Ahmadiyya Muslims of Cisalada

In Cisalada, by October 1st 2010, Pancasila did not show its power. Deliberately, a group of people trampled on the basis of state authority. They arbitrarily resort to violence in the name of hatred against Ahmadiyya Muslim groups. Suddenly, Pancasila as the glue of plurality seemed bland by the cruelty performed by group of the people. The security forces, which should be the vanguard of the guardian authority of Pancasila were unable to do much. They came to the scene a half hour after receiving report of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. The security forces even looked very weak when they were confronted the attackers. One mosque, five houses, one car and two motorcycles were burned. 17 homes were destroyed and looted. Ahmadiyya Muslims whose homes were destroyed and burned have been displaced.

Violence against the Ahmadiyya Muslim community has repeatedly occurred in this country recently. In the village of Manislor, Brass, West Java, three thousand Ahmadis were continuously being vigilants over the threat and attacks that can occur at any time. In Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), hundreds of Ahmadis houses and places of worship were repeatedly vandalized and burned. They were forbidden to return to their original place of their birth.

It is very reasonable as Ahmadiyya Muslims concern over the threat of violence. In fact, there was no serious redress from the state apparatus during these tragedies. In Manislor and Bogor, the Ahmadis must defend their own life and properties from the threat and attacks, while the attackers are always free to mobilize destruction and organize their violent action.

The violence against Ahmadiyya Muslim community has never done spontaneously. There is a mass gathering processes and provocations. State officials should be able to prevent violence from early times by for instance dispersing the mass gathering that aims to provoke violence. The PNPS Act of 1965 explicitly states that the campaign of hatred and hostility against one group of people is banned; the perpetrators must be arrested and punishable by a maximum of 5 years sentence in jail according to Penal Code Section 156 A.

However, instead of preventing the potentiality for violence by capturing and dissolving the campaign of hatred and hostility, the state apparatus it is very often criminalize the victims. Mosques and Muslim educational facilities of Ahmadiyya are sealed. And they were prohibited from performing their rituals or spreading their preaching.

At least there are two main prerequisites to resolve this ongoing violence. First is society tolerant. Second is the effectiveness and the ability of state to protect its citizen. But, it is too bad that we do not have both of them.