Military to be tough on religious provocateurs<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): City military commander Maj. Gen. Ryamizard
\nRyacudu vowed on Tuesday to take stern measures against any
\nparties attempting to create Ambon-style religious conflict in
\nthe capital.<\/p>\n
\"The military command won't allow any provocateurs to bring
\nthe religious conflict in Ambon to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"We will crush anyone who attempts to do so,\" the newly
\nappointed Jakarta military commander told journalists on the
\nsidelines of breaking-of-the-fast gathering at his office on
\nTuesday evening.<\/p>\n
Ryamizard was commenting on the possible involvement of
\nprovocateurs in the arson attack on a Christian-owned complex
\nhousing a school of theology and drug rehabilitation and
\npsychiatric centers in Cipayung, East Jakarta, last week.<\/p>\n
One student died and more than a dozen people were injured in
\nthe attack.<\/p>\n
Ryamizard confirmed that religious conflict was one aspect of
\nthe attack.<\/p>\n
\"The conflict initially began because locals were annoyed at
\nthe existence of the Doulos foundation complex in the middle of
\ntheir residential area,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The locals, he said, became more upset after they found that
\nthe establishment had no appropriate license from the
\nadministration to run such activities.<\/p>\n
Ryamizard said the people believed the activities of
\nfoundation created dislike among locals.<\/p>\n
He, however, condemned the attack, saying that whatever
\ngrounds the attackers had could not justify such a violent move.<\/p>\n
The two-star general pledged that a repeat of the attack would
\nnever happen again in the capital.<\/p>\n
\"The military command will do its best to prevent such a thing
\nhappening here again,\" Ryamizard said, adding that he had
\ncontacted city police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djadjoesman and
\nthey were cooperating in investigating the case.<\/p>\n
He also acknowledged that the command faced a dilemma when the
\nneed arose to take stiff measures against violators.<\/p>\n
\"If we take stern action, the public will say the military has
\nacted against human rights principles. But if we take 'careful'
\nsteps in restoring order, people say the command is dragging its
\nfeet,\" Ryamizard said.<\/p>\n
In a related development on Wednesday, Noegroho said his men
\nhad questioned 11 suspects in relation to the Doulos attack.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters at City Hall after a meeting with
\nGovernor Sutiyoso, Noegroho said his office was waiting to
\nquestion the Doulos foundation chairman.<\/p>\n
\"We'd ask him about, among other things, the kind of buildings
\nin the complex and the victims in the attack,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Noegroho also insisted that the arson attack on the 2.7-
\nhectare building complex was committed by locals.<\/p>\n
Protest<\/p>\n
Separately, some 200 Muslim residents from Cipayung staged a
\ndemonstration at the House of Representatives on Wednesday,
\nprotesting the planned rebuilding of the Doulos complex and the
\narrest of several local Muslim residents for their alleged roles
\nin the attack.<\/p>\n
The demonstrators, who carried banners bearing anti-
\nChristianization messages, protested the arrest of their fellow
\nresidents and the questioning of two local ustads (religion
\nteachers).<\/p>\n
They blamed the Doulos Foundation for running a theology
\ninstitute, a drug rehabilitation center and other charitable
\nactivities at the complex.<\/p>\n
Zul Akbar, spokesman for the demonstrators, told reporters
\nthat the complex was burned down due to the foundation's attempt
\nto convert local Muslims to Christianity.<\/p>\n
\"We have protested the complex's presence over the last six
\nyears, but the foundation ignored our protests. The foundation
\nshould be blamed for the burning. The incident was triggered by
\nalleged Christianization,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The demonstrators also demanded the city police release all
\nresidents arrested in connection to the case.<\/p>\n
Abdullah, an ustad participating in the protest, said hundreds
\nof Muslim residents had taken a refuge in other areas for fear of
\nbeing intimidated by authorities.<\/p>\n
He also said the incident should not be politicized to
\ndiscredit city officials, including Governor Sutiyoso and
\nNoegroho.<\/p>\n
\"Muslims from the city and its outskirts will come in greater
\nnumbers to the House if the House fails to channel their
\naspirations,\" he warned.<\/p>\n
Abdullah also told city authorities to prohibit the foundation
\nfrom rebuilding the complex because its presence and activities
\nwould only trigger unrest among local Muslims.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung reiterated that the
\nburning of the complex could not be tolerated and all those
\ninvolved in the case should be brought to court.<\/p>\n
\"The case should be investigated thoroughly and all persons
\nfound guilty of involvement in the burning should be punished to
\nprevent such incidents from happening in the future, because we
\nhave agreed to respect all religions and their adherents'
\nrights,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Akbar said the government had no reason to stop the foundation
\nrebuilding the complex if city planning stipulations allow the
\npresence of such a complex in the area.<\/p>\n
\"Amid the reform era, pluralism should be respected and all
\nreligious leaders should play a role in improving religious
\ntolerance among people,\" he said. (asa\/rms\/05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/military-to-be-tough-on-religious-provocateurs-1447893297",
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