Why Laskar Jihad exists<\/p>\n
Reading the article by Lee Kim Chew in The Jakarta Post on May
\n14, titled Militant Islam poses test for Mega, I would like to
\nclarify as follows:<\/p>\n
Clearly the article is very biased and the writer does not
\nunderstand the background of the foundation of the Laskar Jihad.
\nHe should bear in mind that the founding of Laskar Jihad was
\nbased on the inability of the government to protect the Muslim
\ncommunity from acts of violence in Maluku. Ironically, those
\nMuslims who joined Laskar Jihad were branded terrorists.<\/p>\n
Ayip Sapprudin of the Laskar Jihad has stated that the group
\nwould be very happy to leave Maluku if the government could
\nprovide protection to the Muslims there and uphold the law.
\nBesides, the government should also punish the perpetrators of
\nviolence involving the killing of Muslims.<\/p>\n
I would also like to comment on the letter by Soegih Arto (The
\nJakarta Post, May 14, Hamzah's visit to Ja'far not wise). He
\nclaimed that Ja'far did not condemn the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
\nHe was wrong. On many occasions Ja'far has expressed his
\nopposition to any act of separatism. When Ja'far held a rally in
\nAceh, he and his followers were threatened with death if he
\ninsisted on holding the rally.<\/p>\n
True, Hamzah Haz should not have visited Ja'far in jail. But
\nit is not relevant to compare Ja'far with Akbar Tanjung. In my
\nopinion, Ja'far was wrongly accused of being involved in acts of
\nterrorism and was arrested solely because the U.S. wanted him
\narrested. Whereas Akbar was accused of embezzling Rp 40 billion
\nof the people's money. But Hamzah could have ordered the police
\nto investigate Akbar and bring the case to court.<\/p>\n
M. ADJID<\/p>\n
Tangerang, Banten<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/why-laskar-jihad-exists-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }