BRR Pamit dan Minta Maaf pada Masyarakat Aceh

Oleh Yuri Alfrin Aladdin

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Gedung bercat putih itu tampak kusam dan rusak di sana-sini. Tak ada kusen-kusen, daun pintu dan daun jendela. Tidak ada lagi dinding-dinding penyekat. Di dalamnya kosong-melompong dan lumut di sana-sini. Gedung itu menyimpan suatu cerita yang menyedihkan dan mencekam yang pernah terjadi di sana empat tahun silam.

Ya, itulah bangunan bekas Markas Komando Resort Militer 012 Teuku Umar di Desa Ujung Karang, Kecamatan Johan Pahlawan, Kabupaten Aceh Barat, Nanggoe Aceh Darussalam (NAD), yang posisinya hanya sekitar 200 meter dari bibir Pantai Ujung Karang.

Gedung tersebut menjadi saksi mata sekaligus gedung pertama yang diterjang gelombang tsunami yang masuk ke Kabupaten Aceh Barat dari Pantai Ujung Karang tanggal 26 Desember 2004. Gedung itu menjadi saksi mata saat masyarakat setempat menjerit ketakutan seraya berlari berhamburan menyelamatkan diri dari amukan tsunami.

Sebuah bencana mengerikan di abad ini karena menewaskan 127.080 jiwa dan korban hilang 116.344 jiwa di seluruh tanah Aceh.

"Karena itulah, pada Peringatan Empat Tahun Tsunami, yang kali ini diselenggarakan di Kabupaten Aceh Barat, kami memilih lokasi di lapangan Makorem, persis di depan gedung ini. Lokasi Makorem ini adalah titik pertama saat gelombang tsunami masuk dari Pantai Ujung Karang dan menenggelamkan Aceh Barat," kata Bupati Aceh Barat Ramli MS kepada ANTARA News sehari sebelum acara peringatan tersebut.

Peringatan berlangsung sederhana di Lapangan Ex Makorem 012 Teuku Umar, Jumat (26 Desember 2008), tepat empat tahun musibah gempa dan tsunami yang meluluhlantakan Aceh. Sayangnya, acara itu tidak dihadiri para Menteri, Gubernur NAD, bahkan Kepala Badan Pelaksana Badan Rehabilitasi dan Rekonstruksi (BRR) Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) - Nias, Kuntoro Mangkusubroto.

Hadir dalam acara itu pejabat di lingkungan Pemerintah Provinsi NAD seperti Wagub NAD Muhammad Nazar dan Bupati Aceh Barat, Ramli MS.

"Kami mohon maaf karena urung hadir berhubung harus memenuhi janji kami kira-kira 3,5 tahun lalu bahwa bila tugas berat ini dapat kami laksanakan sesuai amanah, maka kami akan melaksanakan salat sunnah dua rakaat di pusara ulama besar Aceh, Teungku Syiah Kuala di Banda Aceh, pada tahun ke empat musibah tsunami," demikian Kuntoro Mangkusubroto dalam sambutannya yang dibacakan Deputi Kelembagaan BRR, Iqbal Faraby, saat acara tersebut.

Kuntoro mengatakan, pada 16 April 2009 sesuai dengan UU No 10/2005, lembaga BRR akan ditutup dan program kerjanya selesai. "Kami mohon pamit," kata dia dalam pidato tertulisnya.
Pada kesempatan itu dipaparkan, setelah bertugas 3,5 tahun, lembaga ini telah membangun dan merehabilitasi sebanyak 124.454 unit rumah, 3.005 kilometer jalan, 266 unit jembatan, 954 unit puskesmas, rumah sakit dan poliklinik.

Selanjutnya menyelesaikan pembangunan 1.450 unit sekolah, 979 unit kantor pemerintah, 12 unit bandar udara, 20 unit pelabuhan laut, dan 103.273 hektar lahan pertanian.
Disebutkan, sisa anggaran BRR sekitar Rp4 empat triliun rupiah telah disiapkan untuk menjamin keberlanjutan rehabilitasi dan rekonostruksi Aceh dan Nias. Dana tersebut akan diserahkan kepada Pemerintah Provinsi NAD dan lembaga-lembaga kementerian terkait.

Seusai acara peringatan empat tahun tsunami tersebut, sejumlah mahasiswa dan pegiat lembaga swadaya masyarakat (LSM) menggelar aksi unjukrasa di tengah Kota Meulaboh untuk mengkritik kinerja BRR.

Mereka juga mengusung spanduk dan poster yang bertuliskan dugaan terjadinya penyelewengan dana rehabilitasi oleh BRR serta kualitas konstruksi bangunan-bangunan BRR yang sangat rendah , sehingga tidak bisa ditempati para pengungsi korban tsunami.

Bantahan Bupati Aceh

Bupati Aceh Barat Ramli MS sehari sebelumnya (25/12) kepada wartawan membantah pemberitaan media massa bahwa pihaknya menolak penyerahan aset-aset yang telah dibangun pihak Badan Rehabilitasi dan Rekonstruksi (BRR) bagi para korban tsunami.

Dia mengatakan bahwa pihaknya hanya menginginkan verifikasi lebih rinci mengenai aset-aset yang diserahkan, karena terdapat perbedaan antara jumlah nilai yang diserahkan dengan apa yang tersebar luas di media massa.

"Dalam laporan BRR tersebut dikatakan bahwa jumlah aset yang diserahkan untuk Pemda Aceh Barat senilai Rp45 miliar, sementara yang terungkap di media massa angkanya jauh melebihi itu. Ini yang kami ingin verifikasi karena menyangkut pertanggungjawaban saya pada rakyat," kata Bupati di Meulaboh.

Media massa sebelumnnya memberitakan bahwa Ramli menolak menandatangani penyerahan aset-aset yang dibangun BRR-NAD Aceh Barat. Lembaga tersebut beserta lembaga-lembaga swadaya masyarakat (LSM) asing menurut rencana akan mengakhiri program kerja mereka di provinsi NAD pada April 2009.

Dia mengatakan bahwa dirinya tidak ingin disalahkan rakyat. "Kalau saya tandatangani laporan penyerahan aset, padahal belum terbangun apa-apa, nanti apa kata rakyat?" kata Ramli.
Pada kesempatan itu, Bupati juga mengeluh bahwa aset-aset yang dibangun BRR, seperti halnya rumah-rumah bagi para korban bencana tsunami serta tanggul-tanggul laut, umumnya berkualitas rendah. Rumah-rumah yang dibangun seringkali tidak bisa ditempati.

"Sebanyak 70 persen aset-aset yang dibangun BRR tidak bagus. Tapi yang dibangun oleh LSM-LSM asing justru bagus," kata Ramli.

Sementara itu, juru bicara BRR Juanda Djamal yang dihubungi ANTARA via telepon di Meulaboh , Kamis (25/12), menyatakan bahwa nilai aset yang diserahkan sebesar Rp45 miliar sebetulnya belum final dan belum mencakup seluruh aset yang dibangun BRR di Aceh Barat.
"Aset yang akan kami serahkan senilai Rp45 miliar itu adalah aset yang telah diverifikasi keberadaan dan kualitasnya serta memang betul-betul bisa diserahkan. Aset baru bisa diserahkan setelah ada kesepakatan kedua belah pihak," kata Juanda Djamal.

Dia menjelaskan bahwa kesepakatan akan tercapai setelah dilakukan verifikasi oleh sebuah tim yang beranggotakan anggota BRR dan pejabat Pemerintahan Kabupaten.

"Jadi saya agak heran juga kalau dibilang hendak minta verifikasi karena sebetulnya aset-aset yang senilai Rp45 miliar itu sudah diverifikasi oleh tim yang beranggotakan pejabat Pemkab Aceh Barat juga," kata dia.

Pada kesempatan itu, Juanda juga membantah anggapan bahwa kualitas aset-aset yang diserahkan BRR sangat rendah dibanding LSM-LSM asing.

"Proyek-proyek LSM asing itu kan dikerjakan oleh para kontraktor, ya sama saja dengan kami. Namun demikian, kami sangat terbuka dengan kritikan masyarakat. Kalau memang ada proyek bangunan kami yang tidak berkualitas baik, maka pasti akan kami perbaiki sebelum kami serahkan," kata Juanda Djamal.

Dalam pidato tertulisnya pada acara Peringatan Empat Tahun Tsunami, Kuntoro sempat menyatakan permintaan maaf bila masih ada ketidaksempurnaan dalam penanganan proyek-proyek BRR di wilayah ini.

"Kami menyadari menangani ratusan proyek pembangunan dalam waktu sangat singkat pasti akan ada kekurangannya. Karena itu kami minta maaf atas ketidaksempurnaan yang ada," demikian Kuntoro.(*)

COPYRIGHT © 2008

http://www.antara.co.id/arc/2008/12/29/brr-pamit-dan-minta-maaf-pada-masyarakat-aceh/

Arme Indonesier Spuren die Auswirkungen Hoher Olpreise

(Hi guys, I found this article when I was surfing in Internet. I'm a bit surprise since this is my article which was published previously by OhmyNews , a citizen online news based in South Korea, and now my article was translated in German language. The original article is in English , title "What Poor People Say About Their Life". Yuri)

Samstag, den 30. August 2008 um 17:28 Uhr von Yuri Alfrin


Die Entscheidung der Regierung, den Kraftstoffpreis zu erhöhen, hatte heftige Auswirkungen
Eines Morgens klopfte jemand an meiner Tür, als ich gerade vorhatte zur Arbeit zu gehen. “Sir, könnten Sie mir helfen, indem Sie mir ein Job geben würden? Lassen Sie mich bitte Ihr Haus renovieren,” bat er.

Sarmidi, 60 Jahre alt, ein freiberuflicher Bauarbeiter, der mit seiner Frau und zwei Söhnen in der Nähe meines Hauses in Depok, dem Westlichen Java lebt, ist einer unter vielen, der jeden Job annehmen würde, um zu überleben. Er sagte, dass seit die Regierung am 23. Mai den Kraftstoffpreis angehoben habe, viele Hauseigentümer aufgehört hätten, ihre Häuser zu reparieren oder zu bauen, was weniger Jobs für Sarmidi bedeutet.

Tatsächlich sind seit Mai die Preise für lebensnotwendige Güter gestiegen.
Es war für die Leute wichtiger, ihr Geld für Essen, Arzneimittel und Schulsachen auszugeben, als ihr Haus zu reparieren. Mit seiner kranken Frau und zwei arbeitslosen Söhnen befindet sich Sarmidi in einer ernsten Lage. Er sagte, dass er vor ein paar Monaten von jemandem betrogen wurde, der sich als Journalist einer Zeitung ausgab, und die Spitzenpolizeibeamten in Jakarta kennen würde.

Der Journalist sagte Sarmidi, dass er seinem 25-jährigen Sohn helfen könnte, als Polizist eingestellt zu werden, indem er einen Beamten bestechen würde. Er bat Sarmidi um ungefähr sieben Millionen indonesische Rupien (ungefähr 700 US$), um den Polizeibeamten zu bestechen. Sarmidi hatte das Geld nicht. Schließlich lieh er sich das Geld von seinen Freunden und Verwandten.

Nach mehreren Monaten des Wartens begriff er jedoch, dass der “Journalist” ihn betrogen hatte. Der Spitzenpolizeibeamte sowie das Management der Zeitung bestritten, den “Journalisten” zu kennen. Sarmidi schuldet seinen Freunden und Verwandten jetzt sieben Millionen Rupien. Er hat nur eine Grundschul-Ausbildung. Seine zwei Söhne schlossen die Höhere Schule ab. Als Bauarbeiter bekommt er ungefähr fünfzigtausend Rupien (fünf US$) pro Tag. Für eine vierköpfige Familie in Jakarta ist das kaum ausreichend, wo sich die Lebenshaltungskosten auf ungefähr eine Million Rupien pro Monat oder 33.000 Rupien pro Tag belaufen. Und er bekommt nicht jeden Tag Baujobs.

“Die Entscheidung der Regierung den Kraftstoffpreis zu erhöhen, hat großen Einfluss auf mein Leben. Ich werde ärmer und ärmer, jetzt da die Grundnahrungsmittelpreise stark ansteigen,” sagte er traurig. “Die direkte Unterstützung von 100.000 Rupien pro Monat pro arme Familie, die von der Regierung für sieben Monate als Entschädigung für die Kraftstoffpreiserhöhung ausbezahlt wird, ist nicht genug für uns,” fügte er hinzu. Er bedankte sich bei mir als ich ihn bat morgen wieder zu kommen, um mein kaputtes Fenster zu reparieren.
***
Jeden Morgen nehme ich den Zug, um bei der Antara Nachrichtenagentur in Jakarta zu arbeiten. Für gewöhnlich fahre ich um acht von der Depok Lama Bahnstation ab. An diesem Morgen allerdings wollte ich einige Menschen interviewen, die ihr Leben auf der Straße aufbessern. Am Bahnhof traf ich einen Buchhändler. Johar hat in den letzten acht Jahren Bücher verkauft. Er hat keinen Zeitungsstand oder ein Geschäft, nur einen kleinen Teppich, den er auf dem Bahnsteig ausbreitet, um seine gebrauchten Bücher - ungefähr 50 Romane an diesem Morgen - zu verkaufen.

Er sagt, dass der Herausgeber die Buchpreise nach der Kraftstoffpreiserhöhung um ungefähr 15 bis 25 Prozent angehoben hat. “Nachdem der Herausgeber die Buchpreise angehoben hat, ist es sehr schwierig, Bücher zu verkaufen. Ich verkaufte meine Bücher und erzielte einen Reingewinn von ungefähr 50.000 bis 60.000 Rupien [ungefähr fünf bis sechs US-Dollar] pro Tag. Aber jetzt ist die Situation schwieriger geworden. Nur wenige Leute wollen Romane wie diese hier kaufen,” sagte er.

Ein ojek (Motorrad-Taxi) Fahrer kam in unsere Nähe. Weil er wusste, dass ich ein Journalist bin, bat er mich, seine Meinung über Präsident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono aufzuschreiben. Er verfluchte die Entscheidung von Yudhoyono, da sie arme Leute noch ärmer hatte werden lassen.
“Aber schreiben Sie bitte meinen Namen nicht auf,” sagte er.

Nicht weit von ihm war ein Bettlerin mit ihrer mageren Tochter. Sie saßen da und bettelten bei Passanten um Geld. Ich ging zu ihr hin und gab ihr 1.000 Rupien (zehn US-Cents) und machte ein Bild von ihr. Sie will mir ihren Namen nicht sagen.

“Ich habe Schwierigkeiten in meinem Leben. Fragen Sie mich daher nicht nach der Politik der Regierung. Ich verstehe nichts davon. Was auch immer die Regierung tut, es ergibt keine Änderung für mein Leben,” sagte sie, während sie auf ihre einjährige Tochter starrte.

Ich wartete auf meinen Zug auf Bahnsteig eins. Wie in jedem Bahnhof in Indonesien, gab es auch hier viele Bettler, die bleiben und was auch immer tun, um zu überleben. An diesem Morgen sah ich, dass es mehr Bettler als üblich im Bahnhof gab.

Am 23. Mai gab die indonesische Regierung bekannt, dass die Kraftstoffpreise um 28.7 Prozent zunehmen würden, da die internationalen Ölpreise 125 US$ pro Barrel erreicht hatten.
Präsident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono sagte, dass die Kraftstoffsubvention ein Haushaltsdefizit verursacht hätte. Folglich entschied sich die Regierung die Preise von Super von 4.500 auf 6.000 Rupien, Diesel von 4.250 auf 5.500 Rupien und Kerosin von 2.000 auf 2.500 Rupien anzuheben.

Um die Last der armen Leute zu verringern, verteilt die Regierung für nur sieben Monate Subventionen von 100.000 Rupien pro Familie. Seit dieser Ankündigung haben Studenten täglich in den Straßen demonstriert.

Eine Dozentin der Wirtschaftsschule der Universität Indonesiens, Rofikoh Rokhim, sagte, dass die Regierung die Entscheidung nicht vermeiden konnte, weil der Ölpreis auf dem internationalen Markt 125 US$ erreicht hatte.

Sie erklärte, dass zuvor ungefähr 80 Prozent der Regierungssubvention von 40 Prozent der besser gestellten Bevölkerung genossen wurden, während ungefähr 60 Prozent der niedrigen Klasse (arme Leute) nur 20 Prozent der Subvention genossen.

“Das ist nicht fair. Deshalb sollte die Regierung die Kraftstoffsubvention mit der Kraftstoffpreiserhöhung reduzieren. Bedenken Sie, arme Leute haben keine Autos,” sagte sie. Sie gab zu, dass es bald ein Für und Wider geben würde, weil alle Waren und Dienstleistungspreise dabei wären zu steigen. Inzwischen konnten sich die meisten Angestellten in Indonesien nicht über eine Erhöhung ihres Gehalts freuen.

Dieser Beitrag erschien zuerst auf OhmyNews. Die Übersetzung und Veröffentlichung auf der Readers Edition erfolgte mit freundlicher Genehmigung von OhmyNews.

http://www.readers-edition.de/2008/08/30/arme-indonesier-spueren-die-auswirkungen-hoher-oelpreise/it freundlicher Genehmigung von OhmyNews.

Content Analysis of Reporting on Religion on Republika Newspaper

By Yuri Alfrin Aladdin

Journalist and Ombudsman of Antara News Agency

(Note : in this article of this blog , I could not put all of my analysis and graphics or tables for certain reasons, considering my capacity as an ombudsman for Antara News Agency and our good relation with Republika newspaper. Thanks)


Introduction

There are three big issues related with muslim people on November 2008.
The first issue was about a blog in Indonesian containing cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad in wordpress.com. According to Chief of Public Relations of Indonesian National Police Inspector-General Abubakar Nataprawira, the content of the blog is upsetting the Moslem community.

“The cyber crime unit is looking into the case,” Abubakar said , noting that if his identity is revealed, the blog manager will be charged with the Criminal Code on defaming a religion. “To Moslems, the content of the blog is incorrect,” Abubakar said.

Communication and Informatics minister Muhammad Nuh said the government will immediately trace the owner of the blog which is potentially conflicting.

There are at least two blogs in the wordpress.com that is regarded to be insulting Muhammad and his teachings. The blog also contains various cartoon figures depicting the life of Muhammad with his wife and friends. One of the comics even shows the prophet's life and his wife inappropriately.

The blogger had violated the Information and Electronic Transaction Law and the Criminal Code. He has spread issues that can lead to conflict among tribal, ethnic and religious groups.

The second issue was about the management of Mitra International Hospital in East Jakarta which prohibit one of its nurse to use headscarf based on company’s rule. The nurse protested to the management and back up by the hospital trade union. Finally , the management give permission to the employees to wear headscarf started from July 2009. However, the hospital’s trade union refuse it and the management to give permission to wear headscarf started from January 2009.

The third issue was about management of Hajj Pilgrim conducted by Indonensian Religious Affairs Ministry. For years , the ministry has been critized by muslim people since it was not transparent. Some top officials of the ministry have been arrested for corruption in managing the fund for hajj pilgrim. However, the Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni (2004 – now) was praised by the State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta as he manage to make the management of hajj pilgrim more transparent.

I try to observe the three issues published by Republika newspaper. Republika is one of several national leading daily newspapers in Indonesia. The newspaper also known as a Moslem mass media. The target market of the newspaper are muslim people.

Republika was founded in 1992 and the first edition was published on January 3, 1993, by Yayasan Abdi Bangsa (Abdi Bangsa Foundation) -- a foundation that supported by Ikatan Cendekiawan Muslim Indonesia (ICMI -- Indonesian Moslem Intellectual Association). Now, Republika Daily Newspaper was published by PT Republika Media Mandiri and become a public and common mass media.

