East Lombok calm after arson attacks<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The situation in Selong, East Lombok Regency in West Nusa
\nTenggara (NTB) returned to normal on Thursday, following arson
\nattacks on a mosque belonging to the Ahmadiyah community as well
\nas other assets on Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n
Local police chief Adj. Sr. Comm. M.A. Wiguna said Thursday
\nthat authorities were currently questioning six persons as
\nwitnesses in the attacks that started on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
"The situation is under control as of Thursday morning and we
\nhope that the dispute can be settled through a meeting of
\nreligious leaders, the regent, and the public," Wiguna was quoted
\nby Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
No suspects have been named as yet.<\/p>\n
Thousands of people -- youngsters and adults -- from villages
\naround the regency ransacked a building belonging to the
\nAhmadiyah secretariat at 9 p.m. on Wednesday and burned nearly
\neverything in the building, forcing police to fire warning shots.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, an unidentified mob attacked an Ahmadiyah-run
\nmosque located on Jl. Prof. Yamin, Selong.<\/p>\n
Ahmadiyah is a Muslim community which refuses to associate
\nwith other Muslims. They tend to live in an exclusive group and
\nonly pray in their own mosques, even though they were officially
\nbanned in the 1980s.<\/p>\n
Wiguna said the police had no reports of problems prior to
\nTuesday, and so it was not anticipated.<\/p>\n
"I urge the public not to take the law into their hands or to
\ndo another attack. Just let all problems be handled by the
\ngovernment and law enforcers," he said.<\/p>\n
NTB police chief Brig. Gen. Iman Haryatna said a total ban
\nimposed on the group in 1983 by the courts and the Indonesian
\nCouncil of Ulemas (MUI) should be respected in order to avoid
\nunexpected incidents.<\/p>\n
"Ahmadiyah should not have been allowed to exist here since it
\nwas already banned," he said.<\/p>\n
"Unexpected things like this will not take place if the ban is
\nfully implemented," Imam said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/east-lombok-calm-after-arson-attacks-1447893297",
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