Why Laskar Jihad exists

Why Laskar Jihad exists

Reading the article by Lee Kim Chew in The Jakarta Post on May
14, titled Militant Islam poses test for Mega, I would like to
clarify as follows:

Clearly the article is very biased and the writer does not
understand the background of the foundation of the Laskar Jihad.
He should bear in mind that the founding of Laskar Jihad was
based on the inability of the government to protect the Muslim
community from acts of violence in Maluku. Ironically, those
Muslims who joined Laskar Jihad were branded terrorists.

Ayip Sapprudin of the Laskar Jihad has stated that the group
would be very happy to leave Maluku if the government could
provide protection to the Muslims there and uphold the law.
Besides, the government should also punish the perpetrators of
violence involving the killing of Muslims.

I would also like to comment on the letter by Soegih Arto (The
Jakarta Post, May 14, Hamzah's visit to Ja'far not wise). He
claimed that Ja'far did not condemn the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
He was wrong. On many occasions Ja'far has expressed his
opposition to any act of separatism. When Ja'far held a rally in
Aceh, he and his followers were threatened with death if he
insisted on holding the rally.

True, Hamzah Haz should not have visited Ja'far in jail. But
it is not relevant to compare Ja'far with Akbar Tanjung. In my
opinion, Ja'far was wrongly accused of being involved in acts of
terrorism and was arrested solely because the U.S. wanted him
arrested. Whereas Akbar was accused of embezzling Rp 40 billion
of the people's money. But Hamzah could have ordered the police
to investigate Akbar and bring the case to court.

M. ADJID

Tangerang, Banten