Sari Yuliati Calls for Thorough Investigation into Burning of Santri in Lombok

House Deputy Speaker Sari Yuliati has conveyed her deep concern and condolences over the tragic incident that befell three santri in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. The three students were allegedly victims of violence, resulting in one fatality. This incident has caused profound grief for the victim’s family and the community. “I extend my deepest condolences to the victim’s family. There is no justification whatsoever for violence that takes a person’s life, especially against santri who are pursuing their studies,” Sari said in a written statement on Tuesday. As Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and a representative from the electoral district of Lombok Island, Sari has asked law enforcement officials to investigate the case thoroughly and transparently. All parties involved must be held accountable in accordance with applicable legal provisions. “I urge law enforcement to uncover this case comprehensively. There must be zero tolerance for perpetrators or any parties proven negligent so that this incident could occur,” Sari asserted. “Justice must be upheld and the victim’s family deserves to obtain it,” she added. According to Sari, this case must serve as a serious concern for all parties to prevent recurrence. A thorough evaluation of the supervision and child protection systems within the pesantren environment is necessary to ensure safety for the students. Nevertheless, Sari cautioned the public against generalising the incident to all Islamic boarding schools. She emphasised that there remain many pesantren that properly fulfil their functions and provide a safe, comfortable, and conducive environment for the students. “We must not condemn all pesantren just because of the actions of a handful of individuals. I believe there are still many pesantren in Lombok and across Indonesia that are safe places for pursuing education, shaping the character, morals, and future of the nation’s young generation,” Sari stated. Furthermore, Sari invited all elements of society, pesantren administrators, religious leaders, and regional governments to strengthen the protection and prevention systems against all forms of violence within the pesantren environment. “The safety and protection of students must be a shared priority. There must be no room for violence of any kind within pesantren,” Sari said. “Children must be able to learn and study with a sense of security and comfort,” she concluded.