Gov`t Must Prevent Ahmadiyah in Bangka from Banishment: Activist
5 February 2016 11:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Human rights advocacy group Setara has demanded the government to protect Ahmadiyah followers from banishment initiated by the Bangka regent Tarmizi H.
Setara Institute deputy chairman Bonar Tigor Naipospos said that the Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo had warned Tarmizi about his plan, but the Bangka regent ignored the call.
“Tarmizi’s disobedience to the Home Affairs Ministry as the representative of the central government is a disobedience to President Joko Widodo,” Bonar said in a press release on Friday, February 5, 2016.
Bonar said that the government must take a serious action, since the issue could become a bad precedent that might spread to other regions. In addition, the issue could give the impression of government’s absence in protecting minority groups.
Earlier, the Bangka Regency administration demanded the Banka branch of the Ahmadiyah Indonesia Congregation (JAI) to move out from Bangka. Tarmizi set the due until February 5, 2016 to the group to vacate their premises located at Sri Meranti Village, Singailiat District, Bangka.
Tarmizi said that the Bangka administration would cover the Ahmadiyah followers’s living cost until February 5, 2016.
“After the date, if they refused to move out, I would let police handle the situation,” Tarmizi said on Wednesday.
According to Bonar, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo should not wait for the plan to be executed and take actions against Bangka regent’s plan.
Bonar added that the government officials had been one of factors hampering religious tollerance in the country. Data from Setara Institute revealed that 98 out of 197 religious rights violations were committed by government officials.
MAWARDAH NUR HANIFIYANI