Markus Junianto Sihaloho – The House of Representatives has demanded the military answer to allegations that a West Java military unit launched an operation to intimidate Ahmadiyah followers.
The House said on Tuesday that such operations were outside their authority and possibly violated Indonesian law.
The deputy chairman of the House Commission I overseeing military and foreign affairs, Tubagus Hasanuddin, on Tuesday said that the commission had received 56 reports of the military intimidating Ahmadis.
Siliwangi Army Command soldiers allegedly intimidated Ahmadiyah followers, forcing them to reveal their identities, resign from the community and to have their services lead by local Indonesian Ulema Council's officials.
He said that while the Military Law No. 34/2004 gave the military the authority to perform some non-war operations, the actions of the West Java unit fell outside the law. Under the law, non-war operations include disaster relief, maintaining the security of the president and vice present, and securing border ares.
"I am not saying that the Ahmadiyah teachings are true. I want to criticize the military as it has no authority to do what it did in West Java," said Tubagus, who is a lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
"We do need to settle the Ahmadiyah matter. But military personnel cannot be deployed for problems related to religions that could spark hatred and unrest."
Tubagus said Commission I had summoned Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro and Military Chief Admiral Agus Suhartono to explain the matter. There must be a clear explanation of who ordered the Siliwangi Army Command to intimidate Ahmadiyah followers under "Sajadah Operation," Tubagus said.
"It's important to know what officials actually issued the order – whether it was the president, the military chief or just the Siliwangi Military Command," he said.
"If the operation was initiated by the military command, then it must have been ordered by the commander. Did the military commander know about it and just acted as if he knew nothing about it?" Tubagus asked. "Those responsible for it must be punished."
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Taufik Kiemas, said the West Java military operation was not necessarily a human rights violation.
"Before jumping to such conclusions, we should first investigate the link between the military and the incident," Taufik said. "Please remain calm and let the investigation process take place."
Previously, Firdaus Mubarik, a spokesman for the Indonesia Ahmadiyah Congregation (JAI), said he had received reports from Ahmadis across West Java that police and military officers had been visiting their homes and asking them to sign sworn statements renouncing their faith.
As the House called for the military to answer the allegations on Tuesday, a group of 40 demonstrators broke into an Ahmadiyah mosque in Cipeuyeum, West Java, burning the group's religious books.
"Police were there. The mob did not destroy the mosque or clash with the Ahmadis," said Asep Isamudin, head of the JAI in Cianjur district.