'Tarawih' at Atma Jaya runs smoothly
'Tarawih' at Atma Jaya runs smoothly
JAKARTA (JP): Despite mounting criticism from Muslim figures,
students grouped in the Big Family of the University of Indonesia
(KB-UI) proceeded with their plan to hold a breaking of the fast
gathering and tarawih (Ramadhan evening prayer) on the campus of
Atma Jaya University on Saturday.
With no police cordon, the students -- about 100 in number --
carried out their plan in an orderly and peaceful fashion.
Not a single clash was reported. The traffic on Jl. Sudirman
in front of the campus was not affected by the gathering, which
was originally planned for some 500 students.
The event ended at about 9:45 p.m., with some of the students
walking to the nearby Semanggi cloverleaf and erecting a wooden
billboard on the street median that read "Here, our friends were
killed".
After saying a short prayer, the students dispersed
peacefully.
The breaking of the fast gathering, which was no different
from many similar events held at private and public locations
nationwide, had sparked debate following misleading reports from
the media, which stated that the prayer service would be held on
the Semanggi cloverleaf.
Muslim leader Amien Rais, a noted pro-reform activist,
repeated his strong support of the tarawih held on the Atma Jaya
campus.
"I support it. Insya Allah (God willing), if the students
really have good intentions and can carry out the event properly
and orderly, they will receive double merits from Allah," he said
a few hours before the students' tarawih began.
Amien also reminded the media not to give their readers
misinformation which could obscure the truth about the event.
He was upset with reports that had quoted him as saying that
he opposed the students' plan to perform the tarawih at the
Semanggi cloverleaf (not on the Atma Jaya campus).
Amien insisted that he never opposed the plan, and he strongly
supported the students.
"Even in front of the students, I already voiced my support
for their plan (for the tarawih)," he said.
When asked to comment, Deddy Syahputra, chief coordinator of
the gathering and the KB-UI, said that critics must not have had
clear information about the plan.
"They do not know what we are up to, but they comment as if
they know us," he said, blaming groundless media reports about
the event.
The prayer was led by Syaiful Bahri Al Banjari, an Islamic
teacher from Depok.
In a speech after the tarawih, Syaiful told the students that
the only hope for the future of Indonesia was next year's general
election.
Joined by students from other groups and universities, such as
Gunadarma University and Borobudur University, organizers said
the event was only meant to perform the Ramadhan evening prayer
and commemorate the death of the eight students who were shot by
troops while staging a rally in front of the campus in the Black
Friday tragedy of Nov. 13.
"Besides, we also want to use this month of Ramadhan for
introspection on the student movement so far. We, for instance,
have to further clarify all our points," Deddy said at a press
conference before the tarawih began.
"This event could become a place for us, the students, to
consolidate our movement. All the weaknesses we found during our
previous rallies should be discarded."
"The point is we are not politicizing Islam by holding this
prayer service," Deddy insisted.
Government critics Sri Bintang Pamungkas, Roch Basoeki and
Yenny Rosa Damayanti were seen among the students at the service.
Deddy commented, "We invited nobody, except students, to join
tonight's service."
While the tarawih was being held, some students were seen
chatting and enjoying their meals outside the campus.
Usman, a bakpau (dumpling) vendor, happily welcomed the crowd,
and smilingly said, "I agree with the students. Plus, I can sell
more bakpau."
Hours before the gathering, City Police chief Maj. Gen.
Noegroho Djajoesman warned the students not to proceed with their
plan.
The police, he said, could not guarantee the students'
security because they (the police) did not receive the prior
notification from the students that would have enabled them to
coordinate security for the event.
Moreover, Noegroho said, the tarawih did not have the
permission of Atma Jaya University.
According to Yohanes Temaluru, third assistant to Atma Jaya's
rector, the university never gave KB-UI permission to use the
campus for the event.
Contacted last night, Yohanes, who was on holiday outside of
Jakarta, said that when he returned to Jakarta he would meet his
counterpart from the University of Indonesia to ask for
clarification about the event.
"I know that they have started the gathering. That is not
ethical at all because they did not ask permission from the
host," he told The Jakarta Post.
Yohanes said that the campus should be free from any events
during the university's holiday, which runs from Dec. 24 to Jan.
2. (ivy/emf/bsr)