BANGKOK: Jurucakap kerajaan Thailand semalam menuduh enam pemuda Islam yang mati dalam pertempuran dengan anggota keselamatan di selatan Siam kelmarin, berpunca daripada keadaan badan mereka yang lemah kerana berpuasa pada bulan Ramadan.
Malah, Jakrapob Penkair menafikan sekeras-kerasnya enam pemuda itu sememangnya menjadi sasaran dalam kekacauan kelmarin yang menyaksikan 1,000 anggota tentera dan polis melepaskan tembakan, meriam air dan gas pemedih bagi meleraikan keadaan.
Penkair turut mempertahankan tindakan anggota keselamatan bersenjata yang didakwanya melepaskan tembakan di atas paras kepala perusuh di luar sebuah balai polis di Narathiwat.
Anehnya, Penkair bagaimanapun tidak menolak kemungkinan enam pemuda itu terkena tembakan rambang.
"Bedah siasat sedang dibuat. Tetapi kita dapati kebanyakan mereka lemah kerana berpuasa. Mereka berdepan keadaan amat tegang dan terpaksa bertempur menyebabkan badan mereka tidak dapat bertahan dan meninggal dunia sejurus tiba di hospital."
Penkair turut mendakwa kononnya ada di antara kumpulan pemuda itu mengambil dadah "kerana mereka tidak memberi sebarang reaksi kepada soalan yang ditanya."
"Sehubungan itu saya menyangkal kemungkinan tindakan petugas kerajaan melakukan sesuatu yang menjadi punca kematian mereka terbabit. Itu tidak benar."
Beliau juga mendakwa ada kes tertentu yang mana pejalan kaki secara tidak sengaja terkena tembakan pihak yang bertempur. - AFP
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Thaksin puji tindakan askar
TAK BAI: Perdana Menteri Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra memuji tindakan tentera mematahkan tunjuk perasaan penduduk Islam dekat balai polis di sini, kelmarin.
Beliau berkata tindakan yang bertujuan mencetuskan kekacauan dan huru-hara tidak dapat diterima.
Thaksin berikrar akan mengambil tindakan lebih tegas terhadap pemisah Islam yang menyemarakkan keganasan di wilayah dekat Malaysia.
Dalam kejadian itu sekurang-kurangnya 84 penduduk Islam dilaporkan terbunuh, kebanyakan kerana sesak nafas atau terpijak selepas 1,300 orang dimasukkan ke dalam lori askar.
Menurut laporan, enam orang terbunuh dalam serangan balas askar ke atas kira-kira penunjuk perasaan beragama Islam yang tidak puas hati dengan penangkapan rakan mereka oleh pihak tentera.
Jeneral Sirichai Thanyasiri, komander pasukan khas yang dibentuk bagi memulihkan keadaan keselamatan di selatan Siam, berkata kerajaan akan mengenakan tindakan tegas ke atas mereka yang terbabit dalam kejadian berkenaan.
"Semua pemimpin dan anggota kanannya yang mendalangi rusuhan itu akan diheret ke mahkamah. Mereka yang tidak terbabit pula akan dibebaskan tetapi saya tidak dapat katakan bila," katanya pada satu taklimat media.
"Mereka yang ditahan diletakkan di tiga kem tentera di wilayah Pattani,� kata Sirichai sambil menambah pihak berkuasa turut merampas empat laras senapang daripada mereka.
Beliau juga mendakwa tidak mengetahui bilangan sebenar mangsa yang mati dan cedera dalan kejadian terbaru di selatan Siam itu.
Sementara itu seorang pemimpin Islam selatan Thailand semalam menuduh anggota tentera negara itu bertindak keterlaluan ke atas penunjuk perasaan sehingga sekurang-kurangnya enam orang maut.
Pengerusi Majlis Islam Narathiwat, Abdulraman Abudulsamad berkata, pasukan keselamatan sepatutnya lebih sabar.
"Saya rasa pasukan keselamatan bertindak keterlaluan dengan menggunakan kekerasan untuk meleraikan perusuh. Kemalangan jiwa itu boleh dielakkan jika anggota keselamatan itu lebih bersabar dan menggunakan pendekatan yang tidak keras," kata Abdulraman.
Insiden terbaru itu meletus kelmarin selepas kira-kira 2,000 pemuda Muslim menuntut pembebasan enam rakan mereka yang ditahan di sebuah balai polis di Takbai, pinggir Narathiwat.
Polis dan anggota tentera sebaliknya menggunakan peluru, meriam air dan gas pemedih mata untuk meleraikan kumpulan pemuda berkenaan. enam orang terbunuh.
"Ia cuma membangkitkan kembali kenangan buruk kejadian April lalu. Kejadian itu masih segar dan dengan pembunuhan terbaru ini, saya bimbang akan disusuli lebih banyak keganasan dan balas dendam daripada mereka terbabit," kata Abdulraman.
AFP/AP/Reuters
Tentera penceroboh Thai tembak petujuk perasaan
PATANI-DARUSSALAM: - 26 oktober,- Beribu-ribu orang Melayu Patani mengada kan tujuk persaan dihadapan pejabat daerah Taba, wilayah Menara hari ini ( Isnin 25/10), sekurang-kurangnya 6 petujuk perasaan gugur syahid dan beratus-ratus cedera apabila pihak askar penceroboh Thai bertindak ganas melepaskan tembokan dengan senjata berat kearah mereka.
Maksud tunjuk perasaan itu hanya mendesak supaya 6 sukarilawan (OSO) yang dituduh menjual senjata kepada pejuang kemerdekaan Patani, sedangkan senjata itu diberikan oleh penceroboh untuk memerangi pejuang.
Lebih 400 penunjuk perasaan lagi, kebanyakannya belia, ditahan dan dibawa ke kem tentera Inkayut Borikan, Patani manakala pihak pencerobok Thai segera mengenakan perintah berkurung mulai pukul 10 malam hingga 6 pagi.
Pertempuran bermula kira-kira jam 2 petang waktu tempatan itu berlaku di luar sebuah balai polis di Tabar.
Kejadian itu adalah yang terburuk di Patani, selepas peristiwa berdarah di Masjid Kerisik di Patani pada 28 April lalu yang menyebabkan 32 orang Jamaat tabligh yang keluar berdakwah gugur syahid.
Dalam kejadian hari ini saksi-saksi berkata, sebaik sahaja askar-askar mara, dan melepaskan tembakan kearah penujuk perasaan, manakala penunjuk perasaan melemparkan batu kearah tentera penceroboh Thai.
Pihak penceroboh Thai pula berkata, kira-kira 20 penunjuk perasaan dan 10 askar serta polis cedera sewaktu pertempuran mula meletus dengan batu-batu dilemparkan.
Televisyen penceroboh melaporkan, lebih 400 penunjuk perasaan ditahan dan dibawa ke berek askar untuk disoal siasat berhubung peristiwa terbaru itu.
Siaran televisyen itu juga menyiarkan imej askar-askar penujuk perasaan melepaskan penyembur air dan gas pemedih mata bagi menyuraikan beribu-ribu penunjuk perasaan yang berhimpun di balai polis Tabar sejak awal pagi.
Tunjuk perasaan dilancarkan oleh penduduk kampung hari ini bagi mendesak pihak berkuasa membebaskan enam sukarelawan (OSO) yang ditangkap polis, minggu lalu.
Polis penceroboh Siam menahan mereka atas tuduhan menjual senjata kepada pejuang kemerdekaan Patani,
Bagaimanapun, sukarelawan itu mendakwa, senapang mereka hilang dicuri orang.
Sebelum kejadian berdarah di Patani April lepas, pejuang kemerdekaan Patani menyerang beberapa balai polis dan pos tentera di wilayah Patani, Jala dan Senggora.
Komander Tentera penceroboh Thai Wilayah Selatan, Pisan Wattanwonngkeree, pada satu sidang media hari ini berkata: ``Saya arahkan mereka bersurai. Mereka mempunyai senjata. Para pemberita boleh melihat mereka menggunakan senjata untuk bertempur dengan pegawai-pegawai keselamatan.''
Sementara itu, Perdana Menteri penceroboh Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra yang melakukan lawatan mengejut ke tempat kejadian berkata: ``Saya mahu memberi tahu masyakat Melayu bahawa saya tahu apa yang berlaku di Patani dan saya tidak akan membenarkan pihak berkuasa menganggu orang awam.
``Bagaimanapun apabila pihak berkuasa menguatkuasakan undang-undang, mereka perlu menghormatinya.''
Menurut beliau, kunjungannya itu untuk melihat sendiri tempat berlakunya pertempuran itu dan untuk memberi sokongan moral kepada pihak berkuasa.
pergolakan di Patani mula meletus pada Januari lalu apabila sekumpulan bersenjata menyerbu sebuah kem tentera dan membunuh empat askar sebelum merampaskan beratus-ratus laras senjata termasuk raifal M 16.
Sejak itu, pergolakan terus menjadi-jadi dengan lebih 465 orang terkorban dalam pergolakan yang berlaku di empat wilayah iaitu Patani, Jala, Menara dan Senggora, yang didiami oleh masyarakat Melayu, Patani adalah sebuah negara yang pernah berdaulat sebelum ditakluk oleh penceroboh Thailand.
Masyarakat Melayu Patani sebelum ini mendakwa mereka menjadi mangsa diskriminasi oleh penalukan Siam khususnya dari segi pendidikan dan pekerjaan.
Manakala Thaksin pula berpura-pura memberi perhatian terhadap masalah ini katanya beliau sendiri `turun padang' untuk berjumpa dengan masyarakat Melayu bagi mencari jalan perdamaian.
Para pegawai penceroboh Thailand turut mengadakan perbincangan dengan pemimpin pejuang pembebasan Patani dalam usaha menamatkan sengketa di wilayah tersebut.
UPM/AP
Maksud tunjuk perasaan itu hanya mendesak supaya 6 sukarilawan (OSO) yang dituduh menjual senjata kepada pejuang kemerdekaan Patani, sedangkan senjata itu diberikan oleh penceroboh untuk memerangi pejuang.
Lebih 400 penunjuk perasaan lagi, kebanyakannya belia, ditahan dan dibawa ke kem tentera Inkayut Borikan, Patani manakala pihak pencerobok Thai segera mengenakan perintah berkurung mulai pukul 10 malam hingga 6 pagi.
Pertempuran bermula kira-kira jam 2 petang waktu tempatan itu berlaku di luar sebuah balai polis di Tabar.
Kejadian itu adalah yang terburuk di Patani, selepas peristiwa berdarah di Masjid Kerisik di Patani pada 28 April lalu yang menyebabkan 32 orang Jamaat tabligh yang keluar berdakwah gugur syahid.
Dalam kejadian hari ini saksi-saksi berkata, sebaik sahaja askar-askar mara, dan melepaskan tembakan kearah penujuk perasaan, manakala penunjuk perasaan melemparkan batu kearah tentera penceroboh Thai.
Pihak penceroboh Thai pula berkata, kira-kira 20 penunjuk perasaan dan 10 askar serta polis cedera sewaktu pertempuran mula meletus dengan batu-batu dilemparkan.
Televisyen penceroboh melaporkan, lebih 400 penunjuk perasaan ditahan dan dibawa ke berek askar untuk disoal siasat berhubung peristiwa terbaru itu.
Siaran televisyen itu juga menyiarkan imej askar-askar penujuk perasaan melepaskan penyembur air dan gas pemedih mata bagi menyuraikan beribu-ribu penunjuk perasaan yang berhimpun di balai polis Tabar sejak awal pagi.
Tunjuk perasaan dilancarkan oleh penduduk kampung hari ini bagi mendesak pihak berkuasa membebaskan enam sukarelawan (OSO) yang ditangkap polis, minggu lalu.
Polis penceroboh Siam menahan mereka atas tuduhan menjual senjata kepada pejuang kemerdekaan Patani,
Bagaimanapun, sukarelawan itu mendakwa, senapang mereka hilang dicuri orang.
Sebelum kejadian berdarah di Patani April lepas, pejuang kemerdekaan Patani menyerang beberapa balai polis dan pos tentera di wilayah Patani, Jala dan Senggora.
Komander Tentera penceroboh Thai Wilayah Selatan, Pisan Wattanwonngkeree, pada satu sidang media hari ini berkata: ``Saya arahkan mereka bersurai. Mereka mempunyai senjata. Para pemberita boleh melihat mereka menggunakan senjata untuk bertempur dengan pegawai-pegawai keselamatan.''
Sementara itu, Perdana Menteri penceroboh Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra yang melakukan lawatan mengejut ke tempat kejadian berkata: ``Saya mahu memberi tahu masyakat Melayu bahawa saya tahu apa yang berlaku di Patani dan saya tidak akan membenarkan pihak berkuasa menganggu orang awam.
``Bagaimanapun apabila pihak berkuasa menguatkuasakan undang-undang, mereka perlu menghormatinya.''
Menurut beliau, kunjungannya itu untuk melihat sendiri tempat berlakunya pertempuran itu dan untuk memberi sokongan moral kepada pihak berkuasa.
pergolakan di Patani mula meletus pada Januari lalu apabila sekumpulan bersenjata menyerbu sebuah kem tentera dan membunuh empat askar sebelum merampaskan beratus-ratus laras senjata termasuk raifal M 16.
Sejak itu, pergolakan terus menjadi-jadi dengan lebih 465 orang terkorban dalam pergolakan yang berlaku di empat wilayah iaitu Patani, Jala, Menara dan Senggora, yang didiami oleh masyarakat Melayu, Patani adalah sebuah negara yang pernah berdaulat sebelum ditakluk oleh penceroboh Thailand.
Masyarakat Melayu Patani sebelum ini mendakwa mereka menjadi mangsa diskriminasi oleh penalukan Siam khususnya dari segi pendidikan dan pekerjaan.
Manakala Thaksin pula berpura-pura memberi perhatian terhadap masalah ini katanya beliau sendiri `turun padang' untuk berjumpa dengan masyarakat Melayu bagi mencari jalan perdamaian.
Para pegawai penceroboh Thailand turut mengadakan perbincangan dengan pemimpin pejuang pembebasan Patani dalam usaha menamatkan sengketa di wilayah tersebut.
UPM/AP
Scores die after arrests in Thai Muslim area
By Nick Cumming-Bruce
BANGKOK As many as 84 people are known to have died as a result of military action against rioters in predominantly Muslim southern Thailand, exposing Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to fresh criticism of his handling of security in the area and raising fears of more violence to come.
At least 78 people were suffocated or crushed to death after being arrested and crammed into military lorries following a riot in the southern Thai province of Naratiwat, officials said Tuesday. Six people were killed during the riot, according to earlier reports, bringing the apparent death toll to 84.
Autopsies by a team of doctors on 78 bodies collected at an army camp showed that most of the victims had died of suffocation, said Dr. Pornthip Rojanasunan, a forensics expert working for the Justice Ministry. The finding transformed what had appeared to be an ugly security incident into a tragedy that seems certain to inflame tensions and to intensify already widespread local resentment of the government.
