Bangka Regent Warns Ahmadiyah Members to Leave Immediately

TEMPO.CO, Bangka - The Government of Bangka District has asked Jemaat Ahmadiyah Indonesia (JAI) of Bangka branch to leave Bangka. Bangka Regent, Tarmizi H. Saat has given them a deadline up to February 5, 2016 to empty the JAI’s religious outreach (dakwah) location at Sri Menanti Rural Village, Sungailiat Sub-district, Bangka District.

Tarmizi said that, up to February 5, 2016, he would pay for the moving cost and Jemaat Ahmadiyah’s needs. “If they haven’t leave the location, I would take no responsibility. I’ll leave it to the police to secure the area,” said Tarmizi at his official residence after a coordination meeting of the planned evacuation of Ahmadiah members, Wednesday evening, February 3, 2016. “If they are willing to move, just tell me where to. The world will not end if they moved out.”

According to him, Jemaat Ahmadiyah in Bangka has been a tyranny of the minority over the majority residents because they have made the community feel unsettled. Moreover, the surrounding community has been restless for the last 10 years and have been patient despite Ahmadiyah’s activities. “The problem is that they are rejected in the entire area of Bangka-Belitung. “As a regional head,  Tarmizi said, he is neutral. “The story about me trying to evict them is not true. We only ask them to leave peacefully due to safety and security reasons,” he said.

The Governement of Bangka District, he added, does not only sees it from religious point of view in resolving Ahmadiyah case. His institution also sees this case from the view of public peace and order. On the other hand, said Tarmizi, there had been 4 fatwas which said that Ahmadiyah is deviant and misleading. “To be deviant is not a problem as it would be at their own risk. Yet, they are misleading. It could corrupt the ummah’s beliefs,” he said.

Tarmizi rejects the accusation from Ahmadiyah that he has violated the human rights. Instead, he thinks that Ahmadiyah have violated human rights because their tyrant nature despite being the minority. They are also deemed disruptive. “They are free to file a lawsuit. I will take responsibility for the policy I’ve made.”

Meanwhile, Ahmad Syafei, Jemaat Ahmadiyah preacher of Bangka branch, said that the February 5, 2016 deadline is not a time frame given to leave. Instead, it’s a time frame for Ahmadiyah Bangka to consult with the commettee of central Ahmadiyah. Ahmad expressed that they would not leave Bangka. “We are defending what we already have with our own effort and hard work. Especially that the children go to school here,” said Ahmad when met by Tempo in his residence. “There’s no agreement to move away.”

Ahmad said, there are currently 62 people of 22 head of huseholds (KK) of Ahmadiyah members in Bangka to be protected, as instructed by the central governement outlined on the Chief of Bangka Precinct’s notice. “The central government has given its instructions to regional governments to prevent eviction from happening. The regional government must protect, ensure the security and to not provide any deadline to leave,” he said.

SERVIO MARANDA