Indonesia: When the state locked up the orphanage

A few minutes after the lock up, Front Pembela Islam came simultaneously. No less than thirty members of FPI were shouting before the front gate."Burn it ...! Burn it ....! Burn it ...!" shouted the robe-cloth mobs.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Source/Credit: Lenter Timur | Indonesia
By Ken Miryam Vivekananda | December 9, 2010
Translated by: Abdul Musawir Maala

An orphanage at Tasikmalaya, West Java was locked up forcefully by State apparatus. Some poor orphans live in the orphanage. After the lock up, Front Pembela Islam - FPI wanted to burn the orphanage.

The locked up was forced to Hasanah Kausar Orphanage at Cicarian, Kawalu, Tasikmalaya, on Wednesday (12/8). The locked up was conducted by officers from District Attorney Office and Tasikmalaya City Police Department, led by Head of Intellegence Unit, Sahili. The orphanage was belonged to Jamaat Ahmadiyya.

Under unsafe condition and locked up inside the orphanage, Syihab Ahmad -- one of the missionary at the orphanage, related to  Lentera Timur that it started on Wednesday (12/8). At that time, The President of Jamaat Ahmadiyya of Kawalu, Iyon Sofyan was summoned by District Attorney Office and Head of Intellegence Unit, regarding the prohibition for Ahmadiyya to conduct worship.

"It is up to you to seal by yourself or by FPI," said Sahili to Iyon as quoted by Syihab.

A few hours later, around 03.00pm, five officers from District Attorney Office and Intellegence Unit came to orphanage. They stated that they are going to lock up the place where ten orphans and administrators live in, and they demanded the key forcefully.

Under the pressure, the orphanage administrator gave only one key of the front gate, where car was usually able entering the orphanage. While the other key for the door which was used for people to come around was still they trying to keep it. Eventually the officer left after locking up the front gate.

At 03.30pm, the officers returned and demanded that the orphanage should be emptied because all doors were going to be locked up.

The Ahmadiyya people decided to stay where they live.

"Tomorrow the kids have to attend their semester final examination. It is a pity if they lose the place where they live," said Syihab.

But the police insisted to keep locking up all access to the orphanage. Iyon Sofyan also came to argue with the officers.

"If I lock it up, it means I have prohibited people for worshipping in His House. I don't want to do that," said Syihab, quoting Iyon statement. The orphanage, said Syihab, was often used for religious meeting.

The discussion was useless. Without a single warrant, the officers kept locking up the orphanage. The orphanage dwellers were locked up inside the orphanage until now when this news published.

According to Syihab observation from inside the orphanage, around two or three officers stood up at the front gate.

A few minutes after the lock up, Front Pembela Islam came simultaneously. No less than thirty members of FPI were shouting before the front gate.

"Burn it ...! Burn it ....! Burn it ...!" shouted the robe-cloth mobs.

Front Pembela Islam even tried to open the lock by force. They seemed have intention to attack the orphanage dwellers who were mostly teenagers between 10-14 years old.

"Seeing what FPI did, the officer kept silent. They did nothing to protect us," Syihab complained.

The terrifying situation was lasted for an hour. At 05.00pm, rain poured down. The Front dispersed, because of the rain, not because of the appearance of law enforcement officers. Before they departed, they shouted that they would return.

"We know that tomorrow (12/9), FPI will conduct Ta''aruf Parade, we are worried that the parade will end in destructing the orphanage," said Syihab with trembling voice.

This is not the first time of discriminating action against Ahmadiyya in Tasikmalaya. On April 5, 2003 and June 19, 2007, Ahmadiyya mosque at Tolenjeng, Sukaratu, was also attacked.

On June 9, 2008, The State, through Minister of Religious Affairs, Minister of Home Affairs and Attorney General had issued a Joint Decree, which ban the acitivy of Ahmadiyya in Indonesia. The decree itself was not a disband decree, but providing limitation of religious activity of this community. The State has cut the freedom of religion to grow.

In Tasikmalaya itself, in 2005, a Joint Decree to ban the activity of Ahmadiyya have been signed by The Mayor of Tasikmalaya City, The Head of Tasikmalaya District, The Tasikmalaya District Attorney, The Chief of Tasikmalaya City Police Department and The Chief of Tasikmalaya District Police Department. And in 2007, a similar Joint Decree was issued by The Mayor of Tasikmalaya City, The Speaker of Tasikmalaya City House of Representatives, The Tasikmalaya District Attorney, The Commander of 0612 Military District of Tasikmalaya, and The Chief of Tasikmalaya City Police Department.

Hasanah Kausar Orphanage which was founded by Ahmadiyya for poor kids who are unable to attend schools, once was also asked by Indonesian Ulema Council to move its location. The Council argued that the orphanage created as stirred among the people. The orphanage which was founded in 2000 once was also struck with stones and several times received threat to be burnt.

"To protect the life of the orphans in this orphanage, we chose to move the orphanage to the center of Tasikmalaya City for one year. After the situation seemed safe enough, we returned to Cicariang," said Syihab.


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