The 78 detainees may have suffocated "because we had more than 1,300 people packed into the six-wheel trucks," Major General Sinjai Nujsathit, deputy commander of the military in the south, told reporters. Press reports from the scene of the riot showed those who had been arrested lying on the ground with their hands roped behind their backs before they were taken away.
"I am in shock," Abdulraman Abdulsamad, the chairman of the Islamic Council of Narathiwat province, where the violence erupted, told The Associated Press. "I cannot say what will happen, but I believe hell will break out."
The riot erupted Monday after several thousand people gathered at a police station to demand the release of six men arrested on suspicion of seizing weapons stolen from a military base earlier this year and distributing them to Islamic militants. Earlier reports said the six people who were killed in the riot had died in a melee after troops used automatic weapons, tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd as it attacked the police station, hurling rocks and overturning military and police vehicles. Military officers said troops had fired only into the air. Thai newspaper reports said that all six victims had suffered bullet wounds. Initial reports also said that only about 300 people had been arrested and taken for questioning.
Thaksin flew to Narathiwat with the defense and interior ministers on Monday after the riot to examine the situation, underscoring his concern over the threat to security in the south, where the government has faced a steady rise in violent attacks this year on a widening range of targets.
Speaking before news had come out of the detainees' deaths, he took a tough line, describing those involved in the violence as supporting separatism in the predominantly Muslim southern states bordering Malaysia. "We have no choice but to use force against them," he said.
But the heavy casualty toll will embarrass the government. It comes barely a fortnight after Thaksin sacked his defense minister, saying that the sole objective of the cabinet shuffle was "getting the job done, including in the south."
"Instead of using soft policies and a more sophisticated approach, the government is using violence, and that will aggravate the situation," said Somjai Paghaphasvivat, a politics lecturer and commentator at Thamasat University. "Using violence will only create more and more people sympathetic to separatists. I think the government will have to consider a new approach."
The latest casualties bring to more than 350 the number of people who have died in violence in the south this year. Many of the casualties have occurred in what have become almost daily shootings or attacks, but the military has also inflicted heavy casualties. In the worst previous incident this year, in April, military clashes in a series of locations, including a mosque, resulted in more than a hundred deaths in a single day.
That violence brought sharp criticism of the government for its heavy-handed tactics and for its lack of a coherent strategy for calming the situation and re-establishing security. Thaksin said later that excessive force might have been used but human rights advocates said no one had been penalized as a result and the latest trouble would revive calls for action.
The foreign minister of neighboring Malaysia, Syed Hamid Albar, expressed concern and regret over the "accident" in southern Thailand and said his government would be watching events.
IHT
BANGKOK As many as 84 people are known to have died as a result of military action against rioters in predominantly Muslim southern Thailand, exposing Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to fresh criticism of his handling of security in the area and raising fears of more violence to come.
At least 78 people were suffocated or crushed to death after being arrested and crammed into military lorries following a riot in the southern Thai province of Naratiwat, officials said Tuesday. Six people were killed during the riot, according to earlier reports, bringing the apparent death toll to 84.
Autopsies by a team of doctors on 78 bodies collected at an army camp showed that most of the victims had died of suffocation, said Dr. Pornthip Rojanasunan, a forensics expert working for the Justice Ministry. The finding transformed what had appeared to be an ugly security incident into a tragedy that seems certain to inflame tensions and to intensify already widespread local resentment of the government.
The 78 detainees may have suffocated "because we had more than 1,300 people packed into the six-wheel trucks," Major General Sinjai Nujsathit, deputy commander of the military in the south, told reporters. Press reports from the scene of the riot showed those who had been arrested lying on the ground with their hands roped behind their backs before they were taken away.
"I am in shock," Abdulraman Abdulsamad, the chairman of the Islamic Council of Narathiwat province, where the violence erupted, told The Associated Press. "I cannot say what will happen, but I believe hell will break out."
The riot erupted Monday after several thousand people gathered at a police station to demand the release of six men arrested on suspicion of seizing weapons stolen from a military base earlier this year and distributing them to Islamic militants. Earlier reports said the six people who were killed in the riot had died in a melee after troops used automatic weapons, tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd as it attacked the police station, hurling rocks and overturning military and police vehicles. Military officers said troops had fired only into the air. Thai newspaper reports said that all six victims had suffered bullet wounds. Initial reports also said that only about 300 people had been arrested and taken for questioning.
Thaksin flew to Narathiwat with the defense and interior ministers on Monday after the riot to examine the situation, underscoring his concern over the threat to security in the south, where the government has faced a steady rise in violent attacks this year on a widening range of targets.
Speaking before news had come out of the detainees' deaths, he took a tough line, describing those involved in the violence as supporting separatism in the predominantly Muslim southern states bordering Malaysia. "We have no choice but to use force against them," he said.
But the heavy casualty toll will embarrass the government. It comes barely a fortnight after Thaksin sacked his defense minister, saying that the sole objective of the cabinet shuffle was "getting the job done, including in the south."
"Instead of using soft policies and a more sophisticated approach, the government is using violence, and that will aggravate the situation," said Somjai Paghaphasvivat, a politics lecturer and commentator at Thamasat University. "Using violence will only create more and more people sympathetic to separatists. I think the government will have to consider a new approach."
The latest casualties bring to more than 350 the number of people who have died in violence in the south this year. Many of the casualties have occurred in what have become almost daily shootings or attacks, but the military has also inflicted heavy casualties. In the worst previous incident this year, in April, military clashes in a series of locations, including a mosque, resulted in more than a hundred deaths in a single day.
That violence brought sharp criticism of the government for its heavy-handed tactics and for its lack of a coherent strategy for calming the situation and re-establishing security. Thaksin said later that excessive force might have been used but human rights advocates said no one had been penalized as a result and the latest trouble would revive calls for action.
The foreign minister of neighboring Malaysia, Syed Hamid Albar, expressed concern and regret over the "accident" in southern Thailand and said his government would be watching events.
IHT
Muslims in Thailand grieve deaths in army custody
By Noppawan Bunluesilp
PATTANI, Thailand, Oct 27 - Grieving relatives sought loved ones among the dead in Thailand's restive Muslim south on Wednesday amid fears of a violent backlash after almost 80 Muslim protesters suffocated to death in army custody.
More than 300 relatives, many of them sobbing women, pored over lists of the dead, alive and unidentified outside an army barracks in Pattani province where more than 1,000 Muslim protesters are being held after Monday's violent demonstration.
"I came to pick up my dead nephew. I am sad for what has happened. I never thought this would happen," said a 58-year-old village chief from Narathiwat province where the protest erupted.
His 21-year-old nephew was among 78 male protesters who died of suffocation as they were taken in trucks from the scene of the protest in Narathiwat to the barracks 100 km (62 miles) away.
Another six were killed at the demonstration -- the worst violence since April in the restive, mostly Muslim deep south of the predominantly Buddhist kingdom.
The huge leap in the toll and the manner of the deaths are expected to fuel tension in Thailand's three southernmost provinces where 440 people have now died in a wave of violence since January.
"The situation down here will definitely turn much bloodier. Those militants who were responsible for trouble in the area will fight back harshly with suicide attacks," Nideh Waba, chairman of a religious schools association in the region, told the Bangkok Post newspaper.
"They have to kill thousands of us or hundreds of thousands of our brothers here to prevent us from standing up against this massacre. This is totally unacceptable and the prime minister must take direct responsibility," he said.
No major violence was reported in the region overnight.
FLAWED LEADERSHIP
Monday's victims were among 1,300 Muslim men arrested after a 1,500-strong rally was dispersed by troops firing live rounds, tear gas and water cannon outside a police station in Narathiwat.
Officials said some of the protesters were armed, and under the influence of drugs or were frail because of fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been silent since the higher toll was confirmed 24 hours after the protest was put down, faced withering criticism on Wednesday.
The Nation newspaper blamed the tragedy on Thaksin's "contempt for human rights" and his iron-fisted approach to a region that is home to most of Thailand's six million Muslims.
"Now this flawed trait of his leadership is threatening to plunge the country into the bitterest and most detrimental divide between people and state," it said.
The Bangkok Post said the tragedy could drive Muslim youths into the hands of militants "bent on creating an Islamic state in southern Thailand".
"The government must realise that brute force alone will not pacify the restive South. And it will never succeed in winning the war against Islamic militants without the support and cooperation of local Muslims".
With an election expected early next year, Thaksin is under pressure to resolve the trouble that analysts fear could create a fertile breeding ground for militant networks such as Southeast Asia's al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah.
In neighbouring Malaysia, the country's main Islamic party said Thailand risks a Muslim uprising in the south.
"This latest issue will create more instability and dissatisfaction and we are very worried that people will rise against the government," said Mohamad Hatta, chairman of the external affairs committee of the Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) - Reuters
Thai PM admits mistakes over Muslim deaths
PATTANI, Thailand, Oct 27 - Grieving relatives sought loved ones among the dead in Thailand's restive Muslim south on Wednesday amid fears of a violent backlash after almost 80 Muslim protesters suffocated to death in army custody.
More than 300 relatives, many of them sobbing women, pored over lists of the dead, alive and unidentified outside an army barracks in Pattani province where more than 1,000 Muslim protesters are being held after Monday's violent demonstration.
"I came to pick up my dead nephew. I am sad for what has happened. I never thought this would happen," said a 58-year-old village chief from Narathiwat province where the protest erupted.
His 21-year-old nephew was among 78 male protesters who died of suffocation as they were taken in trucks from the scene of the protest in Narathiwat to the barracks 100 km (62 miles) away.
Another six were killed at the demonstration -- the worst violence since April in the restive, mostly Muslim deep south of the predominantly Buddhist kingdom.
The huge leap in the toll and the manner of the deaths are expected to fuel tension in Thailand's three southernmost provinces where 440 people have now died in a wave of violence since January.
"The situation down here will definitely turn much bloodier. Those militants who were responsible for trouble in the area will fight back harshly with suicide attacks," Nideh Waba, chairman of a religious schools association in the region, told the Bangkok Post newspaper.
"They have to kill thousands of us or hundreds of thousands of our brothers here to prevent us from standing up against this massacre. This is totally unacceptable and the prime minister must take direct responsibility," he said.
No major violence was reported in the region overnight.
FLAWED LEADERSHIP
Monday's victims were among 1,300 Muslim men arrested after a 1,500-strong rally was dispersed by troops firing live rounds, tear gas and water cannon outside a police station in Narathiwat.
Officials said some of the protesters were armed, and under the influence of drugs or were frail because of fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been silent since the higher toll was confirmed 24 hours after the protest was put down, faced withering criticism on Wednesday.
The Nation newspaper blamed the tragedy on Thaksin's "contempt for human rights" and his iron-fisted approach to a region that is home to most of Thailand's six million Muslims.
"Now this flawed trait of his leadership is threatening to plunge the country into the bitterest and most detrimental divide between people and state," it said.
The Bangkok Post said the tragedy could drive Muslim youths into the hands of militants "bent on creating an Islamic state in southern Thailand".
"The government must realise that brute force alone will not pacify the restive South. And it will never succeed in winning the war against Islamic militants without the support and cooperation of local Muslims".
With an election expected early next year, Thaksin is under pressure to resolve the trouble that analysts fear could create a fertile breeding ground for militant networks such as Southeast Asia's al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah.
In neighbouring Malaysia, the country's main Islamic party said Thailand risks a Muslim uprising in the south.
"This latest issue will create more instability and dissatisfaction and we are very worried that people will rise against the government," said Mohamad Hatta, chairman of the external affairs committee of the Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) - Reuters
Thailand risks southern revolt, says Malaysia party
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Thailand risks a Muslim uprising in the south after the latest deaths of almost 80 Muslims in military custody, the main Islamic political party in neighbouring Malaysia said on Wednesday.
"This is tragic and a real massacre of a group of people who are just peacefully demonstrating and this will have a great effect on the feelings of southern Thai people," said Mohamad Hatta, chairman of the external affairs committee of the Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS).
"This latest issue will create more instability and dissatisfaction and we are very worried that people will rise against the government."
Thailand's justice ministry said 78 people suffocated as they were being taken in trucks to an army barracks after a violent protest by Muslims near the border with Malaysia on Monday. The small Muslim minority are mainly Malay-speaking and feel little affinity with Thailand's majority Buddhists.
It was the bloodiest day in the Buddhist kingdom since April 28, when troops and police shot dead 106 machete-wielding militants in the south.
Security outposts in the restive, Muslim-majority region have been common targets in 10 months of unrest, which looks increasingly like a revived Muslim separatist movement.
Hatta said all sides should exercise restraint and start negotiating over Muslim demands for a form of autonomy in southern Thailand.
"The army should stop all military action in southern Thailand and political leaders should go back to the negotiating table," he said.
"This is tragic and a real massacre of a group of people who are just peacefully demonstrating and this will have a great effect on the feelings of southern Thai people," said Mohamad Hatta, chairman of the external affairs committee of the Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS).
"This latest issue will create more instability and dissatisfaction and we are very worried that people will rise against the government."
Thailand's justice ministry said 78 people suffocated as they were being taken in trucks to an army barracks after a violent protest by Muslims near the border with Malaysia on Monday. The small Muslim minority are mainly Malay-speaking and feel little affinity with Thailand's majority Buddhists.
It was the bloodiest day in the Buddhist kingdom since April 28, when troops and police shot dead 106 machete-wielding militants in the south.
Security outposts in the restive, Muslim-majority region have been common targets in 10 months of unrest, which looks increasingly like a revived Muslim separatist movement.
Hatta said all sides should exercise restraint and start negotiating over Muslim demands for a form of autonomy in southern Thailand.
"The army should stop all military action in southern Thailand and political leaders should go back to the negotiating table," he said.
THAI OFFICIALS INVESTIGATE 78 DEATHS
The Thai premier, Thaksin Shinawatra, has told parliament that an inquiry team would investigate the deaths of 78 Muslims who died in military custody after police and troops broke up a violent demonstration.
Originally six people were reported dead and 1,300 arrested after police opened fire during a riot outside a police station on Monday.
But officials now say an additional 78 protestors died, crushed and suffocated to death, during a five-hour ride to an army base. The Justice Ministry said the detainees, who were stripped semi-naked after their arrest, were found piled on top of each other in the back of trucks.
Mr Shinawatra, speaking before the announcement of the 78 deaths, said the protestors were weak because of fasting during the holy month of Ramadam.
"It is normal that their bodies couldn't handle it. It is not about someone attacking them," he said.
The huge leap in the toll, and the manner of the deaths, are bound to add tension in the Kingdom's troubled southern region. One local Muslim scholar described the incident as a massacre and compared the deaths to gassing of victims.
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi expressed concern about the deaths and urged Thailand to take firm action to resolve the conflict.
The protests were sparked by the arrest of six Muslim men accused of smuggling guns to rebels. The insurgency in the Muslim-majority southern Thailand has left over 400 people dead.
Human rights groups have accused the Thai authorities of heavy-handed tactics, including the storming of a mosque in April that left 32 Muslim militants dead.
