Monas rally attack fugitive surrenders

The leader of the Islamic Troop Command (KLI) turned himself in to the Jakarta Police on Monday night for questioning over his role in the June 1 violence at the National Monument.

MUNARMAN: (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)

Munarman presented himself at Jakarta Police Headquarters at about 8 p.m. after more than a week in hiding.

He said he decided to surrender after learning the government had issued a joint ministerial decree banning Jamaah Ahmadiyah — a minority Islamic sect — from carrying out any activities.

“I have fulfilled my promise and proved that I am not a coward. I said in a videotape last week that I would surrender after the government disbanded Ahmadiyah,” he said.

The government announced on Monday a ministerial joint decree that “forbids Ahmadiyah followers from doing activities and spreading interpretations that deviate from Islamic teachings”.

These activities include preaching that there is another prophet after Muhammad.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Ketut Untung Yoga Ana confirmed Munarman’s surrender.

“We are currently questioning Munarman. He was accompanied by his lawyer upon his arrival at city police headquarters,” he said.

Last week, Munarman publicly claimed responsibility for the June 1 attacks on peaceful marchers at the National Monument (Monas). The violence left at least 70 members of the National Alliance for Freedom of Faith and Religion injured.

The alliance members were marching to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of Pancasila state ideology and to show support for Ahmadiyah.

Munarman, the former chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, said he did not try to evade arrest by fleeing after police named him a suspect on June 4.

“I did not run away from my responsibility. I was in hiding, waiting for the government’s firm decision on Ahmadiyah,” he said.

He said he regularly contacted his lawyer, Lukman Nur Hakim, but he did not tell anybody where he was hiding.

“I was the one who called him. Nobody could contact me,” he said.

He did appear in public last Tuesday, when he held a press conference at the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) headquarters in Petamburan, West Jakarta, the same day Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Adang Firman issued an ultimatum to FPI members involved in the Monas attack to surrender.

On Wednesday at 6 a.m., around 800 police officers were deployed to the FPI headquarters to arrest 59 members, including the group’s leader, Rizieq Shihab. The police later released 52 of those taken into custody.

Rizieq has been charged with violating Article 221 of the Criminal Code for sheltering criminals, Article 351 for oppressive acts, Article 156 for spreading hatred, Article 160 for provocation and Article 170 for assault. (The Jakarta Post)

Govt decree on Ahmadiyah to come out this month

The government will soon issue a controversial joint ministerial decree to determine the status of the Ahmadiyah sect, which will be a relief for everybody, a minister says.

State Secretary Hatta Radjasa refused to go into details, but said Thursday the overdue decree would be issued sometime this month.

Hatta said the government had delayed issuing the regulation “for the good of all”.

“Quick or slow (issuance) is not the point. The government is gathering input from all parts of society because, when the decree is issued, we want it to bring peace and well-being to us all,” Hatta said.

The Coordinating Board for Monitoring Mystical Beliefs in Society (Bakor Pakem) recommended in April the government outlaw Ahmadiyah, which it declared “heretical”. The board, which includes the religious affairs minister, the home minister and the Attorney General, came up with the recommendation after taking advice from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), which has banned Ahmadiyah since 1990s.

The controversy surrounding the government’s plan to outlaw Ahmadiyah climaxed on Sunday when members of the hard-line Islam Defenders Front attacked peaceful demonstrators asking the government to drop the plan for the sake of freedom of religion, which is enshrined in the Constitution.

Moderate Muslim and human rights groups have defended Ahmadiyah, whose followers do not believe Muhammad was the last prophet.

The MUI executive blamed the government’s indecisiveness as the trigger for Sunday’s violence.

“We urge the government to immediately issue the joint decree on Ahmadiyah. The delay will create more uncertainty in society, which can be manipulated by various parties to defend Ahmadiyah,” MUI secretary Anwar Abbas told Antara news agency.

The MUI also called on Muslims to unite and remain on alert for any attempts to split them up.

