Attacks on Moderate Moslems and Anti-Narcotic Agency

Yesterday afternoon a bomb exploded at the office of the Institute for Studies on the Free Flow of Information (ISAI) in Utan Kayu, Central Jakarta.

The bomb was disguised as a book titled " Mereka Harus Dibunuh Karena Dosa-Dosa Mereka Terhadap Islam dan Kaum Muslim " meaning " Those Who Should Be Killed Because of Their Sins To Islam and Muslims ", in a package sent by Drs Sulaiman Azhar LC for the former chairman of the Liberal Islamic Network (JIL), currently a top official of President SBY's Democrat Party i.e Ulil Abshar Abdalla.

According to The Jakarta Post, the book was received by employee of ISAI at around 10 a.m. who contacted the police later in the afternoon after noticing cables sticking out of the book.

Kompas reported that the police were trying to secure the book when the explosion occurred. As a result, the East Jakarta chief detective Comr. Dodi Rahmawan suffered serious injuries, one of his hand was blown off, another Police officer and employee of ISAI were injured.

Later in evening a similar package was sent to Comr. Gen. Gories Mere, former key officer of the National Police’s anti-terrorists unit, Densus 88, at his office at the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in Cawang, East Jakarta.

According to The Jakarta Globe, the bomb was not opened and was safely disposed of. The head of the Jakarta Police’s bomb squad, Sr. Comr. Wahyu Widodo was quoted as saying that the package was similar to the one sent to Ulil, which contained a thick book in which the bomb was hidden.

I wonder whether the above incidents indicate that the terrorist who used to claim that they were fighting for religion have now join forces with drug dealers.  I hope that the Police Densus 88 will hunt them and bring them to justice very soon.

Religious Freedom is protected by the Constitution

The Indonesian (amended) Constitution of 1945 Articles 28 and 29 stipulated that every citizens has the right to choose its own religion and faith.


But unfortunately, recent incidents in Cikeusik, Temanggung and Pasuruan, show that some citizens have ignored the constitutional rights of other citizens.  

The worst thing was that the authorities seemed to forget that religious freedom is protected by the Constitution that they seemed to be helpless when a fanatic group using the symbol of a religion brutally attacked the houses, places of worship of other religions and even killed 3 people in the above mentioned incidents. 

The most horrifying thing was that the authorities do not seemed to be annoyed when the said fanatic group threatened that they will oust the government of President SBY if their organization is disbanded. 

The above situation not only worried people in Indonesia, but also Indonesians living abroad. For example fellow blogger Rima Fauzi and Imelda Tenyala in Brussels, Belgium have initiated the Solidarity Movement for Religious Freedom in Indonesia (Gerakan Solidaritas Kebebasan Beragama di Indonesia) which can be contacted at : solidaritasberagamaindonesia@gmail.com.


I hope that each and every citizens of Indonesia would accept the fact that Religious Freedom is protected by the Constitution and every differences/disputes would be settled peacefully and amicably.

Image : Courtesy of Rima Fauzi.

Please Eliminate Violent Organizations

On 6 February 2011, an Ahmadiyah secte community in Cikeusik, Banten was attacked by a mob of 1,500 people from outside the village and killed 3 secte followers.

On 8 February, several churches in the town of Temanggung, Central Java, were damaged by a group of people who were very angry at the verdict of local district court which has passed a sentenced lighter than they expected to a Christian man who they alleged had conducted blasphemy on Islam.

In reaction to the above violent actions, President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) made a very wonderful statement that instructed law enforcement agencies to disband any organization that practiced violence.

The president's statement has annoyed the FPI, an organization that claimed that they practiced violence in the name of Islam. They threatened that if the government disband their organization they will overthrow SBY and his government.  This is clearly a crime against the state according to the Criminal Law.

But to my disappointment, the President's aides do not seemed to be worried at FPI's above threat.

The Coordinating Minister for Politics, Laws and Security Djoko Suyanto told reporters that the President's statement was not addressed to the FPI.

The Minister of Home Affairs Gamawan Fauizi even met with the leader of FPI and implied as if everything is okay.

While the Chief of National Police Timur Pradopo did not give direct answer when reporters asked him about FPI's threat.

The government's seemingly ignorant reactions to above violence has caused another violent attack in the town of Pasuruan, East Java. This time another group of people who claimed to be acting in the name of Islam has attacked an Islamic boarding school that they alleged to belong to the Shiite secte.

Considering the above mentioned facts, I hope that the President was really serious when he made his above statement and by instruct once again all the law enforcement agencies to disband organizations that practice violence in our society.

Inter-Religious Disharmony

When Indonesia was ruled by authoritarian regimes, inter-religious relationship in the country was harmonious. This is obvious because those regimes would do anything to make people obey the Constitution which ruled that citizens are free to choose any religions or faith.

Things changed drastically after 20 May 1998  when democracy came to Indonesia and human rights became the most important factor in the country. As a result, the government and its law enforcement agencies tend to hesitate every time they want to take actions against violators of the laws.

This situation was used by radical people who claimed to be representing Islam to commit violence in Maluku, Sulawesi, and other regions almost without resistances. Whereas the two major Islam organizations in the country, Nahdatul Ulama (NU) and Muhamadiyah seemed to be silence.