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Google played role in journo being freed
Iraqi militants who kidnapped and threatened to kill an Australian journalist did a Google search for his name on the internet to check his work before releasing him unharmed.
John Martinkus, a veteran freelancer who has covered conflicts from East Timor to Iraq, was released yesterday, a day after he was taken hostage by four Sunni militants and ex-Iraqi army officers.
Martinkus was filming a report for SBS's Dateline program and was preparing to leave Iraq when he was grabbed about 5pm (AEST) on Saturday outside a hotel popular with foreign correspondents.
SBS executive producer Mike Carey today said the journalist's captors had investigated his background online and saw he was harmless.
"They Googled him, they checked him out on a popular search engine and got onto his own website or his publisher's website and saw he was a writer and journalist," Carey said.
"They had thought he was working for the Americans as an informer."
In this case, modern technology probably saved his life, he said. "It certainly did help," Carey said.
AAP
John Martinkus, a veteran freelancer who has covered conflicts from East Timor to Iraq, was released yesterday, a day after he was taken hostage by four Sunni militants and ex-Iraqi army officers.
Martinkus was filming a report for SBS's Dateline program and was preparing to leave Iraq when he was grabbed about 5pm (AEST) on Saturday outside a hotel popular with foreign correspondents.
SBS executive producer Mike Carey today said the journalist's captors had investigated his background online and saw he was harmless.
"They Googled him, they checked him out on a popular search engine and got onto his own website or his publisher's website and saw he was a writer and journalist," Carey said.
"They had thought he was working for the Americans as an informer."
In this case, modern technology probably saved his life, he said. "It certainly did help," Carey said.
AAP
Monday, October 18, 2004
Author of insulting remark identified
KUALA LUMPUR: The man who wrote insulting remarks about Islam on a website has been identified.
Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, who disclosed this, said the police and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission had identified him as a laboratory technician in his 30s.
The man, a Muslim, had used the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital portal to access the website, Lim told a press conference after chairing a Gerakan central committee meeting here yesterday.
"I am very surprised that a Muslim can do this to a fellow Muslim," he said.
"We know who he is and we have already interviewed him. He admitted that he posted those comments on the Jeff Ooi website.
"Although he regretted his action, we will be taking action against him," said Lim, who is the Gerakan president.
The commission and the police have not yet decided whether to charge the man under the Communications and Multimedia Act or the Criminal Procedure Code, he said, adding that the police charge carries a heavier penalty.
"We are preparing a case and will hand it to the Attorney-General, and leave it to him how to charge the man," he said.
Asked if the man, who called himself “Anwar� belonged to any political party, Dr Lim said he did not know.
"Anwar," in the blog post, had likened Islam Hadhari and money politics to faeces and urine.
His remarks, particularly on Islam Hadhari, raised anger among Muslims with some newspapers hitting out at the blogger for allowing such posts on his blog.
(A blog is an Internet site that collects and shares information in the form of political commentaries, personal diary, personal thoughts and links to other websites.)
Dr Lim called on party members to be cautious and not to resort to using extreme religious and racial issues to climb the political ladder.
He said there were some quarters in and outside political parties trying to use extreme racial and religious issues.
Dr Lim said it was important that the country continued to create wealth so that people would not start looking inwards and get restless.
The Star, Malaysia
Ketentuan nasib ‘Anwar’
Oleh AL-ABROR MOHD YUSUF
KUALA LUMPUR: 'Anwar' yang menyertai laman 'web blog' Screenshots sehingga menimbulkan kontroversi baru-baru ini, akan mengetahui nasibnya dalam tempoh terdekat apabila Pejabat Peguam Negara membuat keputusan mengenainya, tidak lama lagi.
Menurut Menteri Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi, Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yeik, pihak berkuasa sudah mengenalpasti 'Anwar' dan menyoal siasatnya, baru-baru ini.
"Hasil siasatan akan diserahkan kepada Pejabat Peguam Negara dan terserah kepada mereka untuk mengambil tindakan selanjutnya," katanya selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat Jawankuasa Pusat Gerakan di Cheras, dekat sini, semalam.
Lim berkata, 'Anwar' adalah lelaki beragama Islam dan bertugas sebagai juruteknik makmal di Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM).
Lim berkata, 'Anwar' berusia 30-an itu mengaku mengirim komennya mengenai Islam Hadhari ke 'web blog' Screenshots kelolaan Jeff Ooi.
"Walaupun dia menyatakan kekesalannya (kerana mengirim komen ke Screenshots) kita akan mengambil tindakan ke atasnya," katanya.
Menurut Lim, dua pilihan boleh diambil polis dan Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia terhadap 'Anwar', iaitu menggunakan peruntukan yang disediakan melalui Kanun Acara Jenayah atau Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia.
Katanya, dia juga terkejut kerana sebagai seorang Islam, 'Anwar' sanggup mengeluarkan kenyataan sebegitu kepada orang Islam lain.
Baru-baru ini, komen 'Anwar' menimbulkan rasa kurang senang rakyat Malaysia apabila dia menyamakan Islam Hadhari dan politik wang dengan najis dan air kencing.
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, menganggap kenyataan itu sebagai menghasut dan boleh diambil tindakan.
Berikutan itu, polis Cawangan Khas Bukit Aman menjalankan siasatan terperinci, manakala Pusat Tindak Balas Kecemasan ICT Kebangsaan (Niser), berjaya mengesan 'Anwar' tidak lama kemudian.
Sementara itu, Gerakan menyatakan kebimbangannya terhadap sentimen perkauman dan keagamaan yang dimainkan parti politik negara ini.
Lim yang juga Presiden Gerakan berkata, ia perlu diredakan segera untuk membolehkan kewujudan Bangsa Malaysia yang diperjuangkan parti itu.
"Gerakan juga akan mengadakan rumah terbuka Depa Raya pada November depan," katanya.
Berita Harian Malaysia
From my previous post:
Laman web disiasat: Kementerian kaji tindakan terhadap isu hina Islam
Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, who disclosed this, said the police and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission had identified him as a laboratory technician in his 30s.
The man, a Muslim, had used the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital portal to access the website, Lim told a press conference after chairing a Gerakan central committee meeting here yesterday.
"I am very surprised that a Muslim can do this to a fellow Muslim," he said.
"We know who he is and we have already interviewed him. He admitted that he posted those comments on the Jeff Ooi website.
"Although he regretted his action, we will be taking action against him," said Lim, who is the Gerakan president.
The commission and the police have not yet decided whether to charge the man under the Communications and Multimedia Act or the Criminal Procedure Code, he said, adding that the police charge carries a heavier penalty.
"We are preparing a case and will hand it to the Attorney-General, and leave it to him how to charge the man," he said.
Asked if the man, who called himself “Anwar� belonged to any political party, Dr Lim said he did not know.
"Anwar," in the blog post, had likened Islam Hadhari and money politics to faeces and urine.
His remarks, particularly on Islam Hadhari, raised anger among Muslims with some newspapers hitting out at the blogger for allowing such posts on his blog.
(A blog is an Internet site that collects and shares information in the form of political commentaries, personal diary, personal thoughts and links to other websites.)
Dr Lim called on party members to be cautious and not to resort to using extreme religious and racial issues to climb the political ladder.
He said there were some quarters in and outside political parties trying to use extreme racial and religious issues.
Dr Lim said it was important that the country continued to create wealth so that people would not start looking inwards and get restless.
The Star, Malaysia
Ketentuan nasib ‘Anwar’
Oleh AL-ABROR MOHD YUSUF
KUALA LUMPUR: 'Anwar' yang menyertai laman 'web blog' Screenshots sehingga menimbulkan kontroversi baru-baru ini, akan mengetahui nasibnya dalam tempoh terdekat apabila Pejabat Peguam Negara membuat keputusan mengenainya, tidak lama lagi.
Menurut Menteri Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi, Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yeik, pihak berkuasa sudah mengenalpasti 'Anwar' dan menyoal siasatnya, baru-baru ini.
"Hasil siasatan akan diserahkan kepada Pejabat Peguam Negara dan terserah kepada mereka untuk mengambil tindakan selanjutnya," katanya selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat Jawankuasa Pusat Gerakan di Cheras, dekat sini, semalam.
Lim berkata, 'Anwar' adalah lelaki beragama Islam dan bertugas sebagai juruteknik makmal di Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM).
Lim berkata, 'Anwar' berusia 30-an itu mengaku mengirim komennya mengenai Islam Hadhari ke 'web blog' Screenshots kelolaan Jeff Ooi.
"Walaupun dia menyatakan kekesalannya (kerana mengirim komen ke Screenshots) kita akan mengambil tindakan ke atasnya," katanya.
Menurut Lim, dua pilihan boleh diambil polis dan Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia terhadap 'Anwar', iaitu menggunakan peruntukan yang disediakan melalui Kanun Acara Jenayah atau Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia.
Katanya, dia juga terkejut kerana sebagai seorang Islam, 'Anwar' sanggup mengeluarkan kenyataan sebegitu kepada orang Islam lain.
Baru-baru ini, komen 'Anwar' menimbulkan rasa kurang senang rakyat Malaysia apabila dia menyamakan Islam Hadhari dan politik wang dengan najis dan air kencing.
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, menganggap kenyataan itu sebagai menghasut dan boleh diambil tindakan.
Berikutan itu, polis Cawangan Khas Bukit Aman menjalankan siasatan terperinci, manakala Pusat Tindak Balas Kecemasan ICT Kebangsaan (Niser), berjaya mengesan 'Anwar' tidak lama kemudian.
Sementara itu, Gerakan menyatakan kebimbangannya terhadap sentimen perkauman dan keagamaan yang dimainkan parti politik negara ini.
Lim yang juga Presiden Gerakan berkata, ia perlu diredakan segera untuk membolehkan kewujudan Bangsa Malaysia yang diperjuangkan parti itu.
"Gerakan juga akan mengadakan rumah terbuka Depa Raya pada November depan," katanya.
Berita Harian Malaysia
From my previous post:
Condolences
Journalist's daughter killed in early morning accident
PETALING JAYA: The daughter of The Sun deputy editor R. Nadeswaran and her friend were killed and two others injured after their car skidded and hit a tree before plunging into a drain here early yesterday.
N. Sumitra, 19, who was in the back seat behind the driver, died on the spot in the 12.40am accident on Jalan Templer here.
Sumitra was a first year law student at Kemayan ATC. her 24-year-old friend, M. Kuganesan, who was driving the Proton Satria Aeroback car, died an hour after being admitted to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre.
Two others, a man and a woman in their 20s, were receiving treatment at the medical centre.
Nadeswaran, when approached at the medical centre, said he had sent Sumitra to the Kelana Jaya LRT station here at 10am on Friday.
At 8pm, his daughter attended a song recital at a temple in Jalan Templer.
Sumitra and her friends had then participated in the Navarathri prayers at a temple in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, and were heading back to the temple in Jalan Templer when the accident happened.
"The car is believed to have gone out of control and hit a tree before plunging into the drain," said a devastated Nadeswaran. Sumitra was the elder of two children.
"The last time I saw her was at the LRT station. She was her normal cheerful self. We were very close, more like friends."
A relative, who declined to be identified, said Kuganesan had just returned from Britain after completing his engineering studies there.
Condolences
A step closer to reaching dream
AG: My sincere deep Condolences. From ur ex-subordinate. Sorry to hear about the recent loss.
PETALING JAYA: The daughter of The Sun deputy editor R. Nadeswaran and her friend were killed and two others injured after their car skidded and hit a tree before plunging into a drain here early yesterday.
N. Sumitra, 19, who was in the back seat behind the driver, died on the spot in the 12.40am accident on Jalan Templer here.
Sumitra was a first year law student at Kemayan ATC. her 24-year-old friend, M. Kuganesan, who was driving the Proton Satria Aeroback car, died an hour after being admitted to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre.
Two others, a man and a woman in their 20s, were receiving treatment at the medical centre.
Nadeswaran, when approached at the medical centre, said he had sent Sumitra to the Kelana Jaya LRT station here at 10am on Friday.
At 8pm, his daughter attended a song recital at a temple in Jalan Templer.
Sumitra and her friends had then participated in the Navarathri prayers at a temple in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, and were heading back to the temple in Jalan Templer when the accident happened.
"The car is believed to have gone out of control and hit a tree before plunging into the drain," said a devastated Nadeswaran. Sumitra was the elder of two children.
"The last time I saw her was at the LRT station. She was her normal cheerful self. We were very close, more like friends."
A relative, who declined to be identified, said Kuganesan had just returned from Britain after completing his engineering studies there.
AG: My sincere deep Condolences. From ur ex-subordinate. Sorry to hear about the recent loss.
Friday, October 15, 2004
1 Ramadan 1425
Assalamualaikum Wbh,
Cupp! Sorry tak sempat... just nak wish u all Selamat Menjalani Ibadah Puasa di bulan Ramadhan Al-Mubarak untuk kali ini. Pertingkatkanlah amal, perkukuhkan iman dan perelokkan takwa. Hopefully dalam bulan yang mulia ni dapatlah kita sesama memperbanyakkan amalan dengan penuh ikhlas Lillahi Taala. Actually post untuk hari ini dah ada tapi cume tak sempat nak publish... Insya Allah i'll upload later.
Mom, kalau takda aral I'll home on Saturday night. Im back.
Cupp! Sorry tak sempat... just nak wish u all Selamat Menjalani Ibadah Puasa di bulan Ramadhan Al-Mubarak untuk kali ini. Pertingkatkanlah amal, perkukuhkan iman dan perelokkan takwa. Hopefully dalam bulan yang mulia ni dapatlah kita sesama memperbanyakkan amalan dengan penuh ikhlas Lillahi Taala. Actually post untuk hari ini dah ada tapi cume tak sempat nak publish... Insya Allah i'll upload later.
Mom, kalau takda aral I'll home on Saturday night. Im back.
NSTP menang besar
By Norfatimah Ahmad
PETALING JAYA: Wartawan Kumpulan The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd (NSTP) mendominasi Hadiah Kewartawanan Malaysia 2002 apabila memenangi sebahagian besar daripada anugerah yang dipertandingkan, malam tadi.
Dua wartawan Berita Harian, Mohd Yusof Sulaiman dan Khairul Anwar Rahmat, menerima anugerah kewartawanan berprestij negara, Hadiah Kajai.
Mohd Yusof dan Khairul Anwar dipilih menerusi laporan khas mereka, bertajuk 'Siasat Pejabat Tanah' berkaitan kerenah birokrasi dalam pentadbiran dan urusan di pejabat tanah seluruh negara.
Kedua-duanya memenangi wang tunai RM10,000, pingat emas dan sijil penghargaan. Bagaimanapun, Khairul Anwar kini bertugas sebagai peguam sepenuh masa sejak 2003.
Hadiah disampaikan Naib Presiden Urus Niaga Minyak Petronas, Datuk Anuar Ahmad. Turut hadir, Pengerusi Institut Akhbar Malaysia (MPI), Datuk Ahmad A Talib, Pengerusi Panel Hakim, Prof Dr Mohd Safar Hasim dan Pengarang Kumpulan Berita Harian Sdn Bhd, Hishamuddin Aun.
Ini kali kedua berturut-turut anugerah itu dimenangi wartawan Berita Harian. Pada 2001, anugerah itu dimenangi Ketua Unit Khas Berita Harian, Karim Sulaiman.
Pada majlis malam tadi, tiga lagi kategori, iaitu Foto Media Terbaik, Kewartawanan Hiburan dan Sukan, turut dimenangi wartawan daripada Kumpulan NSTP.
Kategori Foto Media Terbaik dimenangi jurugambar Harian Metro, Rizal Braim Mohd Ibrahim yang menerima wang tunai RM3,000 dan sijil penghargaan, manakala Kewartawanan Sukan (bahasa Inggeris) dimenangi dua wartawan New Straits Times (NST), Sarban Singh dan Elizabeth Lisa John yang menerima RM5,000 dan sijil penghargaan.
Tiga wartawan NST, Faridul Anwar Farinordin, Hafidah Samat dan Sharifah Arfah juga memenangi hadiah Kewartawanan Hiburan yang menerima RM5,000 dan sijil penghargaan.
AG: Tahniah buat rakan-rakan seperjuangan yang dapat "something" malam tu. Dapat dengar dari jauh jer. Dapat info pun lambat. Im here still be like this... Im proud with what Im right now. "Aku menulis bukan kerana nama..." sentimento sacramento sekejap pulak.
PETALING JAYA: Wartawan Kumpulan The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd (NSTP) mendominasi Hadiah Kewartawanan Malaysia 2002 apabila memenangi sebahagian besar daripada anugerah yang dipertandingkan, malam tadi.
Dua wartawan Berita Harian, Mohd Yusof Sulaiman dan Khairul Anwar Rahmat, menerima anugerah kewartawanan berprestij negara, Hadiah Kajai.
Mohd Yusof dan Khairul Anwar dipilih menerusi laporan khas mereka, bertajuk 'Siasat Pejabat Tanah' berkaitan kerenah birokrasi dalam pentadbiran dan urusan di pejabat tanah seluruh negara.
Kedua-duanya memenangi wang tunai RM10,000, pingat emas dan sijil penghargaan. Bagaimanapun, Khairul Anwar kini bertugas sebagai peguam sepenuh masa sejak 2003.
Hadiah disampaikan Naib Presiden Urus Niaga Minyak Petronas, Datuk Anuar Ahmad. Turut hadir, Pengerusi Institut Akhbar Malaysia (MPI), Datuk Ahmad A Talib, Pengerusi Panel Hakim, Prof Dr Mohd Safar Hasim dan Pengarang Kumpulan Berita Harian Sdn Bhd, Hishamuddin Aun.
Ini kali kedua berturut-turut anugerah itu dimenangi wartawan Berita Harian. Pada 2001, anugerah itu dimenangi Ketua Unit Khas Berita Harian, Karim Sulaiman.
Pada majlis malam tadi, tiga lagi kategori, iaitu Foto Media Terbaik, Kewartawanan Hiburan dan Sukan, turut dimenangi wartawan daripada Kumpulan NSTP.
Kategori Foto Media Terbaik dimenangi jurugambar Harian Metro, Rizal Braim Mohd Ibrahim yang menerima wang tunai RM3,000 dan sijil penghargaan, manakala Kewartawanan Sukan (bahasa Inggeris) dimenangi dua wartawan New Straits Times (NST), Sarban Singh dan Elizabeth Lisa John yang menerima RM5,000 dan sijil penghargaan.
Tiga wartawan NST, Faridul Anwar Farinordin, Hafidah Samat dan Sharifah Arfah juga memenangi hadiah Kewartawanan Hiburan yang menerima RM5,000 dan sijil penghargaan.
AG: Tahniah buat rakan-rakan seperjuangan yang dapat "something" malam tu. Dapat dengar dari jauh jer. Dapat info pun lambat. Im here still be like this... Im proud with what Im right now. "Aku menulis bukan kerana nama..." sentimento sacramento sekejap pulak.
Monday, October 11, 2004
Bila Bukan Raja Beraja Di Mata, Bila Bukan Sultan Bersultan Di Hati...
Assalamualaikum Wbh, Gday mate!
Ntah apa yang hendak ditulis awal minggu ni. Fully packed weekends, make me abit exausted but satisfied and gratefull when masa penuh dengan activities. Allhamdulillah taklah berlalu begitu sahaja. Lagipun itu dah satu tugas. Jika tugas kita demi LillahiTa'ala sudah dikira ibadah. Setiap ibadah, InsyaAllah adalah ganjarannya. The whole week memang agak concentrate with election coverage. Sick with all propaganda and lies everywhere. Lagipun semua dah tahu the result. So tak perlulah nak ulas lagi. The fact and figure are there. Fear factor have their winner. Our Aussie will remain in Iraq for another couple years. We've decided to responsible for any consequences "for the sake of sustainable of TRUE Australia".
Sejak kebelakangan ini jugak dah agak kurang berpeluang untuk updates blogs. Sorry mate for this critical time management crisis. InsyaAllah, I'll be more committed in the future. Walaupun ada banyak report about Zionist terror especially at Gaza Strip lately. Tiada coverage bukan bermakna, I've surrender... I've not finish yet. Masya Allah, kuat juga dugaan untuk menyebarkan maklumat walau yang sedikit ini. Bayangkanlah, jika nak berjihad Fisabilillah... Dengan dugaan masa yang sedikit ini ajer sudah mengeluh. Belum cukup bersedia hambaMu ini ya Allah.
Di tanahair ada sahabat-sahabat informer yang forwardkan this news since Friday. I didnt know what its significant to me since I'm not interested in Malaysian (malays) politic anymore. But when Im tracking back this news, Masya Allah, its (this news) make me smile (laugh) at last. It's a joke. How poor Malaccan, nowadays your Datukship now selling in kati at pasar borong. Sorry Im not joking. It's true. Thanks mate for forwarding THIS. Happy reading.
Melaka anugerah 84 Datuk - Jumlah terbesar darjah kebesaran dalam sejarah negeri
Oleh: MUHD NIZAM ABD. HAMID dan AIZAWATI AHMAD
MELAKA 8 Okt. - Kerajaan Melaka hari ini mengumumkan senarai penerima anugerah kebesaran yang memperlihatkan sejumlah 84 orang menerima pelbagai gelaran Datuk, satu jumlah terbesar pernah dikeluarkan dalam sejarah negeri ini.
Bagaimanapun, Utusan Malaysia difahamkan berlaku sedikit kekecohan mengenai kedudukan Menteri Besar Pahang, Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob yang disenaraikan menerima Darjah Gemilang Seri Melaka (DGSM) membawa gelaran Datuk Seri.
Beliau pada awalnya dikatakan menolak penganugerahan itu tetapi dalam satu sidang akhbar tergempar di kediamannya di Kuantan pada 12.30 tengah malam ini, beliau mengumumkan akan menerimanya.
``Saya menerima tawaran itu dan mengesahkannya,'' katanya sambil menolak dakwaan yang mengatakan beliau enggan menerima anugerah itu.
Setakat ini belum pasti bagaimana timbul dakwaan yang mengatakan Adnan telah menolak tawaran itu, yang dikatakan dibuat pada saat-saat terakhir.
Nama Menteri Besar Pahang itu telah diumumkan oleh Setiausaha Politik Ketua Menteri Melaka, Datuk Md. Sirat Abu pada sidang akhbar di Seri Negeri, Ayer Keroh dekat sini pagi ini sebagai seorang daripada lima penerima DGSM.
Bagaimanapun beberapa jam selepas itu, pejabat Ketua Menteri Melaka menghubungi pejabat-pejabat akhbar di negeri ini dan meminta nama Adnan dikeluarkan daripada senarai penerima anugerah kerana belum ada pengesahan sama ada beliau akan menerima darjah itu atau sebaliknya.
Md. Sirat ketika dihubungi lewat petang ini menjelaskan, Adnan telah memaklumkan bahawa beliau menerima anugerah tersebut tetapi meminta "penganugerahan ditangguhkan sehingga tahun depan."
"Kita sudah memaklumkan kepada Adnan mengenai penganugerahan itu dua hari lalu dan beliau pada awalnya bersetuju untuk menerima darjah itu," katanya.
Bagaimanapun difahamkan, kerajaan Melaka melalui Ketua Menterinya, Datuk Seri Mohd. Ali Rustam telah 'memujuk' Adnan untuk menerimanya.
Upacara penganugerahan sempena sambutan Hari Ulang Tahun Ke-66 Yang Dipertua Negeri Melaka, Tun Khalil Yaakob akan berlangsung mulai esok.
Sebanyak 889 orang akan menerima anugerah pada majlis penganugerahan tahun ini termasuk 84 penerima anugerah utama yang membawa gelaran sama ada Datuk Seri Utama, Datuk Seri, Datuk Wira dan Datuk.
Daripada 84 penerima itu, seorang akan menerima Darjah Utama Negeri Melaka (DUNM), lima orang Darjah Gemilang Seri Melaka (DGSM), lima orang Darjah Cemerlang Seri Melaka (DCSM) dan 73 orang menerima Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM).
Sehingga pukul 11.30 malam ini, sumber kerajaan Melaka memberitahu masih tidak ada kata putus daripada Adnan sehinggalah Menteri Besar Pahang itu sendiri memanggil satu sidang akhbarnya tengah malam ini.
Majlis penganugerahan tersebut akan berlangsung di Dewan Seri Negeri, esok, dengan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mendahului senarai 889 penerima anugerah darjah, bintang dan pingat kebesaran Negeri Melaka itu.
Abdullah yang akan menerima anugerah tertinggi kerajaan negeri Melaka iaitu DUNM yang membawa gelaran Datuk Seri Utama, bagaimanapun hanya akan menerima anugerah itu pada sesi khas Selasa ini.
Para penerima lain akan menerimanya esok dan Isnin ini.
Pada sidang akhbar hari ini, Md. Sirat memberitahu:
"Jumlah penerima kali ini merupakan yang paling ramai pernah diberikan oleh kerajaan negeri Melaka."
Jumlah pemberi gelaran Datuk yang terbesar pernah dicatatkan ialah Pahang pada 2002 dengan 96 orang manakala yang terkecil iaitu dua oleh Johor pada tahun yang sama.
Isu penerima gelaran ini pernah dibangkitkan pada waktu itu apabila pelbagai pihak mempersoalkan lambakan pemberian anugerah Datuk dan Tan Sri di Malaysia.
Utusan Online
PM Heads Melaka Honours List
Datukship: 'Not a payback'
Melaka Gives "50 Dalil" Writer Datukship
AG: Ermmm, dah agak dah perkara-perkara macam ni pasti akan terjadi... Bersepah ler ngan datuk datin kat Malaysia la ni. Maybe equivalent 1 nisbah 10 rakyat Malaysia dah kut. Thanks, to unrecognised (unqualified) TYT of Malacca for his kindness (with his scumbag friends).
Ntah apa yang hendak ditulis awal minggu ni. Fully packed weekends, make me abit exausted but satisfied and gratefull when masa penuh dengan activities. Allhamdulillah taklah berlalu begitu sahaja. Lagipun itu dah satu tugas. Jika tugas kita demi LillahiTa'ala sudah dikira ibadah. Setiap ibadah, InsyaAllah adalah ganjarannya. The whole week memang agak concentrate with election coverage. Sick with all propaganda and lies everywhere. Lagipun semua dah tahu the result. So tak perlulah nak ulas lagi. The fact and figure are there. Fear factor have their winner. Our Aussie will remain in Iraq for another couple years. We've decided to responsible for any consequences "for the sake of sustainable of TRUE Australia".
Sejak kebelakangan ini jugak dah agak kurang berpeluang untuk updates blogs. Sorry mate for this critical time management crisis. InsyaAllah, I'll be more committed in the future. Walaupun ada banyak report about Zionist terror especially at Gaza Strip lately. Tiada coverage bukan bermakna, I've surrender... I've not finish yet. Masya Allah, kuat juga dugaan untuk menyebarkan maklumat walau yang sedikit ini. Bayangkanlah, jika nak berjihad Fisabilillah... Dengan dugaan masa yang sedikit ini ajer sudah mengeluh. Belum cukup bersedia hambaMu ini ya Allah.
Di tanahair ada sahabat-sahabat informer yang forwardkan this news since Friday. I didnt know what its significant to me since I'm not interested in Malaysian (malays) politic anymore. But when Im tracking back this news, Masya Allah, its (this news) make me smile (laugh) at last. It's a joke. How poor Malaccan, nowadays your Datukship now selling in kati at pasar borong. Sorry Im not joking. It's true. Thanks mate for forwarding THIS. Happy reading.
Melaka anugerah 84 Datuk - Jumlah terbesar darjah kebesaran dalam sejarah negeri
Oleh: MUHD NIZAM ABD. HAMID dan AIZAWATI AHMAD
MELAKA 8 Okt. - Kerajaan Melaka hari ini mengumumkan senarai penerima anugerah kebesaran yang memperlihatkan sejumlah 84 orang menerima pelbagai gelaran Datuk, satu jumlah terbesar pernah dikeluarkan dalam sejarah negeri ini.
Bagaimanapun, Utusan Malaysia difahamkan berlaku sedikit kekecohan mengenai kedudukan Menteri Besar Pahang, Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob yang disenaraikan menerima Darjah Gemilang Seri Melaka (DGSM) membawa gelaran Datuk Seri.
Beliau pada awalnya dikatakan menolak penganugerahan itu tetapi dalam satu sidang akhbar tergempar di kediamannya di Kuantan pada 12.30 tengah malam ini, beliau mengumumkan akan menerimanya.
``Saya menerima tawaran itu dan mengesahkannya,'' katanya sambil menolak dakwaan yang mengatakan beliau enggan menerima anugerah itu.
Setakat ini belum pasti bagaimana timbul dakwaan yang mengatakan Adnan telah menolak tawaran itu, yang dikatakan dibuat pada saat-saat terakhir.
Nama Menteri Besar Pahang itu telah diumumkan oleh Setiausaha Politik Ketua Menteri Melaka, Datuk Md. Sirat Abu pada sidang akhbar di Seri Negeri, Ayer Keroh dekat sini pagi ini sebagai seorang daripada lima penerima DGSM.
Bagaimanapun beberapa jam selepas itu, pejabat Ketua Menteri Melaka menghubungi pejabat-pejabat akhbar di negeri ini dan meminta nama Adnan dikeluarkan daripada senarai penerima anugerah kerana belum ada pengesahan sama ada beliau akan menerima darjah itu atau sebaliknya.
Md. Sirat ketika dihubungi lewat petang ini menjelaskan, Adnan telah memaklumkan bahawa beliau menerima anugerah tersebut tetapi meminta "penganugerahan ditangguhkan sehingga tahun depan."
"Kita sudah memaklumkan kepada Adnan mengenai penganugerahan itu dua hari lalu dan beliau pada awalnya bersetuju untuk menerima darjah itu," katanya.
