Transito

Stones were flying overhead, pounding on rooftops. While running away, a number of people shouted, “Rid this village off, Ahmadiyah!” Mothers and their childrens hide on the rice field. Houses were destroyed, looted and set on fire on February 4, 2006 in Ketapang Village, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. No one can stop the mass, even police officers just take on them with the truck to the transit camp and promise to protect their houses. But it doesn’t happened, last dozens homes destroyed and they still live in refugee camp without attention from Indonesia government. Violence and persecution against Ahmadi (Ahmadiyya followers) have happened repeatedly. This was triggered by a heretic fatwa (Islamic ruling) issued by Indonesian Ulema Council(MUI) in 1980. In 2005, MUI reissued a similar fatwa. Violence has risen since the President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s government issued a joint ministerial decree signed by Minister of Religious Affairs, Attorney General and Interior Minister which was considered to be anti-Ahmadiyya. The decree, issued in 2008, was initially aimed at easing the prolonged conflict. Instead, it gave ammunition to an increased campaign of violence and attack launched by Ahmadiyya opponents.

Transito

Stones were flying overhead, pounding on rooftops. While running away, a number of people shouted, “Rid this village off, Ahmadiyah!” Mothers and their childrens hide on the rice field. Houses were destroyed, looted and set on fire on February 4, 2006 in Ketapang Village, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. No one can stop the mass, even police officers just take on them with the truck to the transit camp and promise to protect their houses. But it doesn’t happened, last dozens homes destroyed and they still live in refugee camp without attention from Indonesia government. Violence and persecution against Ahmadi (Ahmadiyya followers) have happened repeatedly. This was triggered by a heretic fatwa (Islamic ruling) issued by Indonesian Ulema Council(MUI) in 1980. In 2005, MUI reissued a similar fatwa. Violence has risen since the President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s government issued a joint ministerial decree signed by Minister of Religious Affairs, Attorney General and Interior Minister which was considered to be anti-Ahmadiyya. The decree, issued in 2008, was initially aimed at easing the prolonged conflict. Instead, it gave ammunition to an increased campaign of violence and attack launched by Ahmadiyya opponents.

A farmer passes the former BTN Bumi Asri Ketapang housing complex in Ketapang hamlet, Gegerung village, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, Sunday, August 5, 2012. Halimah (44) passes partitioned rooms at Wisma Transito, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, Monday, August 6, 2012. Halimah and hundreds of Ahmadiyah community members used to live in the housing complex prior to their homes being destroyed by mobs.
(Photo Left) A farmer passes the former BTN Bumi Asri Ketapang housing complex in Ketapang hamlet, Gegerung village, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, Sunday, August 5, 2012. (Photo Right) Halimah (44) passes partitioned rooms at Wisma Transito, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, Monday, August 6, 2012. Halimah and hundreds of Ahmadiyah community members used to live in the housing complex prior to their homes being destroyed by mobs.

(Left) Syahidin pays a visit to his ruined-house in the hamlet of Ketapang, Gegerung  village, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesia, which was destroyed six years ago by people of anti-Ahmadiyah. This photo was taken on Friday, August 2, 2012. (Right) Syahidin and his family at cubicle refugee in Wisma Transito, Majeluk area, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.  (left – right) Members of Syahidin Family; Muhyidin Syayid Ahmad (13), Syahidin (40), Muhammad Khataman Nabiyin (3), Transiti Maryam Nur Siddiqah (4) and Ida Masnah (38). Transiti and Khatam are children of refugees who were born in Transito shelter. The word Transiti is derived from the word “Transito” while Muhammad Khataman Nabiyin in its literal means Muhammad the Greatest Prophet,” says Syahidin to emphasize and prove that Ahmadiyah followers have a faith in Muhammad as the last prophet. This photo was taken on Saturday, August 4, 2012.

(left) Residence of Asisudin and his family in the hamlet of Ketapang, Gegerung village, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, which was destroyed by a group of anti-Ahmadiyah. This photo was taken on Friday, August 3, 2012. (right) Asisudin and family members.
(left – right) Ahwan Riyadi (20), The wife, Hadijah (46), Anharudin (13) and Asisudin (53) at refugee shelter in Wisma Transito, Majeluk, West Lombok, Indonesia. This photo was taken on Friday, August 3, 2012.

