The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Ahmadiah followers in West Nusa Tenggara province celebrated their third year Idul Fitri at a refugee camp in Mataram after they were attacked and driven out from their homes by people who claimed to be the mainstream Muslims.
The Adhmadis said they wanted to return to their homes, but they were still afraid that people would attack them again, as there were no legal actions taken against the perpetrators.
“We will return to our homes so long that there is no more hatred and even attack against us by other fellow Muslims,” Syahidin, Ahmadiyah refugee coordinator at the Mataram Transmigration Transit Center, told Antara news agency.
After the Idul Fitri prayer, Ahmadis living at the transit center, and others at the former Praya Hospital in Central Lombok visited each other for the traditional seeking of forgiveness.
Some 137 Ahmadiyah members from 33 families are still sheltering at the transit center after being forced from their homes in Gegerung village, West Lombok, in February 2006.
Syahidin said that Ahmadis at the transit center were ready to be relocated provided that they were compensated for the losses they had suffered, to start a new life.
“We have conveyed our wishes several times to the West Nusa Tengara provincial administration, as well as the Mataram mayoralty. We hope that the new governor, H Zainul Majdi, will follow up our wishes,” Syahidin said. (rid)
URL: www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/...camp.html
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