Police asked to take firm action against vandalism

Police asked to take firm action against vandalism

JAKARTA (JP): A number of Muslim organizations and legal
associations asked the National Police on Friday to take firm
action against certain groups which have repeatedly attacked and
vandalized nightspots during the fasting month of Ramadhan.

The Muslim organizations included Ansor, the youth wing of the
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim organization; the Indonesian Muslim
Students Movement (PMII), also affiliated with NU; the youth wing
of the Muhammadiyah Muslim organization (Pemuda Muhammadiyah);
the Muhammadiyah Youngsters Association (IRM) and the Association
of Muhammadiyah University Students (IMM).

Meanwhile, the legal associations included the Legal Aid
Institute and Human Rights Association (PBHI), the Indonesian
Advocate Association (AAI), the Union of Indonesian Lawyers (SPI)
and the Indonesian Bar Association (IKADIN).

"We are very concerned about rampant acts of vandalism
committed by certain groups, carrying religious attributes and
symbols, against nightspots during the past four weeks, while the
police have yet to take any preventive measures," Hendardi, PBHI
chairman, said.

"The police's passive stance has drawn suspicion that they had
stood behind their (the groups') actions."

"That's why we ask the police to perform their duties in
maintaining security and order," he told a media conference at
his office.

Raja Julia Antoni of IRM said such acts of vandalism could not
be tolerated.

"We cannot tolerate such criminal acts, despite the fact that
they have carried religious attributes and symbols," he said.

Similarly, Sugeng Teguh Santoso of SPI said that such
vandalism must be halted.

"If the police just let the action recur, there will be
another, even larger wave of violence in the country," he said,
but did not elaborate.

Thomas Tampubolon of AAI said the groups' actions to raid and
vandalize the nightspots had obviously violated human basic
rights, such as the right to possess property, the right to work
and to earn money and the right to be free from fear.

"Those are the rights which are guaranteed by the state,"
Thomas said.

Meanwhile, Syukur of Ansor said that letting the groups
continue their acts of vandalism would only trigger
counteractions, which could eventually provoke nationwide
conflict.

"Jakarta, as well as other regions across the country, must be
protected from such vandalism, which could have a significant
impact on the country's political and economic affairs," he said.

Similarly, Imam Addaruqudni, chairman of Pemuda Muhammadiyah,
said the police must strive to prevent any possibility of
inciting societal conflict.

He said that the prolonged communal conflict in Maluku was
caused by security apparatus' sluggish manner in handling the
situation in the riot-torn province.

Imam reminded that those who work at the raided nightspots
were also Muslims, who also deserve to live.

Gunawan Hidayat of IMM said it was difficult for the Muslim
organizations to prevent such vandalism as the groups had their
own understanding and beliefs on the presence of the nightspots.

"I have frequently met the leaders of these groups, but I
always failed to persuade them to quit their action because they
have their own reasons," Gunawan said. (01)