NU chairman visits riot-hit Pasuruan<\/p>\n
PASURUAN, East Java (JP): In an effort to restore its badly
\ndented image after three days of clashes in Pasuruan, the
\ncountry's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) showed
\nits human face on Friday in the form of a visit by its chairman
\nHasyim Muzadi to damaged churches and the relatives of a local
\nkilled by the police during the disturbances.<\/p>\n
Hasyim, accompanied by the chairman of the East Java chapter
\nof the NU, Ali Maschan Moesa, the Rev. Wismo Hadi of the East
\nJava chapter of Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI), and
\nFather Eko Budi Susilo of the Indonesian Conference of Churches
\n(KWI), handed over Rp 2 million for the relatives of Fathan, the
\nman killed during the riots, another Rp 2 million in cash for the
\nrehabilitation of the churches and Rp 10 million for the repair
\nof Muhammadiyah school buildings destroyed during the unrest.<\/p>\n
Pasuruan mayor Aminur Rahman and other local religious figures
\nwere also on hand.<\/p>\n
\"I'm very sad to see all of this. The people's aspirations
\nhave been diverted along the path of religious violence by
\ncertain people. This is all the result of the bickering among the
\npoliticians in Jakarta, who always use the people in their
\njockeying for power,\" Hasyim said at the burned-out Protestant
\nchurch.<\/p>\n
The church had been torched, while St. Anthony's Catholic
\nchurch and another Protestant church were vandalized, during the
\ndisturbances which erupted after the issuance of President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid's executive order, or Maklumat, on Monday.<\/p>\n
Some other towns in East Java, known as a hotbed of support
\nfor President Abdurrahman, have also been tense over the past
\nfour days.<\/p>\n
Father Eko Budi said that the desecration of the churches had
\nallegedly been perpetrated by a third party eager to stir up
\ninterreligious conflict.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that all religious figures will encourage their
\nfollowers to avoid all kinds of religious discord. We also hope
\nthat all people of religion will not let themselves be easily
\nstirred up,\" Father Eko said.<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro had issued a
\nshoot-on-sight order to his men against any persons attempting to
\noccupy strategic locations.<\/p>\n
The manner in which the Pasuruan police handled the violence,
\nwhich resulted in the death of one person (Fathan) from gunshot
\nwounds and the hospitalization of four others, has been
\ncriticized by President Abdurrahman.<\/p>\n
The police, however, hit back saying that everything they did
\nto curb the disturbances in various parts of the country was
\nbased on standard police procedures.<\/p>\n
Upon his arrival at the Muhammadiyah school buildings which
\nhad also been vandalized by the mob during the rioting, Hasyim
\nmet with the chairman of the Pasuruan Muhammadiyah chapter, Imam
\nGhazali, and presented him with Rp 10 million in cash to be put
\ntoward their repair.<\/p>\n
Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
The violence occurring in East Java has drawn expressions of
\nconcern from other areas, including West Java and Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
On Friday, some 25 organizations in Yogyakarta, grouped in the
\nAnti-Violence Civil Coalition, declared their opposition against
\nall forms of violence and brutality.<\/p>\n
They also called on politicians to adhere to democracy in
\norder to prevent a return of the military to national politics.<\/p>\n
\"The current (national) situation where violence has increased
\nsignificantly does not bode well for the transition to
\ndemocracy,\" said Djuwarto, the group's spokesman.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a media conference at Gadjah Mada University's
\nCenter for Rural and Regional Development Studies, Djuwarto said
\nthat the escalating conflict between the legislature and the
\nexecutive had triggered violence at the grassroots level.<\/p>\n
\"The conflict among the members of the political elite serves
\nonly to prolong the political uncertainty,\" he said. \"If the
\npresent chaotic situation continues, the military will become
\ninvolved in politics again. This is what we must avoid,\" he
\nasserted.<\/p>\n
Many prominent Yogyakarta figures, including Yogyakarta
\nHumanist Committee (KKY) activists J. Nasikun and Susetiawan,
\nBelievers' Brotherhood Forum (FPUB) activist Father Suyatno, and
\nthe National Awakening Party (PKB) provincial chapter's
\nsecretary, Nur Ahmad Affandi, attended the press conference.
\n(nur\/23\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nu-chairman-visits-riot-hit-pasuruan-1447893297",
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