Saturday, September 23, 2006

Violence flares after execution of Poso 3

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Groups of Christians, angered by the overnight executions of three Catholic convicts, torched cars and government buildings in East Nusa Tenggara cities Friday.

In Maumere, where one of the executed men, Dominggus da Silva, 42, was born, hundreds of protesters vandalized several government offices, including the local district court and legislative council building. They demanded that Dominggus' body be sent to Maumere for burial.

Dominggus, Fabianus Tibo, 60, and Marinus Riwu, 48, were found guilty of leading a Christian militia that launched a series of attacks in Central Sulawesi in May 2000 -- including a machete and gun assault on an Islamic school where scores of men were seeking shelter.

The three -- known as the Poso 3 -- were led before a firing squad just south of Central Sulawesi's provincial capital Palu at 1:45 a.m. Friday, said I Wayan Pasek Suartha, a spokesman for the attorney general. Their bodies were examined by a team of doctors minutes later, who officially declared them dead.

Thousands also rallied in Atambua, blockading roads and attacking a court, prosecutor's office and other government buildings, according to AFP.

More than 200 inmates escaped after mobs attacked a jail in Atambua, sending guards fleeing to the nearby jungle.

Elsewhere in the country, protesters blocked roads and set buildings on fire.

Palu was largely calm Friday amid increased security. Thousands of police stood on street corners and guarded markets and churches, watching as some 1,000 mourners packed the St. Maria's church to take part in a requiem.

But violence flared in the villages of Tentena and Lage, where hundreds of people, went on a rampage of torching cars and police posts.

Human rights workers say the men's trial was a sham, and that while it was possible the trio took part in some of the bloodshed, they were not the masterminds.

The case has sparked debate about the role religion played in punishing those who participated in violence that swept the Sulawesi province from 1998 to 2002, killing more than 1,000 people from both faiths.

Only a handful of Muslims were convicted, none for more than 15 years in prison.

Din Syamsuddin, chairman of second largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah, asked the public not to associate the execution with religion because it was a purely legal matter.

"There is nothing that we can do except to respect the court verdict," Din said on the sidelines of a seminar in Jakarta on Friday.

He added that he fully supported capital punishment.

"It provides a deterrent effect on criminals, as well as giving a sense of security to people in general," he was quoted as saying by detikcom news portal.

House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono asked people to accept the verdict as the carrying out of the law.

"We have to respect the law. Through the entire legal process it was stated that Tibo and friends were guilty," he told detikcom.

Other politicians criticized the government for shifting the responsibility for dealing with the angry public reaction to local administrations.

Jacobus Mayongpadang from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle said he was disappointed by the Attorney General's Office. It said it was only an instrument for carrying out the sentence, and it was up to religious figures to enlighten the people about the verdict.

"It's not right. The government should be responsible and anticipate the possibility of unrest," he said.

Immanuel Blegur from the Golkar party said the government seemed taken by surprise by the reaction.

"I hope there will be more justice in the legal process in the future, so that the people's conscience will not be disturbed," said the former legislator from East Nusa Tenggara.

Poso three pray as execution deadline nears

National News - September 21, 2006
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

Three death-row convicts received their last rites Wednesday as the deadline neared for their execution in tense Palu, Central Sulawesi, but family members continued to protest their innocence.

The communion was led by Rev. Jimmy Tumbelaka at Petobo penitentiary in south Palu. Jimmy said he wanted to help Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu find solace and strength in prayer.

The Catholic plantation workers were sentenced in 2001 for the massacre of about 200 Muslims during sectarian strife in Poso, Central Sulawesi, six years ago.

A reliable source told The Jakarta Post the executions might go ahead at 1 a.m. Thursday in Palu, or Wednesday midnight here, but Jimmy said they would be held as previously scheduled.

"The executions will be held at dawn Friday (Palu time)," said Jimmy, saying the decision was made following a coordination meeting with the Central Sulawesi Police.

The three, he added, would face a firing squad at an undisclosed location. When pressed, he said it would be a site near Palu's Mutiara Airport.

"The executions, whether tonight or Friday, are illegal. They submitted novum (new evidence) but nothing was done about it," he said.

"They have also filed for a second appeal for clemency, so why force the executions to go ahead? This is illegal."

Tibo's eldest son, Robertus, said Wednesday the family was resigned to his fate, but refused to believe he was guilty.

"We can accept the fact (of the execution), that's why we hope he will be patient since God will not close His eyes to his people."

