Jakarta – More than 5,000 Muslims called for the nationwide imposition of Islamic sharia law and voiced opposition to secular President Megawati Sukarnoputri at a demonstration on Monday at Indonesia's parliament.
The protesters, including some of Indonesia's leading radical clerics, marched to the national assembly to urge legislators, holding an annual meeting, to amend the constitution so sharia can be implemented in the world's most populous Muslim nation.
Most Indonesians hold moderate religious views. Major political parties in the assembly have said they would block proposals by minor parties to recognise sharia law, as they have in the past. The march followed a rally of similar size on Saturday by a conservative Muslim group.
"We are led by a president who does not know anything, is always silent and only uses her father's name," said Noval Dunggio, leader of the Front Hizbullah. "If this year they can't pass sharia law, we will keep on pushing for it and her resignation." Megawati is the daughter of founding President Sukarno and marked her first year in power on July 23. She defended her rule in a speech to the top assembly last week, although critics have accused her of passive and at times ineffectual leadership.
The march was organised by the Islamic Defender's Front, known for its sporadic raids on bars and discos in Jakarta.
Leaders of other militant Muslim groups took part, including Jafar Umar Thalib of the hardline Laskar Jihad organisation, and Abu Bakar Bashir, a Muslim cleric accused by Singapore and Malaysia of terrorism links.
Bashir has denied the allegations, while Thalib is on trial on charges of inciting hatred against the government. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Conservative Muslims believe sharia law would help tackle woes like endemic graft and a growing drugs problem by imposing stricter punishments, although few favour drastic measures carried out in parts of the Middle East such as amputation of limbs for thieves.
Some principles of sharia law have been incorporated into marriage and inheritance laws, but efforts to make it the basic legal reference nationwide have failed to win much support.
Jakarta last year allowed sharia to be used in Aceh as part of an autonomy package designed to defuse independence demands in the staunchly Muslim province on the tip of Sumatra island. There have been no reports of drastic punishments.
The annual session of the 700-member top assembly, the People's Consultative Assembly, opened last Thursday.
Some 85 percent of Indonesia's 210 million people are Muslim. Indonesia has long practised a more moderate version of Islam than Middle East countries, after blending the beliefs with traditional cultures across Indonesia's main island of Java and other parts of the country.