More mob attack on exclusive Islamic sect

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.