The families of Dominggus and Marinus had yet to visit as of noon Wednesday.

The executions were scheduled for last month but were delayed at the last minute, with the government saying it was busy preparing for Independence Day celebrations on Aug. 17.

In the meantime, there have been protests and counter-protests by Muslims and Christians, and an appeal from Pope Benedictus for clemency.

Security has been tightened, with 4,000 police officers deployed across the province.

The men appealed for presidential clemency for a second time last month after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono rejected an appeal for a pardon last year.

The head of the Central Sulawesi Assembly of Churches, Rev. Renaldy Damanik, has urged his followers to pray in their own churches or at home, and refrain from actions that may spark more unrest.

"But I believe the executions will be called off again," he said.

Later Wednesday, the penitentiary closed its doors to all visitors, allowing only food inside after a full search conducted by police.

Kin visit Poso three as wait goes on

National News - September 22, 2006

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

While the convicts known as the Poso three were counting their last hours before they were to face a firing squad overnight in Palu, thousands of police officers in Central Sulawesi were on top alert fearing fresh sectarian clashes.

The families of the three Catholics -- Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu -- arrived Thursday at the Petobo penitentiary in Palu. Rev. Jimmy Tumbelaka also came to lead Mass.

Jimmy said the convicts were trying to be strong, and that Tibo said he had forgiven everyone who condemned and criticized him. "I don't feel the need for revenge against them. I'm sure God will be with me... I've forgiven them all," he quoted Tibo as saying.

The three were found guilty in 2001 of leading deadly attacks on Muslims the year before during sectarian clashes in Poso.

Hours before the planned executions, Central Sulawesi police and prosecutors rejected the convicts' request for last rites, and for traditional funeral processions for Dominggus and Marinus in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, where they are from.

The convicts' request to have their remains taken to Santa Maria church in Palu was also rejected, and police decided against sending the remains of Dominggus and Marinus back to their hometowns, fearing it would trigger problems.

Dominggus is to be buried in Palu, while Tibo's and Marinus's remains will be taken to their home in Beteleme, Central Sulawesi.

The trio's lawyer, Roy Rening, accused the government of interfering in both the legal process and the funeral arrangements. He added that a procession is a must for a Flores native.

"This is a violation and I, not just as their lawyer, but as a Flores native, can't accept it," he said.

Jimmy said last rites were also essential for Catholics. "I'm confused," he said, adding that a mass would be held for the three at Santa Maria church Friday morning even though the authorities were refusing to bring the remains there.

Some 4,200 security personnel drawn from the police and the military have been deployed around Palu city. Another 200 members of the North Sulawesi Police Brimob paramilitary unit arrived in Palu on Thursday and went directly to secure Poso.

Poso Police chief Lt. Col. Rudy Sufahriyadi said the city was calm. "But we are prepared to handle any reaction against the executions," he told AP.

In East Nusa Tenggara 's six cities, thousands of Christians took to the streets in protest.

In Palu's Santa Maria church, Catholics prayed and called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to intervene.

The head of the Central Sulawesi Assembly of Churches, Rev. Renaldy Damanik, questioned why the government had not responded to a second clemency request from the convicts.

"What's going on? Is the President worried there are officials involved in the Poso conflicts?" he asked. He called on his followers to pray and refrain from taking actions that might spark unrest.

Former president Abdurrahman Wahid also insisted on a stay of execution.

"The executions are against Islam. In hadis (Muslim tradition), if there's doubt, in this case if the prosecutor has any doubt, don't do it (the executions). It's just that the Attorney General (Abdurrahman Saleh) did not pay attention to religion," he was quoted by Antara as saying in Semarang on Thursday.

"I've called the attorney general, but he insisted on going ahead with the executions because he doesn't understand religion." ***

Kin visit Poso three as wait goes on

National News - September 22, 2006

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

While the convicts known as the Poso three were counting their last hours before they were to face a firing squad overnight in Palu, thousands of police officers in Central Sulawesi were on top alert fearing fresh sectarian clashes.

The families of the three Catholics -- Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva and Marinus Riwu -- arrived Thursday at the Petobo penitentiary in Palu. Rev. Jimmy Tumbelaka also came to lead Mass.

Jimmy said the convicts were trying to be strong, and that Tibo said he had forgiven everyone who condemned and criticized him. "I don't feel the need for revenge against them. I'm sure God will be with me... I've forgiven them all," he quoted Tibo as saying.

