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)