'Tarawih' at Atma Jaya runs smoothly<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Despite mounting criticism from Muslim figures,
\nstudents grouped in the Big Family of the University of Indonesia
\n(KB-UI) proceeded with their plan to hold a breaking of the fast
\ngathering and tarawih (Ramadhan evening prayer) on the campus of
\nAtma Jaya University on Saturday.<\/p>\n
With no police cordon, the students -- about 100 in number --
\ncarried out their plan in an orderly and peaceful fashion.<\/p>\n
Not a single clash was reported. The traffic on Jl. Sudirman
\nin front of the campus was not affected by the gathering, which
\nwas originally planned for some 500 students.<\/p>\n
The event ended at about 9:45 p.m., with some of the students
\nwalking to the nearby Semanggi cloverleaf and erecting a wooden
\nbillboard on the street median that read \"Here, our friends were
\nkilled\".<\/p>\n
After saying a short prayer, the students dispersed
\npeacefully.<\/p>\n
The breaking of the fast gathering, which was no different
\nfrom many similar events held at private and public locations
\nnationwide, had sparked debate following misleading reports from
\nthe media, which stated that the prayer service would be held on
\nthe Semanggi cloverleaf.<\/p>\n
Muslim leader Amien Rais, a noted pro-reform activist,
\nrepeated his strong support of the tarawih held on the Atma Jaya
\ncampus.<\/p>\n
\"I support it. Insya Allah (God willing), if the students
\nreally have good intentions and can carry out the event properly
\nand orderly, they will receive double merits from Allah,\" he said
\na few hours before the students' tarawih began.<\/p>\n
Amien also reminded the media not to give their readers
\nmisinformation which could obscure the truth about the event.<\/p>\n
He was upset with reports that had quoted him as saying that
\nhe opposed the students' plan to perform the tarawih at the
\nSemanggi cloverleaf (not on the Atma Jaya campus).<\/p>\n
Amien insisted that he never opposed the plan, and he strongly
\nsupported the students.<\/p>\n
\"Even in front of the students, I already voiced my support
\nfor their plan (for the tarawih),\" he said.<\/p>\n
When asked to comment, Deddy Syahputra, chief coordinator of
\nthe gathering and the KB-UI, said that critics must not have had
\nclear information about the plan.<\/p>\n
\"They do not know what we are up to, but they comment as if
\nthey know us,\" he said, blaming groundless media reports about
\nthe event.<\/p>\n
The prayer was led by Syaiful Bahri Al Banjari, an Islamic
\nteacher from Depok.<\/p>\n
In a speech after the tarawih, Syaiful told the students that
\nthe only hope for the future of Indonesia was next year's general
\nelection.<\/p>\n
Joined by students from other groups and universities, such as
\nGunadarma University and Borobudur University, organizers said
\nthe event was only meant to perform the Ramadhan evening prayer
\nand commemorate the death of the eight students who were shot by
\ntroops while staging a rally in front of the campus in the Black
\nFriday tragedy of Nov. 13.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, we also want to use this month of Ramadhan for
\nintrospection on the student movement so far. We, for instance,
\nhave to further clarify all our points,\" Deddy said at a press
\nconference before the tarawih began.<\/p>\n
\"This event could become a place for us, the students, to
\nconsolidate our movement. All the weaknesses we found during our
\nprevious rallies should be discarded.\"<\/p>\n
\"The point is we are not politicizing Islam by holding this
\nprayer service,\" Deddy insisted.<\/p>\n
Government critics Sri Bintang Pamungkas, Roch Basoeki and
\nYenny Rosa Damayanti were seen among the students at the service.<\/p>\n
Deddy commented, \"We invited nobody, except students, to join
\ntonight's service.\"<\/p>\n
While the tarawih was being held, some students were seen
\nchatting and enjoying their meals outside the campus.<\/p>\n
Usman, a bakpau (dumpling) vendor, happily welcomed the crowd,
\nand smilingly said, \"I agree with the students. Plus, I can sell
\nmore bakpau.\"<\/p>\n
Hours before the gathering, City Police chief Maj. Gen.
\nNoegroho Djajoesman warned the students not to proceed with their
\nplan.<\/p>\n
The police, he said, could not guarantee the students'
\nsecurity because they (the police) did not receive the prior
\nnotification from the students that would have enabled them to
\ncoordinate security for the event.<\/p>\n
Moreover, Noegroho said, the tarawih did not have the
\npermission of Atma Jaya University.<\/p>\n
According to Yohanes Temaluru, third assistant to Atma Jaya's
\nrector, the university never gave KB-UI permission to use the
\ncampus for the event.<\/p>\n
Contacted last night, Yohanes, who was on holiday outside of
\nJakarta, said that when he returned to Jakarta he would meet his
\ncounterpart from the University of Indonesia to ask for
\nclarification about the event.<\/p>\n
\"I know that they have started the gathering. That is not
\nethical at all because they did not ask permission from the
\nhost,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Yohanes said that the campus should be free from any events
\nduring the university's holiday, which runs from Dec. 24 to Jan.
\n2. (ivy\/emf\/bsr)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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