“Shield for Oligarchs: NU and the Political Economy of Mining Concession Policies,” by Muh. A. D. R. Putra

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It was shocking for academics and environmental activists when, under Jokowi’s presidency, the government granted community organizations (organisasi masyarkat; ormas) mining concessions. Two biggest and well-respected Islamic organizations such as Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah welcomed with joy. It was understood that the administration looked for support from these ormas during the presidential campaign of Prabowo Subianto with Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Jokowi’s own son.

Muhammad Akbar Darojat Restu Putra (Sunan Ampel National Islamic University; UIN) wrote in his article that this “economic-political” move was intended to create a “shield for oligarchs.” Published by Islam Bergerak (The Moving Islam), the article opens with his claim that “Religion is not a sacred entity that has never known decay. There was a time when religion became corrupt when it was used for narrow political gain.” His critique is aimed mainly at NU, stating that when NU wants to receive the concessions, it must be willing to be a “laundry machine” for the bloodstains and dirt on the government’s body.

The article consists of two sections. First, he discusses how the oligarch’s political-economic move that involved religious institutions and propaganda in Indonesia has been a common pattern. The closest one was Jokowi’s presidential campaign in 2019–at that time against Prabowo–where Prabowo was supported by “Islamic radicals” and Jokowi responded by taking Ma’ruf Amin, the leader of Indonesia Ulema Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia; MUI) and a controversial figure in the eyes Jokowi’s non-Islamis constituents. In short, it was a competition between those who could appear to be more Islamic. The second section discusses the postulates (dalil) from two major thinkers, Ulil Abshar Abdalla and Ahmad Suaedy, where Putra insists on the importance of “logical thinking in politics,” especially in the contest of religious country like Indonesia.

In the end, Putra asks Muslims to learn from Christian ormas like the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (Persekutuan Gereja-gereja di Indonesia; PGI), Indonesian Bishops’ Conference (Konferensi Waligereja Indonesia; KWI), and Batak Christian Protestant Church (Huria Kristen Batak Protestan; HKBP) who not only declined and critiqued against the government’s decision in mineral concessions, but also “have long accompanied, advocated, and organized those whose living space was seized to become mining fields.” Closing with a Gramscian tone, he says that these Christian ormas should be seen as “counterhegemony” against NU.

Photo(s)

Indonesia and Ma’ruf Amin in 2019 Presidential Campaign, courtesy of Human Right Watch (hrw.org)
In the 34th Congress, Nahdlatul Ulama chairmen testified on Jokowi’s promise of concession in 2021, courtesy of Tempo.co

Source(s)

Written by Abel K. Aruan (November 14, 2024); Edited by Abel K. Aruan (January 9, 2025).

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