The three were found guilty in 2001 of leading deadly attacks on Muslims the year before during sectarian clashes in Poso.

Hours before the planned executions, Central Sulawesi police and prosecutors rejected the convicts' request for last rites, and for traditional funeral processions for Dominggus and Marinus in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, where they are from.

The convicts' request to have their remains taken to Santa Maria church in Palu was also rejected, and police decided against sending the remains of Dominggus and Marinus back to their hometowns, fearing it would trigger problems.

Dominggus is to be buried in Palu, while Tibo's and Marinus's remains will be taken to their home in Beteleme, Central Sulawesi.

The trio's lawyer, Roy Rening, accused the government of interfering in both the legal process and the funeral arrangements. He added that a procession is a must for a Flores native.

"This is a violation and I, not just as their lawyer, but as a Flores native, can't accept it," he said.

Jimmy said last rites were also essential for Catholics. "I'm confused," he said, adding that a mass would be held for the three at Santa Maria church Friday morning even though the authorities were refusing to bring the remains there.

Some 4,200 security personnel drawn from the police and the military have been deployed around Palu city. Another 200 members of the North Sulawesi Police Brimob paramilitary unit arrived in Palu on Thursday and went directly to secure Poso.

Poso Police chief Lt. Col. Rudy Sufahriyadi said the city was calm. "But we are prepared to handle any reaction against the executions," he told AP.

In East Nusa Tenggara 's six cities, thousands of Christians took to the streets in protest.

In Palu's Santa Maria church, Catholics prayed and called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to intervene.

The head of the Central Sulawesi Assembly of Churches, Rev. Renaldy Damanik, questioned why the government had not responded to a second clemency request from the convicts.

"What's going on? Is the President worried there are officials involved in the Poso conflicts?" he asked. He called on his followers to pray and refrain from taking actions that might spark unrest.

Former president Abdurrahman Wahid also insisted on a stay of execution.

"The executions are against Islam. In hadis (Muslim tradition), if there's doubt, in this case if the prosecutor has any doubt, don't do it (the executions). It's just that the Attorney General (Abdurrahman Saleh) did not pay attention to religion," he was quoted by Antara as saying in Semarang on Thursday.

"I've called the attorney general, but he insisted on going ahead with the executions because he doesn't understand religion." ***

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Puasa, Seremoni Ritual Keagamaan yang Ironi

Ruslan Sangadji

“Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, diwajibkan bagi kamu untuk berpuasa, sebagaiman yang diwajibkan kepada orang-orang sebelum kamu, agar kamu bertaqwa—(Q.s al-Baqarah: 183).

Setiap tahun, umat Islam yang telah memproklamirkan dirinya beriman kepada Sang Pencipta, akan dengan taat menjalankan ibadah puasa, dengan segala ritual keagamaan di dalamnya. Semua itu dilaksanakan, dengan keyakinan akan meningkatkan keimanan dan ketaqwaan kepada Sang Pencipta.

Tradisi umat Islam di setiap negara pun berbeda-beda dalam memperlakukan datangnya bulan Ramadhan, maupun mengisi hari-hari selama bulan suci itu. Pun di di Indonesia, setiap daerah juga memiliki kebiasaan yang beragam.

Ada yang memuliakan datangnya Ramadhan dengan membeli peralatan ibadah yang baru untuk digunakan selama Ramadahan. Bahkan, ada yang melaksanakan beberapa kebiasaan seperti berziarah ke makam (kuburan) keluarganya, dan ada yang membaca ayat-ayat suci Alquran.

Stasiun-stasiun televisi swasta nasional, pun telah mempersiapkan berbagai acara bernuansa Ramadhan. Semua itu dilakukan, sebagai pengejawantahan dari kegembiraan umat, atas datangnya bulan Ramadhan yang hanya setahun sekali itu.

Tidak hanya itu, para selebriti yang tadinya berlenggak-lenggok dengan mempertonkan keseksian tubuahnya di layar-layar kaca, tiba-tiba berubah dengan busana yang sangat islami. Perubahan yang terjadi, hanya sebagai tuntutan peran yang harus dimainkan di layar kaca.

Belum lagi para elite bangsa, tiba-tiba berubah terlihat sangat beriman. Tak pernah absen selama tarwih. Selalu hadir dalam buka puasa bersama, tarwih bersama dan berbagai ritual keagamaan lainnya yang dilakukan secara bersama-sama. Bahkan, tiba-tiba menjadi sangat dermawan. Para penjahat pun, tiba-tiba harus berubah menjadi orang yang sangat baik.

