Withdraw joint troops from Ambon<\/p>\n
The peace-seeking endeavors initiated by conflicting parties
\nin Ambon, Maluku, and sponsored both by the civil emergency local
\ngovernment and several communities have failed. The killings of
\nMuslims in Ambon have raged again. This time joint troops under
\nthe direct command of Pattimura 16th Military Commander Brig.
\nGen. I Made Yasa opened fire upon Muslim citizens.<\/p>\n
The joint troops attacked a compound of ruko (shop-houses),
\nhotels as well as motorists. Those who fell victim were
\nresidents, some police officers, a prospective haj pilgrim and a
\ncouncilor who happened to be a reporter. According to mass media
\nreports, in that tragedy a dozen people were killed by gunfire on
\nJan. 21 and Jan. 22, 2001.<\/p>\n
The Mujahidin Council, as an institution striving for the
\nupholding of syari'ah Illahiyah (Islamic law), was extremely
\nconcerned over the brutal shootings, because viewed from syar'i
\npoint, the tragedy is barbaric and subject to qishas (capital
\npunishment). It appears that the apparatuses' hatred of Muslims
\nis still apparent, and the Islamophobia phenomenon is still
\ncontaminating the military brass so they have assigned a joint
\nbattalion to be seemingly prepared to terrorize and kill Muslim
\npeople in Ambon.<\/p>\n
One of the indications of the apparatuses' hatred and
\nIslamophobia can be found in a report of Republika of Jan. 22,
\n2001:\"... that Media Indonesia reporter Darul Quthni Tuhepalle
\nwas detained for seven hours. During the detention, Quthni was
\nkicked, hit and cursed; his physical condition was wretched and
\nhe looked shocked. In spite of it, he remembered that the
\napparatuses had condemned Muslims by using the term Islamic
\ntroublemaker ...\"<\/p>\n
Another brutality occurred on Jan. 22, 2001 when the joint
\nbattalion attacked Batu Merah ruko and fired arms at random,
\nresulting in nine people being killed and 23 wounded.<\/p>\n
Their arbitrary actions have been denied by Brig. Gen. I Made
\nYasa, by saying that the joint military battalion acted according
\nto the rules, instructions and procedures. This indicates that
\nthose actions were legitimate based on instructions from the
\ncommander. Consequently, the Mujahidin Council hereby appeals to
\nthe government as follows:<\/p>\n
First: to immediately withdraw the joint military battalion in
\nAmbon and Maluku in general, and replace it with a neutral and
\nprofessional troop capable of overcoming the religious war which
\nhas lasted for more than two years.<\/p>\n
Second: we also urge the government to discharge Pattimura
\n16th Military Commander Brig. Gen. I Made Yasa and to replace him
\nwith another officer who is more professional and humanistic.<\/p>\n
Third: we demand that the minister of defense show his
\nresolute stance regarding this brutal gun firing, as often
\npracticed when facing problems in Aceh, because the slaughter
\ncommitted by the joint military battalion is not the first
\nkilling.<\/p>\n
We hope that this brutality practiced by Indonesian Military
\npersonnel receives serious attention from the government, the TNI
\ncommander and the minister of defense.<\/p>\n
IRFAN S. AWWAS<\/p>\n
Chairman<\/p>\n
The Council of Mujahedin<\/p>\n
Yogyakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/withdraw-joint-troops-from-ambon-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }