REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Wiranto said the polemic of flag bearing tawheed (Laa Ilaha Ilallah, the oneness of God) sentence should not happen again in the future. He expected Muslims will refrain from the actions that could divide themselves.

After holding a discussion with several Islamic mass organizations on the cause of flag-burning incident, Wiranto and Islamic figures concluded there was a misunderstanding, because there were two different views about the flag burnt in Garut, West Java. Some people considered the flag as a representation of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), the mass organization that has been disbanded by the government.

Meanwhile, another group of people considered the flag as tawheed flag, that used by Prophet Muhammad PBUH. However, Wiranto stressed police has carried out legal process over the flag burning case.

“There’s a debate about the flag burning incident, some people consider it as HTI flag and others as tawheed flag,” Wiranto said in his office, Jakarta, on Friday (Nov 9).

Wiranto said in the legal status, the flag was considered as HTI flag. However, in order to prevent the prolonged polemicof flag burning incident, he urged Muslims to be able to distinguish between the meaning of flag that bearing tawheed sentence.

“Especially in this case, we must see from legal dimension,” Wiranto added.

Furthermore, Wiranto said tawheed defense rally that ws held for two times was ridden by HTI. He believed there were a number of groups that used the event for political purposes.

“The demonstration was used to make HTI remains exist,” Wiranto said.

Therefore, Wiranto reminded Muslims who want to hold demonstration, to be careful and aware of hidden interest. Sometimes, the action has good purpose, in order to build a positive understanding, he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Indonesian Santri Forum (FSI) Muhammad Hanif al Attas lauded the agreement reached during discussion with Wiranto, national police, state intelligence agency and minister of religious affairs, and minister of law and human rights. He also appreciated Nahdlatul Ulama and its youth wing Banser apology over the tawheed flag-burning incident.

Hanif said tawheed flag and HTI flag are not the same. HTI flag is bearing the name of HTI, while tawheed flag is a flag bearing tawheed sentence regardless its color.

"Insya Allah (God willing) with these agreement, the (tawheed) flag is legal, obliged to be respected and honored. I hope the unity of Unitary State of Republika Indonesia always be maintained," he stated.

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