'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)