This observation was conducted in order to get conclucion whether Republika could be create a peaceful situation with its news stories -- although it is a muslim newspaper -- or not , and how the newspaper present its news stories.

Methodology

I selected the news stories published by Republika newspaper which were only related with actual religious issues in Indonesia. The stories should be in the front page or inside but with depth column more than 10 cm. I tried to analyse and interpret the story from the angle, lead, headlines (titles), language , and sources.

Definition of Variables

- Prohibition on prophet’s picture

In Muslim societies, insulting Muhammad is considered one of the gravest of all crimes. Some interpretations of the Shariah, in particular the relatively fringe Salafi (Wahabi) group, state that any insult to Muhammad warrants death.

Many Muslims have explained their anti-cartoon stance as against insulting pictures and not so much as against pictures in general. According to the BBC: “It is the satirical intent of the cartoonists and the association of the Prophet with terrorism, that is so offensive to the vast majority of Muslims.”

Why is the insult so deeply felt by some Muslims? Of course, there is the prohibition on images of Muhammad. But one cartoon, showing the Prophet wearing a turban shaped as a bomb with a burning fuse, extends the caricature of Muslims as terrorists to Muhammad. In this image, Muslims see a depiction of Islam, its prophet and Muslims in general as terrorists. This will certainly play into a widespread perception among Muslims across the world that many in the West harbour a hostility towards – or fear of – Islam and Muslims.

- Muslim Headscarf

Traditionally, Muslims have recognized many different forms of clothing as satisfying the demands of hijab. Debate focussed on how much of the male or female body should be covered. Different scholars adopted different interpretations of the original texts.

Site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijab stated that all four Sunni schools of thought (Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali) hold that entire body of the woman, except her face and hands, is part of her awrah, that is the parts of her body that must be covered during prayer and in public settings.

Some Sunni Muslims recommend that women wear loose clothing that is not form fitting to the body either modest forms of western clothing (long shirts and skirts), or the more traditional jilbāb, a high-necked, loose robe that covers the arms and legs. A khimār or shaylah, a scarf or cowl that covers all but the face, is also worn in many different styles.

Some Salafi scholars encourage covering the face. Many of them say it is mandatory to cover the face. Other scholars oppose face covering, particularly in the west where the woman may draw more attention as a result. These garments are very different in cut than most of the traditional forms of ħijāb, and they are worn worldwide by Muslims.

Most scholars agree that the basic requirements are that when in the presence of someone of the opposite sex (other than a close family member - see mahram), a woman should cover her body, and walk and dress in a way which does not draw sexual attention to her.

Some scholars go so far as to specify exactly which areas of the body must be covered. In some cases, this is everything save the eyes but most require everything save the face and hands to be covered. In nearly all Muslim cultures, young girls are not required to wear a ħijāb. There is not a single agreed age when a woman should begin wearing a ħijāb; however, in many Muslim countries, puberty is the dividing line.

In private, and in the presence of mahrams, the rules on dress are relaxed. However, in the presence of husband, most scholars stress the importance of mutual freedom and pleasure of the husband and wife.

Along with scriptural arguments, scholars argue that head covering should not be compulsory in Islam because the veil predates the revelation of the Qur'ān. Head-covering was introduced into Arabia long before Muhammad, primarily through Arab contacts with Syria and Iran, where the hijāb was a sign of social status. After all, only a woman who need not work in the fields could afford to remain secluded and veiled.

The Hajj Pilgrim

The Hajj (Arabic: حج‎) is a pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah), Saudi Arabia.
It is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world. It is the fifth pillar of Islam, an obligation that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so. It is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to Allah.

The pilgrimage occurs from the 8th to 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, eleven days shorter than the Gregorian calendar used in the Western world, the Gregorian date of the Hajj is eleven days earlier from year to year. In 2007, the Hajj was from December 17–21; in 2008 it will take place from December 7–11.

Limitation of the study

I just only observed the news stories related with muslim issues with more than 10 cm depth column in Republika newspaper from November 20 to November 26, 2008.