“We also reject any direct or indirect foreign interventions that support movements to insult and liberalize Islamic teachings,” he said, without explaining which foreign parties he was referring to.

National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) governor Muladi warned the government against issuing any decree on religious matters, saying it was beyond the state’s authority.

“Private matters such as those related to faith cannot be settled through state intervention,” Muladi said.

He said issuing a decree to outlaw Ahmadiyah would not serve as an effective solution.

“This concerns faith so it must be resolved through a dialogue among Muslims themselves. This dialogue should focus on finding a meeting point on how to settle the Ahmadiyah problem,” Muladi said.

Muladi said the ulema, who found the alleged deviation in Ahmadiyah’s beliefs, must explain to followers of the sect the correct understanding of the Islamic faith. If Ahmadiyah followers did not accept this, Muladi said, a decision to stop their activities must be made through consensus.

“There is no need for political intervention here because this is a matter of faith,” Muladi said. (The Jakarta Post)

Police arrest FPI members over Monas incident

The Jakarta Police arrested more than 30 members of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) on Wednesday for their alleged involvement in the violence toward peace activists at the National Monument on Sunday.

None of the FPI members resisted arrest after FPI leader Habib Rizieq Shihab gave his cooperation and ordered all FPI members to cooperate.

The police, fearing resistance from FPI members, were heavily armed and guarded at FPI headquarters since early morning.

“Don’t panic because whether or not you are declared suspects will depend upon the police’s investigation,” Rizieq told his followers, as reported by SCTV TV station.

“We will send our lawyers to accompany you during police questioning.”

FPI members attacked the National Alliance for the Freedom of Faith and Religion (AKKBB) activists at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on Sunday. The activists rallying in support of Jamaah Ahmadiyah.

FPI has urged the government to ban Ahmadiyah for not following the mainstream Islamic tenets and for believing that founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is a prophet. Mainstream Muslims regard Prophet Muhammad as the last prophet. (The Jakarta Post)

West Java city outlaws Ahmadiyah sect

By Yuli Tri Suwarni

Cimahi municipality in West Java has followed Sukabumi and Kuningan regencies in banning the Islamic sect Ahmadiyah, despite no formal ban from the central government.

Mayor Itoc Tochiya issued the order on May 6, a day after the local chapter of the Coordinating Board for the Supervision of Mystical Beliefs in Society (Bakor Pakem) recommended municipal authorities ban the sect for heresy.

Head of the Cimahi chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Hafidz Sayuti, said the council urged the municipality to issue the ban “to protect sect members”.

Sukabumi and Kuningan regencies, also in West Java, earlier issued orders banning the sect. These local actions come as the central government considers a nationwide ban on Ahmadiyah.

A mosque belonging to the sect in Parakan Salak, Sukabumi, was burned down on April 28 by Muslims demanding the government outlaw the group.

More than 50 families who are followers of the sect have been evicted from their villages in Ketapang, West Nusa Tenggara, and are now staying in temporary shelters at government buildings in Mataram.

Sayuti said the Cimahi chapter of the Indonesian Ulema Council had investigated the sect and found they continued to treat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as a prophet and that their teachings deviated from mainstream Islamic tenets.

“Wouldn’t it minimize social tension if they stopped their activities?” Sayuti said Wednesday.

Cimahi is home to thousands of Ahmadis, one of the biggest concentrations of members in West Java, along with Sukabumi, Kuningan, Bogor and Bandung.

The ban was greeted by protests not only by Ahmadiyah members but also by an interfaith group, AKUR, which accused municipal authorities of ignoring human rights and violating the Constitution’s guarantee of religious freedom.

AKUR coordinator Yaman Didu said the ban was contrary to the Constitution, which protects the rights of citizens and enshrines freedom of religion.

“We demand the mayor revoke the decision and retract statements published in the media,” Didu said.

Head of the Bandung region Ahmadiyah youth wing, Zaki Firdaus, said the mayor had acted arbitrarily.

