Mina stampede must not recur<\/p>\n
The 205,000 Indonesian pilgrims heading back home from Mecca
\nthis year will have had a variety of experiences, be they good or
\nbad. However, the tragedy at Mina -- the stampede at the devil-
\npelting ritual in which 57 Indonesians were killed -- is likely
\nto be at the forefront of their minds.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian casualties could have been avoided if the
\nvictims abided by the schedules set for their rituals. The
\nstampede is proof of the negligence on the part of the Indonesian
\nhaj management -- they must be held responsible for the tragedy.
\nThe management did not notify the Indonesians about the Saudi
\ngovernment's arrangements -- an allocated time schedule for
\nIndonesian pilgrims.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government could not have lodged any protest
\nwith the Saudi government as suggested by Muhammadyah
\norganization chairman Syafii Maarif (The Jakarta Post, Feb. 5),
\nbecause the time schedules for the rituals had been clearly
\narranged beforehand. Instead, we should blame the head of each
\nhaj group, as the government has decreed that groups of 10
\npilgrims should be headed by a leader experienced in handling
\npilgrimage rituals, who is fully aware of time schedules.
\nDevil-pelting rituals are the most difficult to coordinate
\nbesides the non-compulsory kissing of the black stone (hajar
\naswad) attached to one of the four Kaaba's corners.<\/p>\n
We must lend our support to the government's plan to
\nreorganize the haj management, following the recent failure of
\nabout 30,000 would-be pilgrims to depart to Saudi Arabia. We
\nshould also welcome the Ministry of Religious Affairs'
\nwillingness not to monopolize haj management in the future,
\nleaving it to professional organizers to plan against chaos and
\ntragedy.<\/p>\n
M. RUSDI
\nJakarta<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mina-stampede-must-not-recur-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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