Press Release The Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN) Indonesia

(, 11/01/2012)

Burning of the Islamic Boarding School of Shi’ite Followers in Sampang-Madura-Indonesia: Evidence of State Failure in Protecting Freedom of Religion
 
The present condition relating to freedom of religion in Indonesia is increasingly moving towards becoming worse. Discrimination against minority groups that re-appeared at the end of 2011 clearly showcases the ever increasing human rights violations in Indonesia. While the government still seems to be struggling in providing a good solution for the adherents of the Jemaah Ahmadiyah in Indonesia, now the Shi’ite community in Sampang-Madura has to experience similar violence. A group of people, who claim to belong to Sunni faith burned Shi’ite’s homes, school, and places of worship at Nangkernang Shiite hamlet, Karang Gayam village, District Omben, Sampang Regency on Thursday, 29th December 2011. A madrasa, a mosque and three houses were burned down by this group. The group even threatened to kill all the followers of Shi’ite Islam because this group is considered to believe in heretical teachings. Moreover, after 351 people were evacuated by Shi’ite Islamist groups to a shelter in GOR Sampang, their belongings left at the site were also looted by the group.
Ironically, the police, who are supposed to provide protection to the Shi’ite Muslims, instead spread terror among the Shiite refugees and forced them to convert and become Sunnis. Though the government and the police believe that the burning of the Shiite hamlet was because of a family conflict, but media reports over time have clearly shown that conflict between Shiites and Sunnis   started since 2006 and has in fact turned violent because of prejudice and hatred that has been planted by some ulamas since 2004.

Instead of being firm and conducting a thorough investigation on the perpetrators of violence, East Java provincial government together with the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) at district level has proposed a solution that seems unreasonable, that, to relocate Shiite followers, who have fled from their village to a transmigration area. People think it is better to separate this group from the rest of society that is Sunni majority. The idea supported by the Deputy Governor, Saifullah Yusuf, Government of East Java, seems to imply that the Shiite followers should to find a separate place and live their life far from the majority, that is, people subscribing to the Sunni faith.

It is very obvious that this solution offered by the government is against basic human rights. It is also contradictory with the substance of the 1945 Indonesian constitution, Article 29, that provides guarantee for people of Indonesia to believe and worship according to their religion and belief. It is also obvious that the relocation was violating the civil rights of citizens as enumerated in Article 27 of Law no. 39 of 1999, on Human Rights, "Every Indonesian citizen has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the territory of the Republic of Indonesia". In addition, removal or relocation of the community can not be done on the basis of differences in beliefs. In this context, the transfers were a form of police and government reluctance to reveal the arsonists responsible and the violence experienced by residents.
As an institution that cares for the protection of religious freedom and believes in creating a harmonious society, and is deeply concerned with the struggle of human values​​ of  justice and equality , We  The Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN) Indonesia urge:

1. The Government to carry out their responsibilities in protecting the minority Shi'ite Followers from attacks and to uphold their right of freedom of religion.

2. The Police officers to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of violence in accordance with the mechanism of criminal law in Indonesia, as well as ensuring the security of the Shiite Community which may suffer further from the after-effects of this violence.
 
3. Local Government and the Government of East Java Province Sampang must restore the fundamental rights and guarantee the security of Shiite refugees to return to their village, Nangkrenang, instead of relocating them to another place.
 
Jakarta, 2 Januari 2012
AMAN Indonesia
Kontak Person:
Ruby Kholifah, Country Representative Aman Indonesia
Ponsel: +6281-2894-48741
Email: dwiruby@amanindonesia.org