Would-be pilgrims protest departure cancellations<\/p>\n
Andi Hajramurni and ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Makassar\/Surabaya<\/p>\n
More prospective pilgrims lodged protests in several parts of
\nIndonesia against the government over the cancellation of their
\ndepartures to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the haj pilgrimage next
\nyear.<\/p>\n
They demanded that the government strive hard to ensure that
\nthey could perform the Islamic pilgrimage in 2004.<\/p>\n
In Makassar, dozens of prospective pilgrims staged a
\ndemonstration at the South Sulawesi religious affairs office,
\nsaying they could not accept the decision as they had met all
\nrequirements needed to leave for the Islamic holy land.<\/p>\n
Protester Ruslina Rauf said she was extremely disappointed at
\nthe cancellation as she had been informed of her departure and
\nhad prepared everything to perform the pilgrimage since the
\nRamadhan fasting month.<\/p>\n
\"I was certain that I'd go on the haj pilgrimage because I've
\nmet all the necessary requirements. I also received my batch
\nnumber, 54. But suddenly, it was announced that my departure was
\ncanceled,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Similar disappointment was expressed by others, who also found
\ntheir planned pilgrimage had been postponed until the next haj
\nseason.<\/p>\n
\"The government must take responsibility for this. Although
\nthe money we paid to cover pilgrimage costs was not deducted, we
\nremain at a loss morally and mentally because of the loss of face
\nand disappointment,\" another protester said.<\/p>\n
Minister of Religious Affairs Said Agiel Al-Munawwar announced
\non Tuesday that almost 30,000 Indonesians would have to delay
\nuntil 2005 their trip to Mecca after the Saudi Arabian government
\ncanceled the additional quota for Indonesian haj pilgrims for
\n2004.<\/p>\n
The Saudi government policy also applied to the other 17
\nmember countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference,
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
A total 630 Muslims in Makassar were affected by the
\nannouncement. They were among 4,078 prospective pilgrims in South
\nSulawesi, whose departures were canceled. Only 22,087 people from
\nthe province would go to Mecca as planned.<\/p>\n
To prevent possible violence from erupting during the protest,
\ndozens of police officers were deployed to guard the South
\nSulawesi religious affairs office.<\/p>\n
Abdul Wahid, haj affairs section head at the local religious
\naffairs office, said he could understand the disappointment
\nvoiced by prospective pilgrims.<\/p>\n
However, he admitted he could do nothing to help them.<\/p>\n
In the West Java regency of Indramayu, at least 117
\nprospective pilgrims went to the local religious affairs office
\nto protest the cancellation of their departures, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
\"Of course we are disappointed, but we cannot do anything. The
\nimportant thing is that we have an intention to go on the
\npilgrimage and I hope I can go to Mecca in 2005,\" Satori, 57, who
\nwas among those who had to delay their departures, was quoted as
\nsaying.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, 1,028 Muslims, including East Java Governor Imam
\nUtomo, also had to cancel their pilgrimage next year.<\/p>\n
Muhammad Nawami, haj affairs section head at the Surabaya
\nreligious affairs office, said that only 4,456 prospective
\npilgrims would go to Mecca.<\/p>\n
\"Those who registered for the pilgrimage before July 24 will
\ndepart, and those after that date will have to delay their
\ndepartures,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The haj pilgrimage is obligatory for Muslims once in their
\nlives; many Indonesians have to sell belongings to pay the haj
\nfee.<\/p>\n
The first batch of Indonesian haj pilgrims is scheduled to
\nleave for Mecca on Dec. 30 from Jakarta. The pilgrimage peaks on
\nthe Islamic Day of Sacrifice, which in 2004 will fall on Feb. 1.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/would-be-pilgrims-protest-departure-cancellations-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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