In 2002, those radicals committed suicide bombings in Bali killing 202 people and injuring 209 others mostly foreign tourists, followed by a series of suicide bombings in 2003, 2004 (Jakarta), 2005 (Bali) and 2009 (Jakarta).

After the 2002 bombings, the government established one of the best anti-terrorist Police unit in the world i.e. DENSUS-88 which was very successful in hunting, capturing and eliminating those involved.  

Unfortunately beside those armed violence, there were other violence made by similar radical groups.

Last September 13 members of the FPI attacked a church in Bekasi, West Java, stabbed a priest and beat a member of congregation. However, last Tuesday the Prosecutor only demanded a 6-months jail term for the leader of those attackers.

Last Sunday a mob of 1,500 angry people attacked the mosque of the Ahmadiyah minority sect rejected by Muslims, in Cikeusik, Banten Province, last Sunday killing three members of the sect.

And yesterday an angry crowd dissatisfied with the verdict of the District Court of Temanggung, Central Java, handed down to a man suspected of blasphemy, set fire to the Bethel and Pantekosta churhes and threw stones at the Santo Petrus and Paulus churches.

In reaction to the both violence, President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) has instructed law enforcement agencies to take action on those responsible for the attacks and disband radical groups that are involved in the attacks. 

Further, GP Ansor, the youth organization of N.U as the largest Islamic organization in Indonesia, has sent its members to help reparation of the damaged churches.

Meanwhile, in order to settle the Ahmadiyah case, this evening the House of Representatives has invited the Chief of Police and Minister of Religious Affairs discuss about possible solution.

I hope that the government and the law enforcement agencies would immediately take serious actions as instructed by the president and bring everyone responsible for the attacks to justice, punish them severely and disband any groups or organizations that practice and/or condone violence.

Regarding the Ahmadiyah, perhaps we can follow its origin Pakistan which recognized it as an independent religion separated from Islam. But considering that its existence in Indonesia has been legally recognized since 1953, and efforts to solve this matter by the 2008 Joint Decree of the Minister of Religion, Minister of Home Affairs and Attorney General has not been effective, I hope that the Ahmadiyah would be involved in the discussion about its existence.

Sources :
-  Turning Blind Eye to Religious Bullies (The Jakarta Globe)
-  Bekasi FPI Leader Faces 6-Months Sentence .... (The Jakarta Globe)
-  Police Negligent in Ahmadiyah Attack (Tempointeraktif)
-  Bom Bali 2002 (Wikipedia)
-  Bom JW Marriot 2003 (Wikipedia)
-  Bom Kedubes Australia 2004 (Wikipedia)
-  Bom Bali 2005 (Wikipedia)
-  Bom Jakarta 2009 (Wikipedia)

Australian Travel Warning

The Australian government has warned its citizens who wish to travel to Bali during the Hindu Nyepi New Year on 16 March to respect local laws and regulations.

Stay Indoors, Respect Traditions in Bali
Thursday, 21 January 2010 | 14:49 WIB

KOMPAS.com - Australians traveling to Bali in March have been warned to respect strict laws surrounding the local new year. Custom requires that all people in Bali observe a day of silence from 6am on Tuesday, March 16 until 6am Wednesday, March 17 - the Balinese New Year.

Authorities require that all people in Bali stay indoors, make no noise and switch off all lights for the duration of this period. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs says tourists must remain in their hotels during this 24-hour period and seek the advice of hotel management regarding movement around the hotel grounds.

Balinese across the island strictly observe this tradition and people leaving their homes or hotels between between these times risk being forcibly returned to their homes or hotels by Balinese traditional village level security personnel.

DFAT says this is an important cultural event for the people of Bali and Australians are urged to be sensitive and strictly observe local custom to avoid giving offense. The Australian Consulate-General in Bali will be closed on Tuesday, March 16 and reopen at 8am on Wednesday, March 17, 2010

DFAT's general travel advice for Indonesia remains unchanged and includes a warning of the possibility of terror attacks. Three Australians were among the nine people killed in the suicide bombings at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta last July.

I hope that all foreigners, not just Australians, who are traveling to Bali and other regions in Indonesia would always respect local laws, regulations, religious rituals and customary traditions. That way their stay here would be safe and joyful.

Religious Conflict in Malaysia

Between 1979 and 1984, I traveled once a year to visit my parents who were living at that time in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Each visits usually takes around two weeks except in 1979 when I spent 3 months. I enjoyed those visits, made lots of friends with local people as well as foreigners.

In spite of the three different races in Malaysia i.e Malay, Chinese and Indians each with their own religions, culture, traditions, however things seems to be okay.
This can be clearly seen from the fact that its economy has grown very rapidly throughout the years. I believe that such progress can only be achieved by a country whose people are living peacefully in harmony.

Considering the above, I was so surprised when I heard about the recent conflict between Muslims and Christians that originated from the Muslims' objection against the use of the word ALLAH (Arabic for God) by Christians in the country. I was even more surprised when I heard that nine churches have been attacked by people using paints and firebombs.

For detailed media reports, please click here, here, here, here and here.

As a Muslim in Indonesia, where the word Allah has been used by Muslims and Christians for a long time, I felt very sad to hear about the above conflict. I hope that it would stop soon, especially that at the end of last year the High Court in Malaysia has passed a verdict that allow the use of the word Allah by Christians.


Photo: Courtesy of The Jakarta Globe.