Markus Junianto Sihaloho – Three Islamic parties which are also members of the ruling coalition threw their support behind the hard-line Islamic Defenders Front on Tuesday, urging the government to think twice about any plans to disband the controversial movement.

A senior official of the United Development Party (PPP), Hazrul Azwar, said the movement, known as FPI, was a part of this nation that needed to be built and nurtured, and not prosecuted to the point of death.

Rather than disbanding the organization, he said it would be better for the government to build a partnership with it, like it has done with other mass organizations.

"But of course, we also urge the FPI to follow the rules and respect law enforcement. This is an important thing because they must help the government to uphold stability," Hazrul said.

He said that if the government actively engaged the FPI and the communities which had suffered from the activities of the group, and promoted understanding between them, "no one would feel fear of the FPI."

Hanif Dhakiri, a senior official of the National Awakening Party (PKB), said his party could understand the government's wish to disband the FPI in a bid to stop violence. But he also said it would be too risky for the government to take such course of action because that may invoke the ire of other Islamic organizations.

Rather, the government should focus on better law enforcement in cases of religious-related violence, he said. "The government must also provide protection to followers of any religion in their worship. Such steps are far better than disbanding the FPI," Hanif said.

Mustafa Kemal from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) said that breaking up an organization was not a common practice in any democratic country.

Democracy is always based on enforcement of the laws, but also people's freedom of association, and the government must consider that perspective before making any decision to disband the FPI, Mustafa said.

The government should not resort to threats against organizations, which was common under the iron-fisted rule of President Suharto, he added.

PKS official Mahfudz Siddiq said disbanding the FPI would only "trigger more conflict."