“We believe we have been carrying out our responsibilities as good citizens, so please treat us correctly,” Zaki said.

He urged the central government to settle this issue fairly and wisely, in line with the Constitution and human rights. (The Jakarta Post)

Govt drafts joint decree to outlaw Ahmadiyah

By Desy Nurhayati

The government is preparing a joint decree to outlaw “heretical” Islamic sect Jamaah Ahmadiyah, following a recommendation by a government board.

The recommendation was discussed Thursday at a meeting led by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo Adi Sucipto.

Widodo said the decree would be drafted by the Religious Affairs Ministry, the Home Ministry and the Attorney General’s Office.

“The government will formulate the joint decree based on the 1965 law on the prevention of misuse and disgrace of religion,” Widodo said after the meeting at his office.

Attorney General Hendarman Supandji, Justice and Human Rights Minister Andi Mattalata, Indonesian Military chief Gen. Djoko Santoso and National Police chief Gen. Sutanto attended the meeting.

The Coordinating Board for Monitoring Mystical Beliefs in Society (Bakor Pakem) recommended on Wednesday the government ban Ahmadiyah for failing to commit to the 12-point declaration it signed in January.

The declaration acknowledged mainstream Islamic teachings and abandoned the sect’s “deviant” beliefs. This included recognizing Muhammad, not Mirza Gulam Ahmad, as the last prophet.

Widodo ordered the police to tighten security to prevent potential violence and anarchism following the ban on Ahmadiyah.

“The decree should consider various aspects, especially stability, so as to be alert to potential conflict stemming from various groups’ dissatisfaction,” he said.

The recommendation has sparked debate among Islamic groups. Most have come out in support of the ban even though Ahmadiyah is a nonviolent sect.

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, the country’s two largest Muslim organizations, said the government has the authority to ban Ahmadiyah.

They said the government must ensure the safety of Ahmadiyah members following the recommendation.

“In Islam, Ahmadiyah is deviant. It is the government’s domain to outlaw it or not for stability reasons,” NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi said.

Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin said there should be efforts to persuade Ahmadiyah followers to return to mainstream Islamic teachings.

“It won’t be easy to ban Ahmadiyah. The government may disband any sect legally and formally, but culturally their beliefs may continue to exist.

“Thus, a persuasive dialogue is the best way to convince them,” Din said.

The Islam Defenders Front and the Muslim People’s Forum are using the recommendation by Bakor Pakem to pressure the government to dissolve Ahmadiyah immediately.

The Maarif Institute for Culture and Humanity said banning Ahmadiyah would violate the Constitution, which respects freedom of religion.

Institute executive director Raja Juli Antoni said the government should not intervene in religious matters and urged the President to annul the decision.

The move against Ahmadiyah was also condemned by the Alliance for Religious and Belief Freedom.

Ahmadiyah spokesman Fazal Mujeeb said the group would continue its activities and would not respond to the ban.

“The government has no reason to ban our activities. They simply don’t want to listen to us and have based this decision on a one-sided view,” he said.

“We are on the right Islamic path. We are part of the Muslim community, even though we have some different opinions.”

Facts about Ahmadiyah

* An Islamic sect founded in Qadian, Punjab, India, in 1889 by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1839-1908), who claimed to be the mahdi — a figure expected by some Muslims to appear at the end of the world.

* The group is guided by a Khalifa (Caliph), its spiritual leader, who claims to commune with the Almighty and be the successor to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.

* Ahmadiyah entered Indonesia in 1925.

* There are two groups of Ahmadiyah in Indonesia — Jamaah Ahmadiyah Indonesia (JAI), also known as Ahmadiyah Qodiyani, and Indonesian Ahmadiyah Movement (GAI), also called Ahmadiyah Lahore.

* JAI believes Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was the last prophet after Muhammad, while GAI only considers Mirza to be a reformer.

* The Indonesian Ulema Council declared both JAI and GAI heretical sects.

* Attacks on Ahmadiyah increased following the council’s fatwa.

Source: Various sources (The Jakarta Post)