After the expulsion, the Lombok Ahmadiyya Jama'at settled in uncertainty in the refugee camp. The longest was in the former Praya Hospital building and the transito dormitory (transmigration dormitory), which was twelve years. They have difficulty managing their identity because there is no clear domicile. Hope had arisen in 2014, they were required to immediately have an E-KTP for the sake of the election. However, the clarity of the status does not make it easier for other matters, one of which is the management of the child's certificate because the refugee's marriage certificate was burned in the riots.

(left) Residence of Khairuddin and family in the hamlet of Ketapang, Gegerung village, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, which was destroyed on February 4, 2006 by a group of anti-Ahmadiyah. This photo was taken on Friday, August 3, 2012. (right) Kherudin and family members (left – right) Khairuddin, Rafiq Wahyu Ahmady(10), Suryani(31), Amatul Azizah (2) dan Hafiz Qodratullah (13) at refugee shelter in Wisma Transito, Majeluk, West Lombok, Indonesia. Hafiz, the first child, often drifts into daydreams and sometimes he shouts, “Bad guys, bad guys… why are they burning the house?” While Rafiq, the second child often has a bad dream, “Bad guys trying to break down the door and shout.. Attack!,” says Khairuddin. This photo was taken on Saturday, August 4, 2012.

(left) Residence of Syahdan and family in the hamlet of Ketapang, Gegerung village, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, which was destroyed on February 4, 2006 by a group of anti-Ahmadiyah. This photo was taken on Friday, August 3, 2012. (right) Syahdan and family members (left – right) Syahdan (47), Transinta Nuriah (5), Munikah (37), Muhammad Syaiful Aziz (3), Agus Zamroni (17) and Ahmad Zamrianto (13) at refugee shelter in Wisma Transito, Majeluk, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Transita and Aziz were born in Transito Shelter. The name “Transita Nuriah” is derived from the word transito while the word ‘Nuriah’ was inspired by the wife of former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid when she visited the refugee camp few months after the Ketapang incident. This photo was taken on Saturday, August 4, 2012.

In 2010, there was talk that the Ahmadiyya Community would be placed on Gili Tangkong. However, this discourse is not clear until now. When the island was visited, things seemed no better. There is only one source of fresh water, no health and education facilities. There were only two families waiting for each patch of the island and knew nothing about the planned relocation.
For a long time in the shelter, the Ahmadiyah refugees are still trying to survive even though their fate is hanging. They only expect one thing: a sense of security.

(left) The ruins of Muhammad Ridwan and family’s house in the hamlet of Ketapang, Gegerung village, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, which was destroyed on February 4, 2006 by a group of anti-Ahmadiyah. This photo was taken on Friday, August 3, 2012. (right) Muhammad Ridwan and family members (left – right) Muhammad Ridwan (51), Hariani (45), Muhammad Yasir (3), Sufiatul Razillah (16) and Ridwannatul Fadillah (20) at refugee shelter in Wisma Transito, Majeluk, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Nowdays Ridwan works as chilli farmers in Ketapang. The locals accept him as a worker yet they do not allow him to stay and live in Ketapang, “They told us that’s because we are practicing religious heresy,” says Ridwan. This photo was taken on Saturday, August 4, 2012.

(left) The ruins of Sarim and family’s house in the hamlet of Ketapang, Gegerung village, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, which was destroyed on February 4, 2006 by a group of anti-Ahmadiyah. This photo was taken on Friday, August 3, 2012. (right) Sarim and family members (left – right) Sarim Ahmadi (40), Raudathun Nnisa (13) and Mrs. Rohiyah (40) at refugee shelter in Wisma Transito, Majeluk, West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Sarim says, “During our stay in Ketapang, we are very close with the locals. We helped them, donate materials and labour to build their mosque, we even have no time to build ours (mosque). Until all of sudden the ketapang incident occurred. My house that made from knitted bamboo, was burned and nothing left.” This photo was taken on Thursday, August 2, 2012.

on progress...

You may also like

Sangiang Not For Sale
Peaceful Life in Ancient Economy
↑Back to Top