PMII: Puger's clash related to gold mining

Surabaya, NU Online
An inter-communal conflict in Puger, Jember, East Java, that broke on Wednesday (11/9), caused one death and left several people injured. A school building located in the Darus Sholihin Islamic boarding school (pesantren) which is considered to have taught the Shiite teachings was also ransacked.<>

The Branch Coordinator of the East Java's Indonesian Islamic Students Movement (PMII) called for all parties to exercise extreme caution in view of the case.

Chairman of the East Java's PMII Fairouz Huda asserted, the clash was not necessarily associated with religious-nuanced conflict, ie, between Shi'ites and Sunnis. He considered the tragedy was most likely related to the gold mines in the region.

"If related to the matter of Shiites, it has long occurred. Hence, we must be smart to look at it, who's playing there, who's behind the case," Fairouz said here on Friday (13/9).

However, Fairouz did not deny the possibility if the case was due to different religious beliefs especially between Shi'ite and Sunni as it happened in Sampang, Madura, recently.

"Hopefully the scene in Puger is the last dark story of violence in the name of religion in East Java," he said.

The hope, he said, could be realized if the administration of East Java province involved itself in mediating the case by collaborating with the local administration.

"For example, by doing the national and religious character education in accordance with the ideological foundation of the nation's values such as Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution," he said.

Fairouz urged the police to investigate and crack down on the perpetrators of violence, including investigating its intellectual actor in accordance with applicable laws.

"We the East java's PMII really feel sad for looking at the Puger clash that resulted in one death," he said.

"Stop the violence, because for whatever reason it is not commendable and not justified by any religion," he added.

As reported the police named more suspects on Friday in the Wednesday's clash. In total, nine people have been named as suspects in the clash that claimed one life.

“From the investigation results, we have named eight more people as suspects,” said East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Unggung Cahyono after Friday prayers at the Jember Police office as quoted by tempo.co.

Like RM, who was previously named as a suspect, the eight new suspects were allegedly involved in the act of cruelty that caused the death of villager Eko Mardi Santoso, he said.

According to Unggung, the nine suspects will be charged under multiple articles. They include the Criminal Code’s Article 3 on violence that causes loss of life; Article 160 on provoking other people to stage an act of cruelty; and Article 351 (3) on acts of cruelty that cause loss of life.

“If proven guilty, they face maximum sentences of 12 years, six years, and seven years in prison respectively,” said Unggung.

He added that tight security was being implemented in Puger although the situation in the southernmost district of Jember regency was calm.

A number of police officers and military personnel have been deployed to Puger district.

The clash started when the Darus Sholihin Islamic boarding school in Puger Kulon village, Puger district, held a parade on Wednesday to commemorate Indonesia's Independence Day.

After the parade, a group of people attacked the boarding school, damaging the mosque, school and office buildings as well as 41 motorcycles, three of which were set on fire. The clash was reportedly due to Sunni-Shia tensions.

Reporting by Abdul Hady JM; Editing by Sudarto Murtaufiq