Findings

News stories related with muslim big issues are always placed in the front page.
Titles and angles of the news stories usually are not in sensational or vulgar sentences.

The news stories are seldom accompanied with pictures. For sensitive issues related with muslim , Republika always rely on sources such as official government (from Religious Affairs Ministry), Indonesian Muslim Clerics Council (MUI) and the two biggest muslim organizations in Indonesia, namely Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama and very selective muslim clerics.

The newspaper use good language in presenting their news stories.

Conclusion

a. Republika is a muslim colored newspaper but its news stories reflected that it has a mission to create peaceful situation among religious followers.

b. Republika seems very careful in publishing news stories related with muslim issues. The newspaper always refer to the the opinion of Indonesian Religious Affairs Ministry, Indonesian Muslim Clerics Council (MUI) and the two biggest muslim organizations in Indonesia, namely Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama and very selective in getting their sources.

c. Republika always put big muslim issues news stories in front page with more than 10 cm depth column to get more attention from muslim people. However, the newspaper always avoid to use hard words which could create unrest among religious people. The news stories are seldom accompanied with pictures in order to avoid tense situation.

Interview

This is my interview with editor of Republika newspaper, Mr.Firkah Fansuri on Sunday , Dec.7, 2008 in Depok, West Java.

a. Republika is a muslim colored newspaper. What is the newspaper's policy in publishing the story related with muslim issues ?

- As a muslim colored newspaper, of course our market target is muslim community in Indonesia. Therefore, we should be careful in publishing such issues which have a conflict potential among muslim groups.

Before publishing a sensitive religious issue, we will discuss it in a an editorial meeting. Our mission as a muslim ideological newspaper is to create a peaceful situation among people. Therefore, if the issue has a potential conflict among muslim groups, then we will refer to the opinion of Indonesian Religious Affairs Ministry, Indonesian Muslim Clerics Council (MUI) and the two biggest muslim organizations in Indonesia, namely Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama.

We are so selective to get our sources. We will not ask very liberal muslim cleric such as Mr. UAS (initial name, he is famous liberal muslim scholar) since our newspaper will get a huge protest from our readers. We can not ask opinion too from fundamentalist muslim clerics.

b. How about if the issue has a potential conflict between muslim and other faith followers , for example : muslim people burn church or christian people burn mosque ?

- We will publish the facts but we will not defend the muslim people who make a crime or attack to other religious people. Of course , we should be careful in publishing this kind of story. We will ask such statements from government officials, police, leaders of muslim organization, or leaders of christian organization which could play down the tense situation. Generally speaking, we will not publish pictures related with this issues as it could trigger such retaliations from the victims.

c. How abot Republika's policy in publishing news stories related with armed conflict between muslim and other faith followers , such as muslims and christians in Maluku province in 1997-1998 ?

- We published the stories about "war" between muslim and christian people in Maluku province, dominantly from muslim side. But this policy we took as our reporters could not enter the Christian's people area. Why ? Because Christian people knew that Republika was muslim newspaper and they would not let our reporters came to their bases. Moreover, it will be so danger for our reporters to come to their bases. Although our news stories maybe could not meet the priciple of cover both side, but we tried to publish the news stories which could create a peaceful situation among them.


References

a. Cartoon of Prophet Debate in the Internet Age : Indonesia Case by Rien Kuntari,
http ://www.ocrpl.org/ ?p=115.

b. Ethics and Responsibility in Journalism : An Islamic Perspective by Mohammad
A.Siddiqi, reading material from Dr. Eric Loo for students of MA Journalism
programme of Ateneo de Manila University.

c. Republika newspaper from November 20 – 26, 2008.

d. Interview with senior editor of Republika newspaper, Firkah Fansuri.


e. http://www.tempointeractive.com/hg/nasional/2008/11/20/brk,20081120-147160,uk.html

(end)

How to Report a Religious-Related Issue ?