Impelementasi Puasa

Secara substansi, Ramadhan seharusnya memiliki tujuan besar dan mulia, yaitu memperbaiki perilaku, memperbaiki moralitas dan kebiasaan-kebiasaan destruktif lainnya. Tapi saat ini, kita memahami puasa, hanya sekadar sebagai sebuah ritual keagamaan biasa yang dijalankan setiap tahun. Puasa tidak diimplementasikan dalam kehidupan berbangsa dan bernegara. Puasa tidak dimaknai sebagai sebuah media perubahan bagi anak bangsa.

Jika puasa sebagai sebuah media untuk memperbaiki diri, maka harus diimplementasikan pula dengan perbaikan moralitas bangsa. Bangsa ini harus menjadi bangsa yang lebih bermoral dan beradab. Jika puasa dimaknai sebagai sebuah ibadah dan perintah Tuhan, maka seharusnya tidak ada lagi ledakan bom, tidak ada lagi korupsi, tidak ada lagi pembalakan liar, tidak ada lagi penghisapan manusia dan tidak ada lagi penindasan terhadap mustadh’afin (kaum yang lemah).

Orang menjadi baik hanya sebulan selama Ramadhan. Seiring berakhirnya puasa yang ditandai dengan kumandang Takbir, Tahmid dan Tahlil di Hari Raya Idul Fitri, perilaku yang baik pun sirna. Para koruptor kembali lagi melakukan penyelewengan, penyakit masyarakat kembali lagi menjadi marak. Pertanyaannya: Lantas untuk apakah kita berpuasa....???

Maraknya praktik korupsi dan terjadinya degradasi moral di negeri ini, karena kita memahmi puasa hanya sebatas menahan lapar dan haus saja. “Berapa banyak orang yang berpuasa, tapi dia hanya sekadar pahala mendapatkan lapar dan dahaganya saja (hadits Nabi Muhammad SAW)”

Menurut Hujjatul Islam, Doktor Mirdamadi, seorang dosen di Universitas Teheran, puasa adalah sebuah amal ibadah yang menimbulkan kekuatan, peningkatan keikhlasan, keselamatan badan, menyembuhkan penyakit, dan menurunkan tingkat kejahatan, serta meningkatkan hubungan yang harmonis di antara anggota masyarakat.

Dengan begitu, maka seharusnya puasa dapat diimplementasikan dalam perbaikan moralitas bangsa yang komprehensif dari semua aspek kehidupan. Tapi yang terjadi justru sebaliknya, puasa yang kita jalankan setiap tahun, belum berdampak pada kehidupan sosial dan kenegaraan yang positif. Celakanya, puasa hanya sekadar sebagai tuntutan menjalankan kewajiban. Bahkan, lebih ironi lagi, hanya sebatas sebuah seremoni dari ritual keagamaan.

Asep Purnama Bactiar dan Endro Dwi Hatmanto (Suara Merdeka, 29 Oktober 2004) menuliskan bahwa kualitas ideal puasa, pada gilirannya akan membangun moralitas bangsa dalam berbagai dimensi kehidupan, seperti moralitas politik, sosial, ekonomi, pendidikan, dan hukum. Pencapaian moralitas bangsa melalui ibadah puasa ini menjadi urgen, karena masih banyak masalah yang kompleks dalam pelbagai aspek kehidupan bangsa Indonesia.

Pertama, gerak kehidupan politik nasional diakui memang cukup maju. Hal ini dapat dilihat dari proses demokratisasi yang puncaknya adalah pemilihan presiden secara langsung. Namun demikian, moralitas sebagian elite kita yang korup akan mencabik-cabik bangunan demokrasi yang telah berproses ini.

Syahwat kekuasaan, berupa rebutan jabatan di kabinet dan lembaga legislatif adalah kenyataan yang terlihat jelas. Alih-alih untuk melayani rakyat, jabatan itu hanya digunakan untuk memperkaya diri dan kelompoknya.

Tujuan hakiki puasa, jika benar-benar dihayati oleh para elite, akan membantu mereka untuk sadar bahwa mereka seharunya dapat menahan kerakusan kekuasaan dan self interest terhadap harta benda dan kedudukan. Sebaliknya, mereka harus sadar untuk melayani rakyat dengan sebaik-baiknya.

