Indonesia: The Banten burning | Letter

Although discussions have risen about right wing-extremism rhetoric in western politics, the situation in Indonesia tends to be more deteriorating, for in this particular case, Indonesia has already gone beyond rhetoric and may be heading to tidy up religious minorities.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Source/Credit: The Jakarta Post
By Esmeralda Hendrix | August 11, 2011

With the Ahmadiyah case in Cikeusik, Indonesia has got its own “Mississippi Burning”. Recently, 12 people were sentenced to three to six months’ imprisonment because of the brutal murder of three members of the Ahmadiyah movement.

The offenders were found guilty of possession of weapons, destruction of property and other charges.

However, they were not charged with murder or manslaughter. Although the riot and the lynch party are as clearly visible on video as the notorious Iraq-helicopter-killings by an US air crew in Baghdad, 2007.


On Feb 6. a mob consisting of 1,500 people attacked members of the Ahmadiyah movement in Cikeusik, Banten province, who visited their leader at his home. The police warned the Ahmadis not to go outside, because of the riot, as to do so would put them in harm’s way.

But the Ahmadis refused to withdraw. According to the prosecutors and the Judge, the Ahmadis thus provoked the situation. As a result of the attack, three Ahmadiyah members were killed and another five members were seriously injured. Also, the house of the leader and several cars were damaged in the attack, which is captured on video.

Judge Cipta Sinuraya showed a huge lack of impartiality by stating that the Ahmadis provoked the deadly attack. Only one Ahmadiyah witness, Deden Sujana, was asked to testify in the case. When hearing Sujana, the judge commented on his religious belief and the motivation to go to Cikeusik during the trial, instead of finding out the truth about the murder case.

It is the same kind of argument as in the Mississippi murder case in 1964. Three civil rights activist who went to Mississippi to register black voters were killed in a lynch party by KKK-members.

The offenders had to stand trial before an all-white jury, and one of the members of the jury argued that she “could not convict a preacher”. Also the Mississippi officials refused to prosecute the offenders for murder.

Although discussions have risen about right wing-extremism rhetoric in western politics, the situation in Indonesia tends to be more deteriorating, for in this particular case, Indonesia has already gone beyond rhetoric and may be heading to tidy up religious minorities. The verdict shows that Indonesia does not comply with the rule of law.

What is also worrying about this case is that two of the offenders were underage, which implies that the young generation, the future of Indonesia, is at risk of being poisoned by intolerant and sickening minds.

When the government doesn’t take a firm stand against religious fanatics and murderers in order to defend its very roots of Pancasila, where will Indonesia end?

It is always easier to condemn others, instead of reflecting on your own behavior. As it is Ramadhan, the holy month of Muslims, it is time to repent and to reflect on one’s behavior.

Esmeralda Hendrix, Jakarta

Read original post here:Letter: The Banten burning