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Surakarta Muslim groups condemn Tolikara incident
Despite a peace agreement after an incident in Tolikara, Papua, thousands of Muslims from various groups in Surakarta, Central Java, staged a rally on Friday to protest the violence
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espite a peace agreement after an incident in Tolikara, Papua, thousands of Muslims from various groups in Surakarta, Central Java, staged a rally on Friday to protest the violence.
Under tight police security, the protesters from koran Interpretation Council (MTA), Islamic People's Soldiers, Muslim Students Action Front, Surakarta Sharia Council, Muhammadiyah and the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), marched the three kilometers from Jl. Slamet Riyadi to the Gladag circle.
Thee march was followed by speeches from various leaders including Indonesia Ulema Council (MUI) Surakarta chapter head Zainal Arifin Adnan, Ngruki Islamic boarding school director Wahyuddin and politician Mudrick Sangidoe.
Zainal said the peaceful rally was in support of Muslims in Papua, blaming the incident on outsiders who tried to undermine the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).
'This is not only for Muslims, but also for non-Muslims. We have been fooled by foreigners and masterminds pitting all Papuan residents [against eachother]. We want religion to prosper in Papua,' said Zainal in his speech after the protesters assembled at the Gladag circle.
Meanwhile, Mudrick Sangidoe urged the entire Muslim community to continue pressuring the government to thoroughly deal with the Tolikara riot.
'The riot masterminds must be immediately caught. Don't allow them to roam freely. Don't tolerate the masterminds in Jakarta,' said Mudrick.
Along the road, the crowd shouted and condemned the incident in which angry masses burned down a kiosk and a small mosque on July 17, one of the days of Idul Fitri.
Traffic along Jl. Slamet Riyadi was paralyzed as protesters filled the road at the circle to listen to the speeches.
The protesters urged the government to immediately resolve the issue and take legal action against the Evangelical Church of Indonesia (GIDI) leaders in Tolikara, as well as those who were involved in the incident.
They urged the government to take firm measures against the perpetrators to avoid the public getting the impression of state negligence and legal discrimination.
'The attackers of Muslims must be immediately arrested. Don't let there be exceptions that will anger Muslims. Don't be discriminatory,' said House of Representatives (DPR) member from the Justice and Prosperity Party faction, Abdul Kharis in his speech.
While Surakarta Muslim groups condemned the Tolikara incident, leaders in other regions made joint statements to protect religious harmony and tolerance.
The Interfaith Communication Forum (FKUB) Banten chapter head Suparman Usman on Friday said leaders from Islam, Catholicism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism have called on their followers to avoiding provocations related to the Papua incident.
'All followers [of a religion] should maintain calm and preserve religious harmony. They should avoid disinformation related to the incident and let the security authorities handle the case,' Suparman was quoted by Antara as saying in Serang.
Similarly, in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, leaders from Indonesia's five officially recognized religions: Islam, Catholicism, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism, made a declaration on Friday to maintain religious harmony as well as avoiding provocations related to the incident in Tolikara.
