Comments: Govt guarantees Shiite Muslims’ safety

Paper Edition | Page: 8

Aug. 30, Online

Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi said on Thursday that the government would not relocate Shia followers in Sampang, East Java, following Sunday’s fatal attack on the community but would instead guarantee their safety.

“If they want to stay there [at Karang Gayam and Bluuran villages in Sampang, East Java], then, we will help them rebuild their homes. We will guarantee their safety,” Gamawan said as quoted by kompas.com, commenting on the Shiite refugees.

Your comments:

 I quote: “The government guarantees Shiite Muslims’ safety in Sampang.” And just who is going to achieve that?

The President? The useless police force? The military with all their new tanks, missiles and submarines?

Sheldon Archer

Government guarantees Shia Muslims’ safety in Sampang? Sampang is far from Jakarta, while Bogor and Bekasi are very close to Jakarta and the government has not given its guarantee to have safe place of
worship for the Christians there.

What is the different between Shiites in Sampang and Christians in Bogor/Bekasi?

Widya

This government has lost its legitimacy by allowing religious violence with impunity.

The guarantees given by Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi ring empty unless the government acts immediately without political fear and favor to arrest the individuals responsible.

Henry Manoe

After the local government officers failed to guarantee these people freedom and safety, now the Home Minister suddenly quoted to have said the government would guarantee their safety. Sir, which government do you mean, please? Could somebody control the situation from behind his chair in Jakarta?

Already, repeatedly the government promised and guaranteed the safety of Ahmadis, but everybody was still free to attack and demolish their property.

I am sorry sir, I could not believe what I’ve just read.

Abdul Mukhlis

It’s you and your friend Suryadharma Ali that are spreading unreliable information, as you have
done with every conflict that involved those of a minority religion in this country since you became a minister.

Gumawan says the government will guarantee their safety and help them rebuild their houses. Let’s see if he backs these words up with actions or if they just remain more empty words.

What about punishment for those that were involved in this attack - or does the law not apply to those of “mainstream” Islam?

Simon