Sidney Jones: Took a Lesson From Marawi

FISIP, UIN News Online – The Indonesian government is expected to draw an important lesson from the violent conflict based on the religious radicalism in the city of Marawi, Philippines. slamic religious universities such as UIN, IAIN, and STAIN in Indonesia also need to think about educating the young generation in Marawi with moderate Indonesian Islam academic tradition.

This was conveyed by Director of Institute for Public Analysis of Conflict (IPAC), Dr. Sidney Jones in her speech at Internatioal Conference entitled Southeast Asian Islam: Religious Radicalism, Democracy, and Global Trends, Thursday, (8/10/2017).

Despite of possibility of such conflict is less likely to happen in Indonesia, Sidney asked the Indonesian government to be vigilant. This is due to a close geographical boundary between the Philippines and Indonesia. “We must remain vigilant,” she said.

In recent months, Marawi, a Muslim city and capital of the Lanao del Sur province on the island of Mindanao, Philippines, has been marred by violent conflict since May 23, 2017. The Maute and Abu Sayyaf militant groups affiliated with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) encouraged the outbreak of violent conflict in Marawi region.

The President of Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte to put the entire Mindanao under martial law as the terror crisis in the Islamic city of Marawi continues to rage. The emergence of groups pledging allegiance to Islamic State has been considered the biggest security problem to face by Duterte’s administration.

The conflict has left many losses and casualties, thousands of lives are trapped in conflict areas. In fact, hundreds of lives have died since the conflict.

In addition to the numerous militant organizations affiliated with ISIS / ISIL, Marawi's condition is also characterized by economic imbalances compared to other regions in the Philippines. "Law enforcement in the local area is also a factor that cannot be ignored," she said.

Beside the government, she continued, State Islamic Higher Education Institution (PTKIN) also need to think about the response that will be given to Marawi citizens who are majority Muslim, one of them is to provide education for the children of Marawi

In addition to saving them from being the victims, the granting moderate Indonesian Islam academic tradition could be a long-term investment in the birth of a tolerant Muslim society. "Providing access to education can be a long-term solution for a peaceful and tolerant Marawi Muslim community," she said.

Sydney Jones was appointed as the keynote speaker at an international conference held by PPIM UIN Jakarta throughout Tuesday-Thursday (8-10 / 8/2017). This event also presented two other key speakers, Prof. Dr. Imtiyaz Yusuf of Center for Buddhist-Muslim Understanding at College of Religious Studies, Mahidol University, Thailand, and Dr Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin, commissioner of The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission. (usa)