Indonesian jihadists want to amend democracy, Jokowi says no.

First Bangladesh versus Pakistan

I should blog about Bangladesh separately but something like a miracle has happened. Poor Bangladesh which used to be among the poorest countries in the world is not as dirt poor anymore. Just about now (Nov - Dec 2019) the GDP of Bangladesh has exceeded the GDP of Pakistan. (Around US$300 Billion for both.)

Bangladesh used to be East Pakistan but was bullied and tormented by the West Pakistanis. In 1971 there was a genocide against the Bangla people carried out by the Pakistani Army. This lead to the 1971 war of liberation and a new nation of Bangladesh was born. 

At that time Bangladesh was much, much poorer than Pakistan. Not anymore. The GDP of Bangladesh is now at just over US300 billion. However the difference between Bangladesh and Pakistan is that while the Pakistan economy may be shrinking (slowing GDP growth) the Bangladesh economy is growing at 7.9% - almost every year.

One reason Bangladesh is racing ahead so fast is because they have discovered how to control the religious extremists and the jihadists from becoming too influential. In Bangladesh they do not favour one religious sect over another. There are no laws that criminalise sunnis, salafis, shias, ahmadiyas etc.

Hence all religious sects are free to say what they want to say. Since all of them talk rubbish, the Bangladeshi public therefore is entertained by all their religious gurus making promises of 72 virgins and their version of their imaginary imaginations. Hence in such a free and democratic process the religious sects are unable to gain too much traction.  The maximum number of virgins they can promise has been capped at 72. They cannot offer more virgins. 

Indonesia

This is one of the main reasons why now in Indonesia - after just 21 years of real democracy - the jihadis are realising that in a real democracy with no restrictions against free speech, free questioning and no restrictions on all the religious sects  (in Indonesia there are no restrictions against the sunni, shia, salafi, etc)  the jihadis cannot gain much traction among the people. Without access to violence (police powers to enforce religion) the jihadis cannot frighten or threaten the people into voting for them. 

However President Jokowi is holding the fort and has point blank refused to entertain the jihadis suggestion that 

1. Indonesia abolish the direct voting system to choose its president (which we should also implement in Malaysia someday)  

2. limits on the two term tenure of the president be lifted (changed to 15 years!!)

Here is the news :

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2019/12/02/indonesia-president-rejects-end-to-direct-votes-relaxing-term-limit#cxrecs_s

• (Reuters) - Jokowi rejected Muslim group suggestion
• to amend constitution to end direct elections for presidency 
• and relax term limits in the world's third-biggest democracy

Widodo said his "position was clear in disagreeing with 3-term presidency".

"It's better not to amend," he said.

Indonesian activists warned proposals setback for democracy

"I'm a product of the post-reform constitution," Widodo said 

Jokowi is first president from outside political and military elite

 

constitution amended to separate legislative, executive powers

decentralise govt, directly elect presidents, limit leaders to two terms

largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) suggested MPR elect president

Conclusion :  The moral of the story is this. All over the world the jihadis and the religious fellows do not know anything other than 72 virgins. Thats about it. 

So they are not going to win any democratic elections where real world problems need to be solved. Hence democracy is very bad for them. 

That is why in Indonesia they are now trying to reverse back democracy. As I said do not listen to them.