Friday, July 30, 2010

President orders police to be strict in call to disband Ahmadiyah

NATIONAL
Fri, 07/30/2010
5:41 PM

President orders police to be strict in call to disband Ahmadiyah
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Under threat: Followers of Islamic sect Jamaah Ahmadiyah leave An-Nur mosque at Manis Lor village, Kuningan, West Java, after Friday prayers. Clash broke out between members of more than five Muslim organizations from outside Kuningan and Ahmadiyah followers on Thursday, damaging scores of houses and injuring at least three people. JP/R. Berto Wedhatama
Under threat: Followers of Islamic sect Jamaah Ahmadiyah leave An-Nur mosque at Manis Lor village, Kuningan, West Java, after Friday prayers. Clash broke out between members of more than five Muslim organizations from outside Kuningan and Ahmadiyah followers on Thursday, damaging scores of houses and injuring at least three people. JP/R. Berto Wedhatama

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has instructed the National Police to be strict in handling disputes surrounding the call to disband Islamic sect Jamaah Ahmadiyah in Kuningan regency, West Java, a minister said on Friday.

Speaking at the Presidential Office in Jakarta, Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto said that the police had to be strict especially in anticipating any anarchic action conducted by whoever or whichever organizations.

“A stern action has to be done on any anarchic action by anybody, everywhere, whichever organization. The police have been instructed to do so. The President has also asked me that the police have to be strict,” he said as quoted by the Antara news agency.

Djoko made the remarks following a clash between members of more than five Muslim organizations from outside Kuningan regency and Ahmadiyah followers residing in Manis Lor village, Jalaksana district, Kuningan.

The clash happened when organization members, who demand the disbandment of Ahmadiyah, forced their way to enter Ahmadiyah followers’ compound on Thursday. Police officers in charge of maintaining order were pelted with stones.

As Ahmadiyah followers felt they were cornered, they fought back, attacking members of the Muslim organizations. Several people were injured in the incident.

 
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