Indonesia: Mataram city governments admit denying Ahmadiyya rights as citizens

Residents who encounter a religious conflict they are still the responsibility of the government of the province of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) who put them up as refugees in the city of Mataram.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch |
Source/Credit: REPUBLIKA
By Staff Reporter | March 13, 2012

MATARAM - Deputy Mayor of Mataram H Mohan Roliskana admitted Ahmadiyah followers are not recognized as citizens.

Ahmadiyah are still considered part of the West Lombok regency, West Nusa Tenggara, Mayor said.

"Around 125 people of the Ahmadiyya community are currently accommodated in Mataram is Transito Dormitory who were residents of West Lombok, but some have already left," Roliskana said in Mataram, on Tuesday.

Roliskana said hundreds of followers of Ahmadiyah are refugees, living in Transito Mataram dormitory because their homes were destroyed by militants six years ago and they were turned out of their homes in the hamlet of Ketapang, Village Gegerung, Lingsar district, West Lombok regency.

Residents who encounter a religious conflict they are still the responsibility of the government of the province of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) who put them up as refugees in the city of Mataram.

"But, whatever the reasonas, as citizen of Indonesia it should be our obligation to protect and provide assistance to the Ahmadis," he said.

Touching upon the problem of giving electronic identity card (e-ID) to the Ahmadis, Mohan explains, it is a catch twenty-two.

If they want to receive an ID card, Mohan says, the refugee Ahmadis must first meet all the requirements of ID cards and a number of additional administrative requirements.

Some of those requirements are, they must have official residency deceleration (domicile) from previous area officials so that their presence can be recognized in the city of Mataram, but until now no one has wanted to help Ahmadis with sorting out their legal needs.

Mohan Roliskana asked the NTB provincial government to firmly deal with the fate of Ahmadiyah whose residential status is in a limbo until now. Mataram Municipal Government also requested that the Ahmadis do not continue to linger in transit hostel and should be returned to their home areas.

"Keeping the Ahmadis in the dormitory, instead of solving problems, is giving rise to a growing number of new problems,"  Deputy Mayor said.


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