More mob attack on exclusive Islamic sect

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

An angry mob attacked properties belonging to the members of an Islamic sect in Bajo Donggo village on Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara, on Saturday, the second such attack in just one week.

But local police claimed on Sunday they had restored order, but no arrests had been made, or even summonses issued, following the violence that left eight houses and a mosque destroyed.

Bima Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Budi Santoso said the attack started at around 9:30 a.m. and targeted followers of the Indonesian Islam Propagation Council (LDII), whom mainstream Muslims accuse of breaching the principal teachings of Islam.

"We managed to calm the mob, whose members came from various districts in Bima regency. Order has been restored as a platoon of police have been posted to the scene to protect the LDII members who have opted to stay," Budi told Antara.

A week earlier, raids were launched on LDII members in Batuyang village in East Lombok. Eight houses and a mosque were burned down.

Budi said he had offered the LDII members shelter in the police station if they felt insecure following the attack.

"But they rejected the offer as they no longer felt afraid and the attackers had dispersed. There is no threat any more," Budi said, adding that the police were investigating the case.

Budi suspected that the latest attack on property belonging to LDII members had been sparked by media reports about the previous incident in the neighboring regency of East Lombok.

"Although it remains uncertain whether provocateurs have played a role in the latest attack, the media reports on the existence of the LDII must have influenced these people," Budi said.

The Bima regent had previously asked LDII members during a dialog to mix with local people and stop their activities, which were perceived as a breach of Islamic teachings.

"They have fulfilled the call, as shown by their appearance for Friday prayers with local residents recently, which they had never done before," Budi said.

But one of the LDII members had made offensive remarks, which, according to Budi, had spoiled the amicable mood.

The local authorities have taken precautionary measures following the attacks by asking ulemas to calm their followers and tell them not to take the law in their own hands.