MUI Calls Muslims to Exercise Restraint Over Tolikara Incident

Jakarta (Antara Bali) -- Chairman of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) Din Syamsuddin has urged Muslims in Tolikara in Papua to restrain themselves from reacting to the incident that took place in the district on the occasion of Eid.

"Muslims do not need to exact revenge against the incident. They should display Muslims' tolerance towards adherents of other religions," he said on Friday in response to the outbreak of an inter-communal conflict among residents in Tolikara district, Papua.

Earlier, Vice President Jusuf Kalla had expressed regret over the occurrence of the conflict.

According to a report he had received, the conflict was a result of a misunderstanding among inter-religious groups of the district.

"It was a coincidence that two functions, an Eid prayer service and a meeting of church leaders, were being held in locations close to the other. The issue began with the use of a loudspeaker. There should have been better coordination before two functions like that were held," he said in response to the incident, which ended with a number of buildings in the region being set afire.

After attending an open house at the Vice Presidential Palace, National Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti explained the conditions after the incident.

He affirmed that the situation had been handled and that there was no need to increase the number forces deployed to maintain security conditions there.

Three people were shot and wounded when police tried to stop a mob from attacking Muslims performing their Friday morning prayers at a mosque in Karubaga, the capital of the Tolikara regency in Papua.

Moreover, the MUI chairman has asked the police to investigate the incident thoroughly and take firm action against the perpetrators in accordance with relevant laws.

Syamsuddin remarked that the incident was greatly regrettable, as it happened amid efforts to build religious tolerance. As it turns out, intolerant groups of people continue to exist.

They even sowed seeds of hatred and violence during the sacred day of adherents of another religion.

Chief of the Tolikara Police Adjunct Senior Commissioner Suroso revealed that the attack at the mosque took place at 7 a.m. local time when the mob set it on fire.

The three victims suffering bullet wounds had been moved to Jayapura by the attackers, he added.
Suroso further noted that the police cannot reveal the identities of the victims and the attackers yet.

The mob had also set afire 70 small kiosks in Karubaga.

In addition, eight other people sustained injuries in the incident, he stated, adding that the police had yet to arrest the perpetrators "as the situation did not allow" them to. (WDY)