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The week in review: Hate crimes there and here
Presidential Office/RusmanDylann Storm Roof opened fired on Wednesday night at a group of black people who had gathered for a bible study at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, US, killing nine
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Presidential Office/Rusman
Dylann Storm Roof opened fired on Wednesday night at a group of black people who had gathered for a bible study at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, US, killing nine.
The white American intentionally killed his black compatriots out of hatred because he strongly believed in the supremacy of whites over blacks. The attack came two months after the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man, Walter Scott, by a white police officer in neighboring North Charleston that sparked protests and highlighted racial tensions in the area.
Ahmad Syafi'i Maarif, a highly respected Indonesian scholar and former chairman of the country's second-largest Islamic organization, said the tragedy had shocked people all over the world.
'People all over the world believed that racism had gone from the US when Barack Obama was elected to lead the superpower twice,' said Maarif on Friday as quoted by AP. 'But the Charleston shooting has reminded us that, in fact, the seeds of racism still remain and are embedded in the hearts of small communities there, and can explode anytime in a terrorist act by an individual,' the ulema added.
Issues of racism and discrimination are not just problems in the US. In its Saturday edition, The Jakarta Post reported on its front page that South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley had called for the death penalty for Roof for his brutal and uncivilized act in the name of skin color.
The same edition also quoted newly installed West Java Police chief Ins. Gen. Moechgiyarto as saying that there would be no more forced closure of places of worship in the country's most intolerant province. He also insisted that he would not tolerate any violent acts against Ahmadiyah and Shia devotees in the province. Many churches have been closed by groups of Muslims using several pretexts, such as claiming that the churches did not have the correct permits ' but the same is true of many mosques.
On Friday, around 50 Ahmadis held peaceful Friday prayers at their mosque in Bukit Duri Tanjakan, South Jakarta. There was heavy police security, after locals blocked them from entering the mosque a week earlier, claiming the Ahmadi faith was heretical. This too must surely be classified as a hate crime.
New Jakarta Police chief Ins. Gen. Tito Karnavian has pledged to protect freedom of religion in the capital city. He also warned radical groups and hoodlums against vigilantism during the Ramadhan fasting month. In the past, groups have often raided entertainment spots or restaurants for supposedly insulting Islam during the holy month. It is widely reported, however, that the groups often extort money from their victims, claims that they deny.
This week, the Post has focused on the economic dangers the country is facing. In Thursday's front page report, we quoted former finance minister Chatib Basri as warning that given the current conditions, with Indonesia dependent on domestic consumption and investment to boost growth, it would be hard for the government to achieve its 5.7 percent growth target this year.
'Consumer spending has slowed down as well, because people's purchasing power is getting weaker. Our only hope to spur the economy is government spending. However, the slow realization of tax revenues has slowed budget disbursement,' said Chatib.
President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo said he was aware of the problem, but believed that the country's economic situation was not as gloomy as economists and international institutions had warned.
To tame inflation, the President signed a presidential regulation allowing the government to regulate the prices of basic commodities such as rice, soy, red chilies, shallots, sugar, cooking oil, flour and livestock.
In doing so, the government seems to be ignoring the basic rule that unless there is a balance between supply and demand, scarcity and price hikes are unavoidable.
The President also warned on Thursday that he was close to sacking incompetent and underperforming ministers and government officials. A Cabinet reshuffle will likely take place after Idul Fitri next month.
'It is possible for me to dismiss the director general, the actor on the ground. It is also possible that I may dismiss the minister,' he said after inspecting Tanjung Priok port on Thursday. He was outraged when officials failed to explain why dwelling time at the port was much longer than at other regional ports, such as Singapore.
Transportation Minister Ignatius Jonan, the minister responsible for the port, was not present. He has an impressive track record of rebuilding the chaotic Indonesian railway sector when he served as president director of the national rail company PT KAI.
Meanwhile this week, the Indonesian media continue to devote close attention to the death of 8-year-old Engeline Margriet Megawe in Bali. She was killed and buried inside the house compound of her adoptive mother, Margriet. Police have named her former worker Agustay 'Agus' Hamda May a murder suspect and Margriet a suspect for negligence. The little girl was buried on Tuesday in Banyuwangi, East Java, the home of her biological mother Hamidah.
' Kornelius Purba