Bagaimanapun difahamkan, kerajaan Melaka melalui Ketua Menterinya, Datuk Seri Mohd. Ali Rustam telah 'memujuk' Adnan untuk menerimanya.
Upacara penganugerahan sempena sambutan Hari Ulang Tahun Ke-66 Yang Dipertua Negeri Melaka, Tun Khalil Yaakob akan berlangsung mulai esok.
Sebanyak 889 orang akan menerima anugerah pada majlis penganugerahan tahun ini termasuk 84 penerima anugerah utama yang membawa gelaran sama ada Datuk Seri Utama, Datuk Seri, Datuk Wira dan Datuk.
Daripada 84 penerima itu, seorang akan menerima Darjah Utama Negeri Melaka (DUNM), lima orang Darjah Gemilang Seri Melaka (DGSM), lima orang Darjah Cemerlang Seri Melaka (DCSM) dan 73 orang menerima Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM).
Sehingga pukul 11.30 malam ini, sumber kerajaan Melaka memberitahu masih tidak ada kata putus daripada Adnan sehinggalah Menteri Besar Pahang itu sendiri memanggil satu sidang akhbarnya tengah malam ini.
Majlis penganugerahan tersebut akan berlangsung di Dewan Seri Negeri, esok, dengan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mendahului senarai 889 penerima anugerah darjah, bintang dan pingat kebesaran Negeri Melaka itu.
Abdullah yang akan menerima anugerah tertinggi kerajaan negeri Melaka iaitu DUNM yang membawa gelaran Datuk Seri Utama, bagaimanapun hanya akan menerima anugerah itu pada sesi khas Selasa ini.
Para penerima lain akan menerimanya esok dan Isnin ini.
Pada sidang akhbar hari ini, Md. Sirat memberitahu:
"Jumlah penerima kali ini merupakan yang paling ramai pernah diberikan oleh kerajaan negeri Melaka."
Jumlah pemberi gelaran Datuk yang terbesar pernah dicatatkan ialah Pahang pada 2002 dengan 96 orang manakala yang terkecil iaitu dua oleh Johor pada tahun yang sama.
Isu penerima gelaran ini pernah dibangkitkan pada waktu itu apabila pelbagai pihak mempersoalkan lambakan pemberian anugerah Datuk dan Tan Sri di Malaysia.
Utusan Online
AG: Ermmm, dah agak dah perkara-perkara macam ni pasti akan terjadi... Bersepah ler ngan datuk datin kat Malaysia la ni. Maybe equivalent 1 nisbah 10 rakyat Malaysia dah kut. Thanks, to unrecognised (unqualified) TYT of Malacca for his kindness (with his scumbag friends).
Friday, October 08, 2004
Newspapers back coalition re-election
Australia's major newspapers have overwhelmingly endorsed Prime Minister John Howard's re-election.
But The Sydney Morning Herald broke with a 170 year tradition and took a neutral stance, while The Canberra Times said Labor leader Mark Latham deserved to win.
The Australian said there was a case for change, but the Labor Party's reform program was inadequate.
"There is a case for change alright, but it would need to be based on a reform program that extends, rather than unwinds, the gains of the past two decades," The Australian said.
"Labor has not made such a case, and so The Australian believes the Howard government deserves to be returned tomorrow."
The Australian Financial Review said there had been too much pork-barrelling, but Mr Howard deserved a fourth win.
"When the pork and regrets are stripped away, the coalition would do more to reward effort and enterprise and promote growth than Labor's resort to the retro-fashions of redistribution and ever-larger public services," the AFR said.
"That, and Labor's cynical obstruction of reform in opposition, should be enough to give John Howard his coveted fourth election win."
The Sydney Morning Herald made a historic move to end its tradition of endorsing a party to win government.
"There comes a time when a newspaper, having expressed its voting preference for more than 170 years, must renew and reassess its claim on independence so that its pursuit of truth is not only free of partisanship and without fear or favour but is seen to be so," it said.
"From today, the Herald will no longer endorse a political party."
The Canberra Times also stood out from its counterparts, backing Mr Latham's fresh approach.
"John Howard has plenty of physical vigour left, and not a few political reflexes, but increasingly is not using his ideas to drive the country," the paper said.
"It's time for another driver."
Most editorials said Mr Latham was not ready for office and needed three years in opposition to get runs on the board and establish his economic credentials.
As Melbourne's The Age newspaper described it: "There are two main reasons we believe the return of the Howard government may be the best outcome for Australia in tomorrow's poll. The first is that the coalition has presided over almost a decade of sustained economic growth and increasing prosperity ... The second reason is that, despite the fact Mark Latham has performed well during the campaign, he remains in many ways a work in progress."
Treasurer Peter Costello's succession to the leadership was also widely mentioned as a positive.
Melbourne's Herald Sun said Mr Howard should stay on as Liberal leader as long as he remained fresh and energetic.
"If that were to change, Peter Costello has shown he is also worthy of a chance at the top job," the newspaper said
Campaign enters final day
One million votes still up for grabs
AG: Just like in Malaysia... Propaganda and lie was everywhere, but here more in the liberal manner. Happy Voting... to all my fellow Aussie friends.
But The Sydney Morning Herald broke with a 170 year tradition and took a neutral stance, while The Canberra Times said Labor leader Mark Latham deserved to win.
The Australian said there was a case for change, but the Labor Party's reform program was inadequate.
"There is a case for change alright, but it would need to be based on a reform program that extends, rather than unwinds, the gains of the past two decades," The Australian said.
"Labor has not made such a case, and so The Australian believes the Howard government deserves to be returned tomorrow."
The Australian Financial Review said there had been too much pork-barrelling, but Mr Howard deserved a fourth win.
"When the pork and regrets are stripped away, the coalition would do more to reward effort and enterprise and promote growth than Labor's resort to the retro-fashions of redistribution and ever-larger public services," the AFR said.
"That, and Labor's cynical obstruction of reform in opposition, should be enough to give John Howard his coveted fourth election win."
The Sydney Morning Herald made a historic move to end its tradition of endorsing a party to win government.
"There comes a time when a newspaper, having expressed its voting preference for more than 170 years, must renew and reassess its claim on independence so that its pursuit of truth is not only free of partisanship and without fear or favour but is seen to be so," it said.
"From today, the Herald will no longer endorse a political party."
The Canberra Times also stood out from its counterparts, backing Mr Latham's fresh approach.
"John Howard has plenty of physical vigour left, and not a few political reflexes, but increasingly is not using his ideas to drive the country," the paper said.
"It's time for another driver."
Most editorials said Mr Latham was not ready for office and needed three years in opposition to get runs on the board and establish his economic credentials.
As Melbourne's The Age newspaper described it: "There are two main reasons we believe the return of the Howard government may be the best outcome for Australia in tomorrow's poll. The first is that the coalition has presided over almost a decade of sustained economic growth and increasing prosperity ... The second reason is that, despite the fact Mark Latham has performed well during the campaign, he remains in many ways a work in progress."
Treasurer Peter Costello's succession to the leadership was also widely mentioned as a positive.
Melbourne's Herald Sun said Mr Howard should stay on as Liberal leader as long as he remained fresh and energetic.
"If that were to change, Peter Costello has shown he is also worthy of a chance at the top job," the newspaper said
AG: Just like in Malaysia... Propaganda and lie was everywhere, but here more in the liberal manner. Happy Voting... to all my fellow Aussie friends.
Australia Govt in Pole Position for Saturday Vote
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's government looked set for a fourth straight term, according to a poll trend released on the eve of Saturday's election, as rival leaders made last-minute pitches over the economy and the U.S.-led Iraq war.
The Reuters Poll Trend showed on Friday the Liberal/National coalition government with a narrow 1.2-point lead over center-left Labor on a two-party preferred basis, where preferences from minor parties are distributed to major parties until a winner is declared.
Politicians rarely win an outright majority in Australian elections. Casting a ballot is compulsory for the 13 million registered voters who must number candidates on ballot papers in order of preference.
"This is a close election ... we have a very big challenge and I don't want anybody to believe the polls on the face of it," Prime Minister John Howard told Australian radio on Friday.
The poll trend, using three polls taken between Sept. 30 and Oct. 3, shows the government with a 6.3-point lead on a primary vote basis, or first count of votes, with 45.4 percent support.
At the 2001 election the government secured 43.1 percent of the primary vote compared with center-left Labor's 37.8 percent.
Howard has said the election could be decided by preferences from the Greens, who have three elected representatives and seven percent support in opinion polls, the most of any minor party.
Analysts say Greens preferences will flow heavily to Labor.
Editorials in major newspapers on Friday tipped a coalition win and bookmakers have installed Howard as a red-hot favorite.
Howard and Labor leader Mark Latham have vowed to keep downward pressure on interest rates, an important pledge for mortgage-laden Australians, and to keep the budget in surplus.
Australia's robust economy, one of the industrialized world's strongest, has been the biggest issue of the six-week campaign, along with health care, education and the environment.
While it has resonated with relatively few voters, the biggest point of difference between the major parties has been over Howard's unquestioning support for the U.S. alliance and Iraq war and Latham's emphasis on building ties with Asia.
"I don't think there are a lot of votes in Iraq for either side and the reason neither side is hitting it very hard is they have the same view," respected political commentator Laurie Oakes told his Nine Network television.
HOME BY CHRISTMAS
The election has attracted international attention because Australia's two Iraq war allies also soon face elections, the United States on Nov. 2 and Britain in May or June.
Latham has vowed to bring Australia's 850 troops in and around Iraq home by Christmas if he wins on Saturday, while Howard is adamant they will stay as long as they are needed.
Howard stood by his commitment on Friday despite a U.S. report showing intelligence used to justify the Iraq war had not been proven and a surprise statement by Bush that pre-war claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction were wrong.
"I believed the intelligence and it's a disappointment to me that intelligence has not been borne out but it was there, it was very strong and it was acted upon in good faith -- and I wasn't the only leader that did so," Howard told Australian radio.
Latham stepped up his attack on Howard over Iraq.
"Howard's adventurism and mistakes in Iraq have meant we have made Australia less safe in the war against terror," he said.
"We have made ourselves a bigger target and we have diverted resources to the other side of the world when we should have been putting them into Asia," Latham told Australian radio.
Howard and Latham devoted most of their attention on Friday to the economy and environment, with the southern island state of Tasmania and its virgin, old-growth forests a key battleground. Labor was accused of selling out the timber industry, while conservation groups condemned the government.
Howard's government holds 82 seats in the nation's 150 seat lower house of parliament and would be out of office if it lost seven seats and the support of independents. Labor needs to win 12 seats to claim power.
Australian opposition leader to win campaign but lose election: analysts
Leaders make final campaign pitch to voters
AG: Between Howard and Latham, between Liberal Party and Labour Party, lets our fellow Aussie to decide. Fate of our NEW Australian was your hand. Good governance was not just rhetoric and pure cheap patriots policy. Its about move forward. Australia we're ready to change...
The Reuters Poll Trend showed on Friday the Liberal/National coalition government with a narrow 1.2-point lead over center-left Labor on a two-party preferred basis, where preferences from minor parties are distributed to major parties until a winner is declared.
Politicians rarely win an outright majority in Australian elections. Casting a ballot is compulsory for the 13 million registered voters who must number candidates on ballot papers in order of preference.
"This is a close election ... we have a very big challenge and I don't want anybody to believe the polls on the face of it," Prime Minister John Howard told Australian radio on Friday.
The poll trend, using three polls taken between Sept. 30 and Oct. 3, shows the government with a 6.3-point lead on a primary vote basis, or first count of votes, with 45.4 percent support.
At the 2001 election the government secured 43.1 percent of the primary vote compared with center-left Labor's 37.8 percent.
Howard has said the election could be decided by preferences from the Greens, who have three elected representatives and seven percent support in opinion polls, the most of any minor party.
Analysts say Greens preferences will flow heavily to Labor.
Editorials in major newspapers on Friday tipped a coalition win and bookmakers have installed Howard as a red-hot favorite.
Howard and Labor leader Mark Latham have vowed to keep downward pressure on interest rates, an important pledge for mortgage-laden Australians, and to keep the budget in surplus.
Australia's robust economy, one of the industrialized world's strongest, has been the biggest issue of the six-week campaign, along with health care, education and the environment.
While it has resonated with relatively few voters, the biggest point of difference between the major parties has been over Howard's unquestioning support for the U.S. alliance and Iraq war and Latham's emphasis on building ties with Asia.
"I don't think there are a lot of votes in Iraq for either side and the reason neither side is hitting it very hard is they have the same view," respected political commentator Laurie Oakes told his Nine Network television.
HOME BY CHRISTMAS
The election has attracted international attention because Australia's two Iraq war allies also soon face elections, the United States on Nov. 2 and Britain in May or June.
Latham has vowed to bring Australia's 850 troops in and around Iraq home by Christmas if he wins on Saturday, while Howard is adamant they will stay as long as they are needed.
Howard stood by his commitment on Friday despite a U.S. report showing intelligence used to justify the Iraq war had not been proven and a surprise statement by Bush that pre-war claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction were wrong.
"I believed the intelligence and it's a disappointment to me that intelligence has not been borne out but it was there, it was very strong and it was acted upon in good faith -- and I wasn't the only leader that did so," Howard told Australian radio.
Latham stepped up his attack on Howard over Iraq.
"Howard's adventurism and mistakes in Iraq have meant we have made Australia less safe in the war against terror," he said.
"We have made ourselves a bigger target and we have diverted resources to the other side of the world when we should have been putting them into Asia," Latham told Australian radio.
Howard and Latham devoted most of their attention on Friday to the economy and environment, with the southern island state of Tasmania and its virgin, old-growth forests a key battleground. Labor was accused of selling out the timber industry, while conservation groups condemned the government.
Howard's government holds 82 seats in the nation's 150 seat lower house of parliament and would be out of office if it lost seven seats and the support of independents. Labor needs to win 12 seats to claim power.
AG: Between Howard and Latham, between Liberal Party and Labour Party, lets our fellow Aussie to decide. Fate of our NEW Australian was your hand. Good governance was not just rhetoric and pure cheap patriots policy. Its about move forward. Australia we're ready to change...
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Susilo declared Indonesian president
Indonesian election officials have formally declared former general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the country's new president.
Susilo secured a landslide win with 60.6% of the vote compared to 39.4% for incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri in the country's first direct presidential elections.
With the count of ballot papers from the last of Indonesia's 32 provinces complete, the result of the 20 September ballot was formally declared by election officials on Monday.
Representatives of Susilo, who will be inaugurated as the country's sixth president on 20 October, said the 55-year-old was expected to deliver a formal acceptance speech late on Monday.
Grateful
Earlier, Susilo said he was "grateful" for the result and said he was prepared for his new job.
"I will get down to work soon ... so that the people will know that the new government will start to work immediately to reach the desired goals," he said.
Both Megawati and her rival, who served as her security minister until March when he quit to enter the election race, had held off declaring victory or conceding defeat although the outcome has been known for days.
The run-off, the third and final leg of elections for Indonesia this year, was seen as a triumph for democracy in the country, six years after former president Suharto's fall plunged the country into political and economic uncertainty.