Kedua, kasus ledakan bom yang menghilangkan nyawa orang-orang yang tak berdosa, pertentangan etnik, perkelahian pelajar yang memakan korban jiwa, penggunaan narkoba yang semakin marak, adalah sebagian bukti bahwa bangunan moralitas sosial kita sudah keropos. Ibadah puasa jika dihayati dengan benar memberikan ajaran untuk menahan nafsu membunuh, nafsu merugikan orang lain, dan nafsu merusak kehidupan.
Ketiga, dalam Islam, harta dan kekayaan adalah titipan Tuhan. Oleh karena itu, sistem ekonomi yang eksploitatif, berpusat pada segelintir orang, dan menindas yang lemah, adalah ciri dari tidak adanya moralitas ekonomi. Nilai-nilai puasa akan mendorong masyarakat untuk mengembangkan sistem ekonomi yang berkarakter sosial-religius.

Korupsi dan praktik KKN lainnya, dengan demikian, sangat dikutuk dari sudut pandang moralitas puasa. Keserakahan dan kerakusan dalam tindakan korupsi jelas akan memporak-porandakan bangunan ekonomi.

Bahkan oleh Islam, korupsi dianggap sebagai fasad (perbuatan yang merusak dan sangat keji). Tidak salah kalau Muhammad As'ad mengartikan ayat la tufsidu fil ardl dengan do not spread corruption on the earth (jangan menyebarkan korupsi di bumi).
Dapatkah, Puasa Ramadhan tahun 2006 ini, kita dapat lepas dari berbagai persoalan yang multidimensional, mulai dari korupsi, pembunuhan, penembakan, pemboman, kerusuhan sosial.

Dapatkah puasa tahun ini dapat menyadarkan para elite kita dan masyarakat kita, untuk menjadi umat yang benar-benar dapat menjadi Rahmatan lil ‘Alamin (penebar kasih sayang bagi semua alam)? Semua itu kembali pada kesadaran individu, bahwa puasa bukan sekadar menahan lapar dan haus, tapi harus diimplementasi dalam kehidupan berbangsa dan bernegara. ***

Friday, September 08, 2006

Man dies in Central Sulawesi bomb blast

Ruslan Sangadji and Ridwan M. Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Poso, Jakarta

One man died when a bomb exploded Wednesday in Poso regency, Central Sulawesi, which in recent years has been the scene of religious violence.

The explosion in Tangkura village in Poso Pesisir Selatan district, about 20 kilometers from the regency capital Poso city, took place in an empty farm building. The victim, identified as Jhon Tobeli, 50, was taken to Poso General Hospital where an autopsy was performed.

Police report the low-explosive device went off at around 10 a.m. local time. No motive has been reported and officers are continuing to gather information, including speaking with the victim's wife, Ros Sance.

According to information gathered so far, the victim and his wife, residents of Sangira village, were traveling to Poso city to purchase supplies. They stopped at Tangkura village so Jhon could urinate.

As the victim was urinating beside the abandoned building, a low-explosive device placed inside a box went off, killing Jhon instantly. His wife, who was standing on the side of the road near their motorbike, escaped injury.

Ros shouted for help and residents soon began arriving. After being informed her husband was dead, Ros lost consciousness.

Police are still examining the scene and seeking additional information from residents.

A signatory of the Malino peace pact that largely ended the religious violence in Poso, Sofyan Farid Lembah, speculated the bomb could have been the work of a group attempting to cast local Muslims in a bad light.

This follows the postponement of the execution of Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu and Dominggus da Silva, three Christian men sentenced to death for a massacre in Poso.

He pointed out the explosion occurred two days after Muslims staged a rally in Poso demanding the immediate execution of the three men.

"I believe the blast was an attempt to make Muslims the scapegoat for the violence. It's a common scenario in Poso," Sofyan said.

Contacted separately, Poso Regent Piet Inkiriwang urged residents not to be provoked and to allow the authorities to investigate the incident.

Poso remained calm after the explosion. Activity at markets, schools and offices continued as usual, though there were more armed security personnel seen on the streets.

In Jakarta, House of Representative Speaker Agung Laksono asked security authorities to investigate the explosion, which he said was aimed at stoking tension in Poso.

"I don't know the exact motive behind the incident but it and past explosions are sending a clear message that Poso remains restive and the security authorities still have to work harder," he said. He added that Poso could expect more such incidents unless harsh actions were taken.

Agung questioned the work of security authorities in Central Sulawesi, pointing out no arrests have been made in connection with past bombings. He demanded that anyone guilty of fomenting violence in the regency be brought to justice.