Christian groups say no ulemas involved in riots
SURABAYA (JP): Several influential organizations, mainly Christian, have concluded that no Moslem ulema was involved in the recent church attacks in East Java.
The Indonesian Association of Christian Intelligentsia (PIKI) and several other organizations, which jointly investigated the attacks, said that a third party instigated the riots.
They said the third party wished to tarnish Islam and the many Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) in Situbondo, the center of the violence.
"More specifically, there were efforts to slander the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Gus Dur," said Cornelius Ronowidjojo of PIKI in a joint statement issued here yesterday.
The Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Moslem organization, has strong support in Situbondo. Gus Dur, whose real name is Abdurrahman Wahid, chairs the organization.
The investigation did not identify the "third party" which it accused of provoking the Oct. 10 riots, which claimed five lives, damaged 12 churches, 12 Christian houses of worship, some schools, an orphanage and public buildings.
"All the ulemas that we contacted said they were astounded. They knew nothing of the riots beforehand. They also regretted and condemned the incident," Cornelius said.
Cornelius and nine others investigators, spent a week interviewing people in Situbondo, 160 kilometer east of here.
He said the ulemas were convinced that the riots' perpetrators were from out of town. "The team also found that leaflets were circulated inviting people to attend Saleh's trial on Oct. 10," Cornelius said.
He was referring to the trial of a local Moslem accused of blasphemy against Islam and of slandering the late K.H. As'ad Syamsul Arifin, which is said to have sparked the riots.
Thousands of people outside the hearing went on a rampage after the prosecution requested a sentence which the crowd considered too lenient. When some unidentified people shouted that the defendant was hidden in a church near the Situbondo District Court, the mob began burning buildings.
Other organizations
The other organizations behind the investigation were the Christian Youths Movement, the Islamic University Students Movement, the Nationalist University Students Movement, the Christian University Students Movement and the Association of Catholic Students.
The organizations said people must view the incident with critical concern in the hope that the violence would never be repeated. "We're not going to make arbitrary charges. We all hope the authorities will soon reveal who were really behind the riots," Cornelius said.
On Monday evening, East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman and his staff held a closed meeting with local religious leaders. After the meeting, he agreed to cooperate to restore peace and rebuild the buildings burned or damaged in the incident.
"We'll see to it that everybody here participates in the drive. I think we'll be able to do it," Basofi said.
No official estimation has been given on the cost of those five violent hours in Situbondo and its surrounding areas. Basofi said that it would cost Rp 1.5 billion (US$638,297) to rebuild the burned Situbondo courthouse.
"We're all responsible," Basofi said.
The meeting was also attended by the chief of the Brawijaya military command, Maj. Gen. Imam Utomo, and other regional military leaders. Another meeting is planned for Oct. 25 to discuss the details of reconciliation and reconstruction.
Basofi welcomed Abdurrahman Wahid's intention to help rebuild the churches: "That's good. I'm inviting Gus Dur to be directly involved in the undertaking."
Surabaya Bishop Hadi Wikarto said the trauma and fear caused by the riots were worse than the physical damage it caused.
The Communication Forum for Surabaya Christians last week requested a day of mourning for Oct. 27, and called on all Christians to join mass that day. (15/swe)