Megawati deserted
President Megawati, the daughter of founding father Sukarno, was credited with restoring economic stability and had enjoyed immense popularity as a symbol of reform in the post-Suharto era.
But voters deserted her in droves in the latest polls, which were seen as a judgment on her failure to inject new life into the graft-plagued economy and a rejection of her image as an increasingly aloof and uncaring leader.
Susilo campaigned on a ticket of economic reform and battling corruption, but his polished appearance and common touch were seen as the key factors in winning over voters disillusioned with Megawati's hard edges.
The former general, who as security minister led efforts to track down those behind the October 2002 Bali bombings, is also favoured by the international community.
AG: Curious with fate of Muslim in Indonesia under this newly elected "Military" President. Islam have a big problem there if he plays his role as a "General Puppet Master" for the hidden hand in the name war against terrorism.
Susilo secured a landslide win with 60.6% of the vote compared to 39.4% for incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri in the country's first direct presidential elections.
With the count of ballot papers from the last of Indonesia's 32 provinces complete, the result of the 20 September ballot was formally declared by election officials on Monday.
Representatives of Susilo, who will be inaugurated as the country's sixth president on 20 October, said the 55-year-old was expected to deliver a formal acceptance speech late on Monday.
Grateful
Earlier, Susilo said he was "grateful" for the result and said he was prepared for his new job.
"I will get down to work soon ... so that the people will know that the new government will start to work immediately to reach the desired goals," he said.
Both Megawati and her rival, who served as her security minister until March when he quit to enter the election race, had held off declaring victory or conceding defeat although the outcome has been known for days.
The run-off, the third and final leg of elections for Indonesia this year, was seen as a triumph for democracy in the country, six years after former president Suharto's fall plunged the country into political and economic uncertainty.
Megawati deserted
President Megawati, the daughter of founding father Sukarno, was credited with restoring economic stability and had enjoyed immense popularity as a symbol of reform in the post-Suharto era.
But voters deserted her in droves in the latest polls, which were seen as a judgment on her failure to inject new life into the graft-plagued economy and a rejection of her image as an increasingly aloof and uncaring leader.
Susilo campaigned on a ticket of economic reform and battling corruption, but his polished appearance and common touch were seen as the key factors in winning over voters disillusioned with Megawati's hard edges.
The former general, who as security minister led efforts to track down those behind the October 2002 Bali bombings, is also favoured by the international community.
AG: Curious with fate of Muslim in Indonesia under this newly elected "Military" President. Islam have a big problem there if he plays his role as a "General Puppet Master" for the hidden hand in the name war against terrorism.
Laman web disiasat: Kementerian kaji tindakan terhadap isu hina Islam
Oleh: Azman Zakaria, Wan Hazmir Bakar dan Magendran Rajagopal
KUALA LUMPUR: Kementerian Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi sedang mengkaji bentuk tindakan boleh diambil terhadap pengendali Screenshots, Jeff Ooi, berhubung penyiaran pandangan seorang peserta forum di laman web itu yang menyamakan Islam Hadhari dan politik wang dengan najis dan air kencing.
Menterinya, Datuk Seri Dr Hj. Lim Keng Yaik, berkata beliau sudah dimaklumkan mengenai isu membabitkan perbincangan kontroversi di laman web itu dan sudah mengarahkan pegawainya menyiasat.
Saya sudah mengarahkan pegawai saya melakukan kajian mengenai tindakan yang boleh diambil terhadap beliau. Saya akan diberi taklimat mengenainya hari ini. Buat masa sekarang saya tidak ingin mengulas lanjut, katanya kepada Berita Harian ketika dihubungi semalam.
Kelmarin, Timbalan Menteri Keselamatan Dalam Negeri, Datuk Noh Omar, memberi amaran keras kepada pengendali laman web tempatan supaya menghentikan segera apa-apa tulisan atau perbincangan yang menghina Islam bagi mengelakkan mereka dikenakan tindakan mengikut Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA).
Noh menyifatkan tindakan itu sebagai bermain api yang lebih berbahaya daripada isu perkauman kerana ia boleh mencetuskan rasa tidak puas hati umat Islam dan akhirnya boleh memudaratkan keselamatan negara.
Sementara itu, Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, berkata banyak bahan yang dipaparkan dalam internet adalah berbentuk fitnah dan hasutan untuk melaga-laga rakyat.
Najib berkata, pemantauan dan mengawal selia bahan dalam internet dilakukan oleh Kementerian Penerangan dan ia dibentangkan secara berkala dalam mesyuarat jemaah menteri.
Sekiranya kita nak beri reaksi, dalam internet ada macam-macam perkara, kebanyakannya dalam bentuk fitnah dan hasutan, katanya selepas merasmikan Hari Keluarga Interaksi Orang Kurang Upaya ke-6 di Taman Tasik Titiwangsa.
Pemantauan terhadap Screenshots semalam mendapati Jeff masih enggan memohon maaf kepada rakyat Malaysia berhubung penyiaran pandangan peserta perbincangan yang menghina Islam Hadhari itu.
Sebaliknya beliau mendakwa Berita Harian cuba mengalih tumpuan dan kebimbangan umum mengenai politik wang serta menyatakan beliau dan peguamnya sedang mengkaji sama ada laporan akhbar ini berniat jahat atau tidak.
Beliau juga menulis mengenai seorang wartawan Utusan Malaysia yang dikatakan meminta reaksinya terhadap kontroversi yang dicipta Berita Harian dan berpesan kepada wartawan itu supaya quote dengan betul dan tepat segala catatan berhubung isu itu.
Sebelum itu, Screenshots menyiarkan bagaimana wartawan New Straits Times (NST) menghubunginya sekali lagi untuk mendapatkan reaksinya terhadap saranan Naib Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin, supaya Jeff Ooi bertanggungjawab dan meminta maaf terhadap kesalahan yang dilakukan.
Kelmarin, Jeff Ooi, yang mengakui dirinya bukan wartawan, mempersoalkan etika kewartawanan wartawan akhbar ini kerana tidak menghubunginya untuk mendapatkan penjelasannya sesuatu yang beliau sendiri tidak pernah lakukan apabila menulis mengenai pihak lain.
Jeff Ooi mendakwa dia tidak harus dipersalahkan kerana sudah menjawab kepada peserta terbabit bahawa ulasan berhubung perbincangan mengenai Islam Hadhari itu boleh dianggap sebagai menghina Islam dan menyakiti perasaan orang lain.
Malah, katanya, beliau juga sudah menyekat peserta yang menggunakan nama samaran Anwar itu daripada terus menggunakan kemudahan lama webnya untuk memberi ulasan, sehari sebelum Berita Harian melaporkan kisah itu.
Berita Harian, Malaysia.
Action may be taken against web blogger
The authorities are studying the form of action to be taken against web blogger Jeff Ooi for allowing derogatory statements on Islam Hadhari to be posted on his website.
Datuk Seri Lim Keng Yaik, the Minister of Energy, Water and Communications said that he had been informed of the controversy and had directed ministry officials to investigate.
"I have asked my officials to see what action can be taken," he said.
One of the participants in Ooi's forum had posted on the website that it was unacceptable to compare Islam Hadhari and money politics to "water and oil" because water and oil are suci (untainted) things.
The person, instead, stated that Islam Hadhari and money politics were like "shit and urine". Umno Youth has asked the blogger to post an apology.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak noted today that the Information Ministry monitors information posted on the Internet.
The ministry briefed the Cabinet periodically on latest news developments on the Internet. Yesterday, Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Noh Omar warned local webmasters to stop playing with fire by writing anything derogatory on Islam. Or else, the Internal Security Act might be used, he said.
Ooi has not commented on the controversy, despite several attempts by newspapers to allow him his right of reply.
NSTP, Malaysia.
AG: Hahahaha, BTW keep on your good work Mr Jeff Oii. What a tremendous cheap publicity. Don’t worry we know that what “Anwar� have comment there. Sure not written by you right. Please dont bother with that flies sound. Sejak bila pulak umat Islam have been recognised that Islam Hadhari of General Election have being portrays as a real Islam in Malaysia or another part of the world, beside of another pure cheap propaganda. How should they claimed that.
As what I've learnt before... there's only one Islam in this entire world. Cukuplah satu, sebab ummah pun dah cukup suffer dengan permasalahan perbezaan pendapat ni. Islam sudah cukup complete - syumul setelah kewafatan Rasulullah SAW. Terimalah Islam yang satu sebagai addin, cara hidup secara keseluruhannya.
So at this stage, siapa yang tidak berhak dikritik (or kutuk in malays) jika berhasrat to rebranding or intent to commercialized Islam. Sebagaimana Taliban at Afganistan have been heavily under fire because of not really portrays the real teaching of islam. Chechen rebel with their terror works at Beslan school or even in Malaysia, PAS being labled not the real Islam and everybody have the right to condemnd them. So what the different to that yours Islam Hadhari. Can someone convinced me this the only real Islam that we have, others are not Islam. Anybody?
For me personally the main issue here, bukanlah Islam Hadhari itu nak kita surehebohkan... Tapi apa yang everybody have says "Cakap tak serupa bikin, bikin tak serupa cakap." Im not against what so called Islamisation or other Islamist move, just Im totally mad with who those hypocrites. Usahlah cepat melenting dengan point of view "orang lain" terhadap agama kita... Lets realised yang dikatakan tu bukanlah Islam secara keseluruhannya, but the major concern was yang kononnya nampak macam DNA Islam, macam makhluk Muslim dalam arus politik meLAYU Malaysia tapi perangai dan tabie serta spesisnya menunjukkan sebaliknya - absolutely contradict. Malulah sikit. Lagipun siapa kamu semua yangbkebal dari kritikan. Kalau macam ni dah nak censor internet dan banned server or nak ISA'kan webmaster... better you all tong sampahkan ajer MSC project tu. Kalau camni nak handle Information Age we all kat sini dah tak larat nak gelak dahhh.
Nasihat aku buat pencacai-pencacai sekalian di tanahair, bukalah mindayang sedikit dan luangkanlah masa barang 10 minit... bacalah apa yang KONONnya dikatakan menghina Islam tu. Orang Islam yang mana satu yang rasa terhina tu???
KUALA LUMPUR: Kementerian Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi sedang mengkaji bentuk tindakan boleh diambil terhadap pengendali Screenshots, Jeff Ooi, berhubung penyiaran pandangan seorang peserta forum di laman web itu yang menyamakan Islam Hadhari dan politik wang dengan najis dan air kencing.
Menterinya, Datuk Seri Dr Hj. Lim Keng Yaik, berkata beliau sudah dimaklumkan mengenai isu membabitkan perbincangan kontroversi di laman web itu dan sudah mengarahkan pegawainya menyiasat.
Saya sudah mengarahkan pegawai saya melakukan kajian mengenai tindakan yang boleh diambil terhadap beliau. Saya akan diberi taklimat mengenainya hari ini. Buat masa sekarang saya tidak ingin mengulas lanjut, katanya kepada Berita Harian ketika dihubungi semalam.
Kelmarin, Timbalan Menteri Keselamatan Dalam Negeri, Datuk Noh Omar, memberi amaran keras kepada pengendali laman web tempatan supaya menghentikan segera apa-apa tulisan atau perbincangan yang menghina Islam bagi mengelakkan mereka dikenakan tindakan mengikut Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA).
Noh menyifatkan tindakan itu sebagai bermain api yang lebih berbahaya daripada isu perkauman kerana ia boleh mencetuskan rasa tidak puas hati umat Islam dan akhirnya boleh memudaratkan keselamatan negara.
Sementara itu, Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, berkata banyak bahan yang dipaparkan dalam internet adalah berbentuk fitnah dan hasutan untuk melaga-laga rakyat.
Najib berkata, pemantauan dan mengawal selia bahan dalam internet dilakukan oleh Kementerian Penerangan dan ia dibentangkan secara berkala dalam mesyuarat jemaah menteri.
Sekiranya kita nak beri reaksi, dalam internet ada macam-macam perkara, kebanyakannya dalam bentuk fitnah dan hasutan, katanya selepas merasmikan Hari Keluarga Interaksi Orang Kurang Upaya ke-6 di Taman Tasik Titiwangsa.
Pemantauan terhadap Screenshots semalam mendapati Jeff masih enggan memohon maaf kepada rakyat Malaysia berhubung penyiaran pandangan peserta perbincangan yang menghina Islam Hadhari itu.
Sebaliknya beliau mendakwa Berita Harian cuba mengalih tumpuan dan kebimbangan umum mengenai politik wang serta menyatakan beliau dan peguamnya sedang mengkaji sama ada laporan akhbar ini berniat jahat atau tidak.
Beliau juga menulis mengenai seorang wartawan Utusan Malaysia yang dikatakan meminta reaksinya terhadap kontroversi yang dicipta Berita Harian dan berpesan kepada wartawan itu supaya quote dengan betul dan tepat segala catatan berhubung isu itu.
Sebelum itu, Screenshots menyiarkan bagaimana wartawan New Straits Times (NST) menghubunginya sekali lagi untuk mendapatkan reaksinya terhadap saranan Naib Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin, supaya Jeff Ooi bertanggungjawab dan meminta maaf terhadap kesalahan yang dilakukan.
Kelmarin, Jeff Ooi, yang mengakui dirinya bukan wartawan, mempersoalkan etika kewartawanan wartawan akhbar ini kerana tidak menghubunginya untuk mendapatkan penjelasannya sesuatu yang beliau sendiri tidak pernah lakukan apabila menulis mengenai pihak lain.
Jeff Ooi mendakwa dia tidak harus dipersalahkan kerana sudah menjawab kepada peserta terbabit bahawa ulasan berhubung perbincangan mengenai Islam Hadhari itu boleh dianggap sebagai menghina Islam dan menyakiti perasaan orang lain.
Malah, katanya, beliau juga sudah menyekat peserta yang menggunakan nama samaran Anwar itu daripada terus menggunakan kemudahan lama webnya untuk memberi ulasan, sehari sebelum Berita Harian melaporkan kisah itu.
Berita Harian, Malaysia.
Action may be taken against web blogger
The authorities are studying the form of action to be taken against web blogger Jeff Ooi for allowing derogatory statements on Islam Hadhari to be posted on his website.
Datuk Seri Lim Keng Yaik, the Minister of Energy, Water and Communications said that he had been informed of the controversy and had directed ministry officials to investigate.
"I have asked my officials to see what action can be taken," he said.
One of the participants in Ooi's forum had posted on the website that it was unacceptable to compare Islam Hadhari and money politics to "water and oil" because water and oil are suci (untainted) things.
The person, instead, stated that Islam Hadhari and money politics were like "shit and urine". Umno Youth has asked the blogger to post an apology.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak noted today that the Information Ministry monitors information posted on the Internet.
The ministry briefed the Cabinet periodically on latest news developments on the Internet. Yesterday, Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Noh Omar warned local webmasters to stop playing with fire by writing anything derogatory on Islam. Or else, the Internal Security Act might be used, he said.
