religion in the New Order: 1965-1998

The ineffective way to collect political power
Kristanto Budiprabowo (TATOK)

Reading Indonesia history along Suharto era we see that using religion as a strategy to expand political power is ineffective. Probably in the beginning religion is very attractive to collect the mass sentiment in order to make the vision of Indonesia. The idea of nationality, anti-colonialism, and letter anti-communism were seem the main issue in the most campaign of the political party. And it is always be an interesting subject in order to attract the participant in politic right until now. There was two important moments that seems in contrast. First, when Gus Dur and Nahdathul Ulama were withdrawn from the PPP, in my opinion, it was the best strategy to increase his political bargaining with government. In the same moment, in contrast, when Suharto used religion to keep his establishment to be president, it was even decrease his popularity. Second, the cause of the reformation movement was not religious issue but socio-political situation. But, religious leader has an important role whether to make the movement less chaotic or to create new political party based on the religion. Religious organization is always can play its role whatever the form of the position.

The correlation between the government and religion in the New Era makes me aware that in Indonesia politic religion has two sides or perhaps two layers. On one side, religion can collect political sentiment among the society. But, in this layer, religious symbol importantly functions whether to strengthen or to irritate the political power. On the other side, religious organization can be the government alliance in certain political issues and situations. But, in this layer, religious organization political agenda can be easy to see. It makes the popularity of the religious organization in politic decrease.