Saturday, October 2, 2010

Kalla blames security authorities for attack on Ahmadiyah

NATIONAL
Sat, 10/02/2010
5:55 PM

Kalla blames security authorities for attack on Ahmadiyah
Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi

Former vice president Jusuf Kalla said security authorities were to blame for the latest attack on Ahmadiyah followers on Friday night and other acts of violence plaguing the country in the last six months.

Kalla said the attack on the Islamic sect members in Ciampea village in the West Java regency of Bogor should have not occurred had the police strictly enforced the law and taken tough measures against those who violated the law.

“Security authorities should not hesitate to take stiff actions against offenders of the law. The should not be afraid of being accused of violating human rights, because human rights do not prohibit security personnel from taking firm measures,” Kalla said after a public lecture for new students of Muhammadiyah University in Makassar, South Sulawesi on Saturday.

Kalla, who now chairs the Indonesian Red Cross, said he was against Ahmadiyah teachings, but he could not tolerate the use of violence against followers of the Islamic sect, which the Indonesia Ulema Council has declared heretical.

He added that dissolving the sect was not a solution to the Ahmadiyah case, citing adverse impacts on thousands of its followers.

“In principle Ahmadiyah followers must not propagate the sect’s teachings which go against Islam. If they spread the teachings among themselves, it will not matter,” Kalla said.

 
^ Top of Page