Jakarta – The Sampang administration's plan to either relocate Shiite refugees or move them to an uninhibited housing complex in the regency has been deemed irrelevant in solving the minority sect's problem, according to the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras).

"Relocation has never been a solution to their problem," the commission's coordinator, Haris Azhar, told The Jakarta Post Digital on Saturday.

Currently, 73 Shiite families are living in an indoor tennis court in Sampang, East Java. They were forced to move there after being attacked by Sunni Muslims three weeks ago. In the Sampang attack, two Shiites were killed and dozens of their houses were burned down.

According to Haris, the government would be mistreating citizens if it insisted on relocating the Shiites from their hometown. "Instead of relocating the refugees, the government must punish those responsible for prosecuting the Shia Muslims," he said.

The East Java Police have arrested three suspects of the attack, including Rois, the brother of incarcerated Sampang Shia leader Tajul Muluk, who has been jailed for blasphemy against Islam.

Besides Shia followers, other minority groups in the country, such as Ahmadiyah followers, are frequently targeted in attacks by hard-liners among the majority Sunni Muslims. Oftentimes, the government proposes to relocate the minority groups to solve the issue.

"If minority groups are continually harassed, then will the government relocate them all? It is the government's duty to protect them," said Haris. (riz/swd)