Don’t Forget Cikeusik

Murder cases on three Ahmadiyah Muslim congregations in Cikeusik are no longer becoming public interest anymore. In fact, those cases are now on hearing process at the District Court Serang, Banten. The family of the murdered victims has not gained the justice. The Ahmadiyah congregation whose houses were destroyed has not gotten any compensation. Yet, those Ahmadis, all of them can not live securely in this country.

Thousand of people were invaded, tortured and murdered. However only 12 people were arrested and presented at the hearing process in the court. Policemen who “allowed” the violence to happen had not yet became suspects. Ironically, one of Ahmadi family was judged to a the suspected. His head was hacked several times. His hands were almost severed and until now has not been functioning. So instead of punishing the attackers, they were sending him for 10 years in prison, because he is considered to provoke the anger of thousands of residents because he chose not to leave his office and defend his assets from being destroyed. It is strange, while the victim is threatened with 10 years in prison; the attackers were actually required to stay only from 5 to 7 months. In this country, defending private property rights can be a complicated matter, while criminals that is committed is very likely understandable.

Deden Sujana, the Ahmadiyya resident who was injured and sued at the same time, heard about the news that the office of the Ahmadiyya in Cikeusik was about to be attacked. He then came there along with several other young Ahmadis. A number of offices, schools, and houses that belong to the Ahmadiyya mosque at various places were attacked and destroyed. So they tried to save the assets which are also threatened for destruction. Led by Deden, the Ahmadis negotiated with the police. They asked the police to secure the assets of their office. But, instead of giving security to the Ahmadis, the police said frankly that they could not control the masses. The police became powerless as if the police are never been authorized to dispel riots and brutality.

Facing that negative responses, Deden said that if the police could not provide security, then so be it clashes. Deden and his friends were tired of witnessing the destruction and brutal actions against their fellows and assets. In the court, even when Deden was presented as a witness, he was discredited with questions like a prisoner. Finally, he was demanded for six years in prison for being a provocateur. If the enforcement of law is still distorted as showed by this tragedy, the sense of justice for the victims in Cikeusik is still a dream.