Ooi has not commented on the controversy, despite several attempts by newspapers to allow him his right of reply.
NSTP, Malaysia.
AG: Hahahaha, BTW keep on your good work Mr Jeff Oii. What a tremendous cheap publicity. Don’t worry we know that what “Anwar� have comment there. Sure not written by you right. Please dont bother with that flies sound. Sejak bila pulak umat Islam have been recognised that Islam Hadhari of General Election have being portrays as a real Islam in Malaysia or another part of the world, beside of another pure cheap propaganda. How should they claimed that.
As what I've learnt before... there's only one Islam in this entire world. Cukuplah satu, sebab ummah pun dah cukup suffer dengan permasalahan perbezaan pendapat ni. Islam sudah cukup complete - syumul setelah kewafatan Rasulullah SAW. Terimalah Islam yang satu sebagai addin, cara hidup secara keseluruhannya.
So at this stage, siapa yang tidak berhak dikritik (or kutuk in malays) jika berhasrat to rebranding or intent to commercialized Islam. Sebagaimana Taliban at Afganistan have been heavily under fire because of not really portrays the real teaching of islam. Chechen rebel with their terror works at Beslan school or even in Malaysia, PAS being labled not the real Islam and everybody have the right to condemnd them. So what the different to that yours Islam Hadhari. Can someone convinced me this the only real Islam that we have, others are not Islam. Anybody?
For me personally the main issue here, bukanlah Islam Hadhari itu nak kita surehebohkan... Tapi apa yang everybody have says "Cakap tak serupa bikin, bikin tak serupa cakap." Im not against what so called Islamisation or other Islamist move, just Im totally mad with who those hypocrites. Usahlah cepat melenting dengan point of view "orang lain" terhadap agama kita... Lets realised yang dikatakan tu bukanlah Islam secara keseluruhannya, but the major concern was yang kononnya nampak macam DNA Islam, macam makhluk Muslim dalam arus politik meLAYU Malaysia tapi perangai dan tabie serta spesisnya menunjukkan sebaliknya - absolutely contradict. Malulah sikit. Lagipun siapa kamu semua yang
Nasihat aku buat pencacai-pencacai sekalian di tanahair, bukalah minda
Misi Pemurtadan yang Makin Berani
Beberapa waktu lalu, kota Tilatang Kamang Kabupaten Agam, Sumatera Barat, dikejutkan dengan penemuan ‘Al-Quran Beryesus’. Forum Aksi Bersama Anti Pemurtadan Sumatera Barat bekerja sama dengan tiga perguruan tinggi Islam yaitu STAIPIQ Padang, STAIN M. Djamil Djambek, Bukit Tinggi dan STAIN Muhammad Yunus, Batu Sangkar, melakukan penelitian dan menemukan sejumlah kejanggalan dalam ‘Al-Quran Beryesus’ itu.
Di sampul bagian dalam ‘Al-Quran’ terdapat tulisan Yesus dan panduan misa, berupa bait-bait lagu gereja. Sedangkan isinya, setelah diteliti, terdapat 36 kesalahan dalam kitab suci tersebut. Al-Quran tersebut tidak ditulis sesuai dengan standarisasi penulisan yang benar. Kesalahan-kesalahan tersebut, berpotensi menyesatkan dan menimbulkan keraguan di kalangan umat Islam.
Kasus semacam ini, sebenarnya sudah yang kedua kalinya. Menurut Ketua Forum Aksi Bersama Anti Pemurtadan di Jakarta Abu Dedaat, kasus pertama pernah terjadi di Padang Sidempuan. Oleh sebab itu Abu Dedaat menyatakan kasus ini harus segera dituntaskan supaya tidak terulang lagi. Aparat berwenang seharusnya tidak lagi melihatnya semata-mata sebagai kasus yang bernuansa SARA, tapi ada unsur kesengajaan. "Bukan tidak mungkin ini adalah cara dari kelompok misionari dalam menyebarluaskan gerakan pemurtadan di Ranah Minang yang kabarnya sedang gencar dilakukan," kata Abu Dedaat.
Abu Dedaat punya alasan kuat dengan dugaannya itu. Wilayah Sumatera Barat, menurut Abu Dedaat, menjadi salah satu target misi pemurtadan di Indonesia. Wilayah Sumatera Barat, bersama wilayah Jawa Barat dan Aceh, dianggap menjadi wilayah yang paling sulit ditembus oleh misi Kristenisasi, karena mayoritas penduduknya menganut Islam yang taat. Di kalangan misionaris, kata Abu Dedaat, ketiga wilayah tersebut menjadi tantangan tersendiri. Kalau salah satunya, utamanya wilayah Jawa Barat, bisa ditembus, maka misi Kristenisasi di wilayah lain dianggap akan lebih mudah dilakukan.
Targetnya 160 Juta Rakyat Indonesia Menjadi Pengikut Kristus
Misi Kristenisasi atau gerakan pemurtadan, sebenarnya sudah menjadi rahasia umum di negeri ini. Ini, menurut Abu Dedaat tidak lepas dari misi global Kristenisasi yang menargetkan 50 persen penduduk dunia menjadi pengikut Kristus, seperti yang tercantum dalam buku Sejarah Gereja. “Mereka melihat Indonesia sebagai lahan yang subur, karena mayoritas penduduknya beraga Islam dan merupakan negara Islam terbesar kedua di dunia. Misi Kristenisasi di Indonesia menargetkan 160 juta rakyat Indonesia atau sekitar 80 persen dari total penduduk Indonesia yang berjumlah lebih dari 200 juta orang, harus menjadi penganut agama Kristen,� papar Abu Dedaat.
Soal misi pemurtadan ini sendiri diakui oleh Pendeta Dr. Martin Sinaga, dosen Sekolah Tinggi Teologi (STT) Jakarta. Dalam artikel di majalah Pantau, dia menyatakan bahwa Kristenisasi bukan ilusi dan itu sungguh-sungguh terjadi. "Pada awalnya misi Kristenisasi dibebani oleh pemerintah kolonial yang didukung Belanda, tapi kurang berhasil. Selanjutnya, misi ini dibebani oleh negara-negara terutama Amerika Serikat, yang sulit dipungkiri punya media dan uang untuk melancarkan misionari itu," ujar Pendeta Martin Sinaga dalam wawancara dengan majalah Pantau.
Media Dakwah No.192 yang terbit pada bulan Juni 1990, pernah memuat sebuah dokumen rahasia Program Jangka Panjang Kristenisasi di Indonesia, yang dimuat majalah Crescent Internasional terbitan Toronto, Canada, edisi 16-30, November 1988, termasuk keputusan Dewan Gereja Indonesia di Jakarta, tanggal 31 September 1979 yang isinya, 'Program Kristenisasi diatur hampir di seluruh dunia terutama di negara-negara Muslim. Dunia ini hanya akan damai apabila seluruh dunia berhasil dikristenkan. Inilah yang menjadi tujuan dari kita kaum Kristen. Untuk tujuan tersebut kita kaum Kristen Indonesia harus bersatu. Usaha untuk mengkristenkan orang muslim di Indonesia didukung oleh negara-negara yang kuat seperti Amerika, Inggris, dan lain-lain. Kita kaum Kristen akan dengan amat mudah mendapatkan dana, setiap saat dari Amerika. Program Kristenisasi ini adalah tugas kita yang suci dan kita harus berhasil dlm melaksanakannya. Dan lagi, penting untuk diketahui dan disadari bahwa agar mencapai sukses dlm usaha kristenisasi, yang terpenting bagi kaum Kristen adalah bersatu dahulu. Kita kaum Kristen di Indonesia selalu dicintai, diberkati, dan dilindungi oleh Yesus.’ Target mereka, dalam jangka 50 tahun jumlah umat Kristen di Indonesia sama dengan populasi umat Islam.
Untuk mencapai tujuan tersebut, mereka membuat konsep dengan tujuan mengurangi umat Islam di Indonesia, antara lain dengan cara propaganda membatasi kelahiran lewat program KB di kalangan umat Islam, sementara di kalangan Kristen, justru ada kewajiban untuk membantu mereka yang ingin punya anak banyak, dan jika orang bersangkutan miskin harus diberi fasilitas secara materil maupun moril, dan banyak cara lainnya yang mencakup hampir semua aspek kehidupan mulai dari ekonomi, pendidikan, sosial dan budaya.
Catatan lainnya soal gerakan pemurtadan, dan ini mungkin ini bisa dikaitkan dengan ‘Al-Quran Beryesus’ di atas, sejak akhir April 2002 lalu muncul selebaran di kantong-kantong Muslim seperti Jombang, Bangil, dan Madura yang isinya berupa tiruan surat dalam al-Quran. Tulisan itu sebenarnya merupakan turunan atau terjemahan dari Furqânul Haqq alias The True Furqan (Quran Asli) yang dirilis pertama kali pada April 1999 oleh Komite Eksekutif Proyek Omega2001 .
Proyek ini merupakan satu dari sekian mega proyek misi Kristiani dengan tugas khusus antara lain membuat tiruan al-Quran sebagai alat penyebaran agama Nasrani/Kristen Dalam versi komersialnya, buku tersebut ditulis oleh seorang pastor evangelis Amerika, Dr. Anis Shorrosh dengan menggunakan nama Al-Safee dan Al-Mahdi. Menurut Shorrosh, lebih dari 1 miliar Muslim di 69 negara merupakan kekuatan yang harus diwaspadai. Mereka sedang menegakkan syariat Islam di Nigeria, Indonesia, Somalia, Iran, dan Pakistan. Untuk mencegah hal tersebut, salah satu caranya adalah dengan menyebarluaskan The True Furqan ini ke tengah-tengah masyarakat Muslim hingga al-Quran milik Islam dipandang sudah menyimpang oleh umatnya, seperti dikutip Republika (7/5/2002).
Dari sini jelas bahwa maksud dibuatnya tiruan al-Quran itu adalah untuk menghadang penegakkan syariat Islam dan mata rantai yang saling berhubungan untuk mencegah tegaknya Islam.
Ketua Forum Bersama Aksi Pemurtadan Jakarta, Abu Dedaat mengungkapkan, setidaknya ada dua pola yang dilakukan para misionaris di Indonesia saat ini dalam melakukan aktivitas pemurtadan. “Yang pertama, pola pembinaan dengan menciptakan kondisi ‘utang budi’ terhadap orang yang dimurtadkan. Misalnya dengan memberi bantuan sosial dan sejenisnya. Pola kedua adalah penghancuran aqidah agar umat Islam tidak percaya dengan ajaran agamanya sendiri,� jelas Abu Dedaat.
Selain itu kata Abu Dedaat, kaum misionaris ini juga berupaya mempromosikan konsep teologi pluralis yang menganggap semua agama sama. Kalau masyarakat sudah menganggap agama Islam dan Kristen sama, maka mau pindah agama pun tidak jadi masalah. Konsep ini disebarkan melalui kelompok-kelompok kecil.
Cara pendangkalan Aqidah ini juga dilakukan melalui istilah. Ketua Lembaga Dakwah Ulil Albab, Kodiran, yang juga giat melawan gerakan pemurtadan mengungkapkan, istilah-istilah Islam dipakai oleh orang Kristen kemudian didangkalkan pengertiannya. “Misalnya istilah iman, kalau ditanya ke anak-anak sekolah iman artinya percaya, iman percaya itu istilah Kristen. Iman menurut Islam, taat kepada Allah dan taat pada rasul. Istilah Agama juga sama, masyarakat mengatakan agama adalah kepercayaan atau keyakinan. Itu istilah Kristen. Sementara istilah agama Islam, berasal dari Dinul Islam, petunjuk tata cara kehidupan manusia dari Allah,� papar Kodiran pada Eramuslim.
Mengapa Umat Islam Mudah Terpengaruh?
Masalah Kristenisasi, menurut ketua Fakta Abu Dedaat, satu dari 3 persoalan besar yang dihadapi dunia Islam sekarang ini. Persoalan lainnya antara lain, gerakan zionis Israel dan imperialisme barat yang diistilahkan sebagai segitiga imperialisme.
Kondisi ekonomi dan kualitas keIslaman masyarakat kita, tidak bisa dipungkiri sebagai salah satu faktor seseorang mudah terpengaruh untuk pindah ke agama lain. Hal serupa juga diungkapkan oleh Kodiran dari Lembaga Dakwah Ulil Albab. Ia berpendapat, salah satunya adalah keengganan untuk mempelajari Al-Quran. “Banyak umat Islam masih beranggapan Al-Quran hanya sebagai bahan bacaan saja, bukan sebagai pelajaran atau sebagai pedoman hidup. Karena jauh dari Al-Quran, umat Islam banyak yang tidak tahu, perintah apa yang ada di Al-Quran dan tidak tahu apa tujuan hidupnya, apakah sudah sesuai dengan Al-Quran,� kata Kodiran.
Selain itu, tambah Kodiran, umat Islam cepat terpengaruh karena mereka tidak tahu apa itu Kristen. “Saya sudah uji coba, orang yang sebodoh apapun, semiskin apapun, kalau dia dikasih tahu apa itu Kristen, dia tidak mau pindah agama. Karena Kristen beda dengan Islam. Islam itu mengabdi pada Allah, sehingga manusia selamat dunia akhiat. Tapi Kristen itu sebenarnya kepercayaan terhadap Yesus dan Tuhan sebagai juru selamat,� ujar Kodiran yang sering memberikan pengajaran di bidang Kristologi.
Oleh sebab itu ia memberi solusi, agar umat Islam tidak mudah terpengaruh pindah ke agama lain dengan membentengi terlebih mereka terlebih dahulu, dengan memperbaiki metode pengajaran Al-Quran misalnya dan memberi informasi dengan jelas apa bagaimana sebenarnya Kristen itu.
Sementara itu, Ketua Fakta Abu Dedaat cenderung menekankan pada pentingnya umat Islam menyamakan misi dan visinya bahwa Islam adalah agama Rahmatan ‘Alamiin. Agama Dakwah. “Perlu mensinergikan elemen-elemen umat Islam dan lembaga-lembaga Islam yang ada. Dakwah yang selama ini terkesan parsial, harus disinergikan dan bekerjasama untuk membendung pemurtadan,� ujar Abu Dedaat.
Fakta Kegiatan Pemurtadan di Indonesia
Seperti yang sudah disinggung di atas, bahwa tujuan pemurtadan di Indonesia tidak lain untuk memperbesar populasi penganut kristus. Ketua Fakta Abu Dedaat maupun Ketua Lembaga Dakwah Ulil Albab, Kodiran mengakui bahwa jumlah umat Islam saat ini makin menurun, sementara jumlah umat nasrani menunjukkan kecenderungan meningkat.
Sayangnya, sulit untuk mencari akurasi data ini, karena memang tidak ada lembaga yang khusus mengani masalah ini. Tapi perbandingan angka dari BPS mungkin bisa menjadi acuan. Beradasarkan survey BPS tahun 1990, dari 200 juta jiwa rakyat Indonesia, 87,3 persennya beragama Islam. Sementara umat Kristen Protestan 6 persen, Katolik 3,6 persen, dan selebihnya penganut agama lain.