By Yuri Alfrin Aladdin

Journalist and Ombudsman of Antara News Agency


In 2000 , when Abdurahman Wahid was a President of Indonesia , I intended to cover a story about Friday pray in a mosque in Depok, West Java province. Friday pray is a special muslim pray conducted only on Friday noon. At that time, I wanted to write about muslim clerics opinions about Presiden Abdurahman Wahid or famous with his nick name "Gus Dur".

Gus Dur actually was a leader of the biggest muslim organization in Indonesia, Nahdlatul Ulama, as well as a chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) . Gus Dur became the fourth Indonesian president by replacing President B.J.Habibie in 1999, after Habibie was impeached by People Consultative Assembly (MPR).

The mosque was located in a housing complex of Permata Duta, Depok, West Java province. I chosed this mosque since I knew that most of muslim people living surrounding the area were from Nadhlatul Ulama (NU). I can say that this area is an NU's bases.

The khotib or preacher at the Friday pray is usually also from NU. Initially, khotib talked about the need for NU's people to support President Gus Dur as he was also a leader of NU. Then, the khotib told the audience about the sharp rivality between Gus Dur and Amien Rais, leader of Muhamadiyah, the second biggest muslim organization in Indonesia.

Amien Rais at the time was also a Chairman of National Mandate Party (PAN). He always criticized Gus Dur's policies although actually he was the one who initially had the idea and proposed Gus Dur to be a president, replacing Habibie.When he criticized Gus Dur, his capacity was a leader of PAN, not as a Muhammadiyah's leader actually.

When mentioning about amien Rais, the khotib started to use harsh language. He cursed and condamed Amien Rais as a traitor. Finally , khotib said in high intonation that Amien Rais' blood is "halal". It means that Amien Rais is justified to be killed by muslim people according to Sharia (Islam law).

I was so shocked when I heard this. It was true Khotib did not ask his "ummah" (followers) to kill Amien Rais. But he made a justification for his ummah to kill Amien Rais by interpreting the Sharia by himself.

Khotib made a misinterpretation of Sharia. I could not believe it.

I have read previously in newspapers about this "death sentence decision" from middle east muslim clerics to Salman Rusdi, a writer from England who wrote novel "Satanic Verses". But , at the time, I heard by myself when a preacher said that "Amien Rais' blood is halal."

It was so hard to me to write the story and quote what khotib said. If I wrote this, Muhammadiyah people would make a hard reaction. It might be the Muhamadiyah leader would make a retaliation by saying that "Gus Dur's blood is halal." "War" between the two biggest muslim organizations could be happened if I wrote about the story.

After consultating with some of my senior editors in Antara News Agency, I decided to not write the story.

Since that time , I have learnt that writing a religious-related issue of news story could be more difficult and sensitive than political-related issue.

I learn that as a journalist we have to have some rules in dealing with religious issue story. First, our news story should be neutral, not tend to a certain religion or certain religion group. As a journalist, we should be above of all religion groups.

Second, our story should create a peaceful situation for people. It is forbidden for us to make an unrest among people by our stories. Therefore, there is a justification for journalist to not write the story which we think has a potency to make an unrest among people.

Third, journalists should be careful and selective in chosing the sources. Before interviewing a muslim scholar or clerics (uelama), it's better to know about his thought or opinion he has stated previously in mass media. If he is an extreem or fundamentalist muslim, it's better to not interview him. Find out another source who his statement could be positive for our readers.

Fourth, it's better to know a bit about the religion's rules. That's why , it's better for a muslim journalist to cover about Eid Mubarak Day than a Christian journalist, as well as it's better a christian journalist to cover about Christmast Day than a muslim journalist.

Fifth, in writing about conflict between different religion's people, it's better first to get a statement first from top official government, and top leaders from both religious organizations. Of course, we only quote the positive statements will play down the conflict.

Sixth, if we face an issue related with different positive interpretation on Islamic’s rule among Islamic groups , we should show all interpretations. However, we should get also an opinion from Indonesian Uelama Council (MUI) .

For example, sometimes there is a different opinion between and Muhammadiyah in determining Eid Fitr (Idul Fitri) Day. Therefore, we can write both muslim orgnizations’ opinion and ask too to MUI’s opinion. Let people decide what opinion they will follow. (end)