Dalam rentang waktu 9 tahun, ternyata terjadi penurunan jumlah umat Islam yang cukup signifikan, seperti dimuat dalam tabloid SIAR edisi No.43, November, 1999. Tabloid itu menuliskan, jumlah umat Islam yang pada survey BPS tahun 1990 prosentasenya mencapai 87 persen lebih, turun drastis menjadi 75 persen.
Terlepas dari apa saja penyebab penurunan itu, hasil temuan Litbang Departemen Agama bisa dicermati. Menurut hasil temuan itu, ada 2 hal penyebab penurunan populasi umat Islam, yaitu keberhasilan program KB yang gencar dilakukan pada kaum Muslimin, tapi tidak pada kaum non Muslim. Sehingga pertumbuhan populasi umat Kristen jauh lebih cepat.
Penyebab kedua adalah, keberhasilan program Kristenisasi, yang makin hari makin berani dan canggih serta mengabaikan kode etik penyiaran agama. Fakta di lapangan menunjukkan para misionaris seringkali melakukan penyimpangan dalam menyebarkan injil dan kekristenan di Indonesia. Penyimpangan yang mereka lakukan antara lain, pembangunan gereja di tengah masyarakat yang mayoritas Muslim.Dengan Gereja yang megah dan kebaktian-kebaktian yang mereka lakukan, kaum nasrani pelan-pelan menarik simpati warga sekitar. Kasus pembangunan gereja yang membuahkan kemarahan warga sekitar misalnya kasus pendirian gereja GPIB Shalom di kawasan Depok yang akhirnya dirusak dan dibakar massa pada tanggal 2 Nopember 1999.
Selain menggunakan cara yang halus, pemurtadan yang dilakukan kaum misionaris juga dilakukan dengan cara yang keji. Kita tentu masih ingat kasus-kasus pemurtadan dengan cara pemerkosaan gadis-gadis muslimah. Kasus seperti ini pernah terungkap di kota Padang, Sumatera Barat.
Siswi MAN Padang Khairiyah Anniswah, diculik dan dijebak oleh aktivis Kristen dengan diberi minuman perangsang lalu diperkosa. Setelah tidak berdaya, dia dibaptis dan dikristenkan. Kasus serupa menimpa Linda, siswi SPK Aisyah Padang. Ia diculik dan disekap oleh komplotan aktivis Kristen dan diperlakukan secara tidak manusiawi supaya masuk Kristen dan menyembah Yesus Kristus.
Itu sebagian modus yang dilakukan untuk memurtadkan umat Islam. Harian Republika edisi April,1999 pernah memuat berita modus pemurtadan dengan cara penyebaran narkoba yang dilakukan oleh misionaris dari Yayasan Sekolah Tinggi Theologi (STT) Doulos, di Lembang, Bandung. Para pemuda diwilayah itu diberi minuman keras dan obat terlarang sampai kecanduan, setelah itu mereka disembuhkan di panti rehabilitasi Doulos sambil dicekoki dengan ajaran-ajaran Kristen dan Injil.
Masih banyak lagi, tipu daya yang dilakukan kaum misionaris untuk memurtadkan umat Islam. Cara mereka pun makin berani, misalnya dengan memberikan kesaksian palsu atau melalui selebaran dan buku-buku yang berkedok Islam.
Eramuslim
Di sampul bagian dalam ‘Al-Quran’ terdapat tulisan Yesus dan panduan misa, berupa bait-bait lagu gereja. Sedangkan isinya, setelah diteliti, terdapat 36 kesalahan dalam kitab suci tersebut. Al-Quran tersebut tidak ditulis sesuai dengan standarisasi penulisan yang benar. Kesalahan-kesalahan tersebut, berpotensi menyesatkan dan menimbulkan keraguan di kalangan umat Islam.
Kasus semacam ini, sebenarnya sudah yang kedua kalinya. Menurut Ketua Forum Aksi Bersama Anti Pemurtadan di Jakarta Abu Dedaat, kasus pertama pernah terjadi di Padang Sidempuan. Oleh sebab itu Abu Dedaat menyatakan kasus ini harus segera dituntaskan supaya tidak terulang lagi. Aparat berwenang seharusnya tidak lagi melihatnya semata-mata sebagai kasus yang bernuansa SARA, tapi ada unsur kesengajaan. "Bukan tidak mungkin ini adalah cara dari kelompok misionari dalam menyebarluaskan gerakan pemurtadan di Ranah Minang yang kabarnya sedang gencar dilakukan," kata Abu Dedaat.
Abu Dedaat punya alasan kuat dengan dugaannya itu. Wilayah Sumatera Barat, menurut Abu Dedaat, menjadi salah satu target misi pemurtadan di Indonesia. Wilayah Sumatera Barat, bersama wilayah Jawa Barat dan Aceh, dianggap menjadi wilayah yang paling sulit ditembus oleh misi Kristenisasi, karena mayoritas penduduknya menganut Islam yang taat. Di kalangan misionaris, kata Abu Dedaat, ketiga wilayah tersebut menjadi tantangan tersendiri. Kalau salah satunya, utamanya wilayah Jawa Barat, bisa ditembus, maka misi Kristenisasi di wilayah lain dianggap akan lebih mudah dilakukan.
Targetnya 160 Juta Rakyat Indonesia Menjadi Pengikut Kristus
Misi Kristenisasi atau gerakan pemurtadan, sebenarnya sudah menjadi rahasia umum di negeri ini. Ini, menurut Abu Dedaat tidak lepas dari misi global Kristenisasi yang menargetkan 50 persen penduduk dunia menjadi pengikut Kristus, seperti yang tercantum dalam buku Sejarah Gereja. “Mereka melihat Indonesia sebagai lahan yang subur, karena mayoritas penduduknya beraga Islam dan merupakan negara Islam terbesar kedua di dunia. Misi Kristenisasi di Indonesia menargetkan 160 juta rakyat Indonesia atau sekitar 80 persen dari total penduduk Indonesia yang berjumlah lebih dari 200 juta orang, harus menjadi penganut agama Kristen,� papar Abu Dedaat.
Soal misi pemurtadan ini sendiri diakui oleh Pendeta Dr. Martin Sinaga, dosen Sekolah Tinggi Teologi (STT) Jakarta. Dalam artikel di majalah Pantau, dia menyatakan bahwa Kristenisasi bukan ilusi dan itu sungguh-sungguh terjadi. "Pada awalnya misi Kristenisasi dibebani oleh pemerintah kolonial yang didukung Belanda, tapi kurang berhasil. Selanjutnya, misi ini dibebani oleh negara-negara terutama Amerika Serikat, yang sulit dipungkiri punya media dan uang untuk melancarkan misionari itu," ujar Pendeta Martin Sinaga dalam wawancara dengan majalah Pantau.
Media Dakwah No.192 yang terbit pada bulan Juni 1990, pernah memuat sebuah dokumen rahasia Program Jangka Panjang Kristenisasi di Indonesia, yang dimuat majalah Crescent Internasional terbitan Toronto, Canada, edisi 16-30, November 1988, termasuk keputusan Dewan Gereja Indonesia di Jakarta, tanggal 31 September 1979 yang isinya, 'Program Kristenisasi diatur hampir di seluruh dunia terutama di negara-negara Muslim. Dunia ini hanya akan damai apabila seluruh dunia berhasil dikristenkan. Inilah yang menjadi tujuan dari kita kaum Kristen. Untuk tujuan tersebut kita kaum Kristen Indonesia harus bersatu. Usaha untuk mengkristenkan orang muslim di Indonesia didukung oleh negara-negara yang kuat seperti Amerika, Inggris, dan lain-lain. Kita kaum Kristen akan dengan amat mudah mendapatkan dana, setiap saat dari Amerika. Program Kristenisasi ini adalah tugas kita yang suci dan kita harus berhasil dlm melaksanakannya. Dan lagi, penting untuk diketahui dan disadari bahwa agar mencapai sukses dlm usaha kristenisasi, yang terpenting bagi kaum Kristen adalah bersatu dahulu. Kita kaum Kristen di Indonesia selalu dicintai, diberkati, dan dilindungi oleh Yesus.’ Target mereka, dalam jangka 50 tahun jumlah umat Kristen di Indonesia sama dengan populasi umat Islam.
Untuk mencapai tujuan tersebut, mereka membuat konsep dengan tujuan mengurangi umat Islam di Indonesia, antara lain dengan cara propaganda membatasi kelahiran lewat program KB di kalangan umat Islam, sementara di kalangan Kristen, justru ada kewajiban untuk membantu mereka yang ingin punya anak banyak, dan jika orang bersangkutan miskin harus diberi fasilitas secara materil maupun moril, dan banyak cara lainnya yang mencakup hampir semua aspek kehidupan mulai dari ekonomi, pendidikan, sosial dan budaya.
Catatan lainnya soal gerakan pemurtadan, dan ini mungkin ini bisa dikaitkan dengan ‘Al-Quran Beryesus’ di atas, sejak akhir April 2002 lalu muncul selebaran di kantong-kantong Muslim seperti Jombang, Bangil, dan Madura yang isinya berupa tiruan surat dalam al-Quran. Tulisan itu sebenarnya merupakan turunan atau terjemahan dari Furqânul Haqq alias The True Furqan (Quran Asli) yang dirilis pertama kali pada April 1999 oleh Komite Eksekutif Proyek Omega2001 .
Proyek ini merupakan satu dari sekian mega proyek misi Kristiani dengan tugas khusus antara lain membuat tiruan al-Quran sebagai alat penyebaran agama Nasrani/Kristen Dalam versi komersialnya, buku tersebut ditulis oleh seorang pastor evangelis Amerika, Dr. Anis Shorrosh dengan menggunakan nama Al-Safee dan Al-Mahdi. Menurut Shorrosh, lebih dari 1 miliar Muslim di 69 negara merupakan kekuatan yang harus diwaspadai. Mereka sedang menegakkan syariat Islam di Nigeria, Indonesia, Somalia, Iran, dan Pakistan. Untuk mencegah hal tersebut, salah satu caranya adalah dengan menyebarluaskan The True Furqan ini ke tengah-tengah masyarakat Muslim hingga al-Quran milik Islam dipandang sudah menyimpang oleh umatnya, seperti dikutip Republika (7/5/2002).
Dari sini jelas bahwa maksud dibuatnya tiruan al-Quran itu adalah untuk menghadang penegakkan syariat Islam dan mata rantai yang saling berhubungan untuk mencegah tegaknya Islam.
Ketua Forum Bersama Aksi Pemurtadan Jakarta, Abu Dedaat mengungkapkan, setidaknya ada dua pola yang dilakukan para misionaris di Indonesia saat ini dalam melakukan aktivitas pemurtadan. “Yang pertama, pola pembinaan dengan menciptakan kondisi ‘utang budi’ terhadap orang yang dimurtadkan. Misalnya dengan memberi bantuan sosial dan sejenisnya. Pola kedua adalah penghancuran aqidah agar umat Islam tidak percaya dengan ajaran agamanya sendiri,� jelas Abu Dedaat.
Selain itu kata Abu Dedaat, kaum misionaris ini juga berupaya mempromosikan konsep teologi pluralis yang menganggap semua agama sama. Kalau masyarakat sudah menganggap agama Islam dan Kristen sama, maka mau pindah agama pun tidak jadi masalah. Konsep ini disebarkan melalui kelompok-kelompok kecil.
Cara pendangkalan Aqidah ini juga dilakukan melalui istilah. Ketua Lembaga Dakwah Ulil Albab, Kodiran, yang juga giat melawan gerakan pemurtadan mengungkapkan, istilah-istilah Islam dipakai oleh orang Kristen kemudian didangkalkan pengertiannya. “Misalnya istilah iman, kalau ditanya ke anak-anak sekolah iman artinya percaya, iman percaya itu istilah Kristen. Iman menurut Islam, taat kepada Allah dan taat pada rasul. Istilah Agama juga sama, masyarakat mengatakan agama adalah kepercayaan atau keyakinan. Itu istilah Kristen. Sementara istilah agama Islam, berasal dari Dinul Islam, petunjuk tata cara kehidupan manusia dari Allah,� papar Kodiran pada Eramuslim.
Mengapa Umat Islam Mudah Terpengaruh?
Masalah Kristenisasi, menurut ketua Fakta Abu Dedaat, satu dari 3 persoalan besar yang dihadapi dunia Islam sekarang ini. Persoalan lainnya antara lain, gerakan zionis Israel dan imperialisme barat yang diistilahkan sebagai segitiga imperialisme.
Kondisi ekonomi dan kualitas keIslaman masyarakat kita, tidak bisa dipungkiri sebagai salah satu faktor seseorang mudah terpengaruh untuk pindah ke agama lain. Hal serupa juga diungkapkan oleh Kodiran dari Lembaga Dakwah Ulil Albab. Ia berpendapat, salah satunya adalah keengganan untuk mempelajari Al-Quran. “Banyak umat Islam masih beranggapan Al-Quran hanya sebagai bahan bacaan saja, bukan sebagai pelajaran atau sebagai pedoman hidup. Karena jauh dari Al-Quran, umat Islam banyak yang tidak tahu, perintah apa yang ada di Al-Quran dan tidak tahu apa tujuan hidupnya, apakah sudah sesuai dengan Al-Quran,� kata Kodiran.
Selain itu, tambah Kodiran, umat Islam cepat terpengaruh karena mereka tidak tahu apa itu Kristen. “Saya sudah uji coba, orang yang sebodoh apapun, semiskin apapun, kalau dia dikasih tahu apa itu Kristen, dia tidak mau pindah agama. Karena Kristen beda dengan Islam. Islam itu mengabdi pada Allah, sehingga manusia selamat dunia akhiat. Tapi Kristen itu sebenarnya kepercayaan terhadap Yesus dan Tuhan sebagai juru selamat,� ujar Kodiran yang sering memberikan pengajaran di bidang Kristologi.
Oleh sebab itu ia memberi solusi, agar umat Islam tidak mudah terpengaruh pindah ke agama lain dengan membentengi terlebih mereka terlebih dahulu, dengan memperbaiki metode pengajaran Al-Quran misalnya dan memberi informasi dengan jelas apa bagaimana sebenarnya Kristen itu.
Sementara itu, Ketua Fakta Abu Dedaat cenderung menekankan pada pentingnya umat Islam menyamakan misi dan visinya bahwa Islam adalah agama Rahmatan ‘Alamiin. Agama Dakwah. “Perlu mensinergikan elemen-elemen umat Islam dan lembaga-lembaga Islam yang ada. Dakwah yang selama ini terkesan parsial, harus disinergikan dan bekerjasama untuk membendung pemurtadan,� ujar Abu Dedaat.
Fakta Kegiatan Pemurtadan di Indonesia
Seperti yang sudah disinggung di atas, bahwa tujuan pemurtadan di Indonesia tidak lain untuk memperbesar populasi penganut kristus. Ketua Fakta Abu Dedaat maupun Ketua Lembaga Dakwah Ulil Albab, Kodiran mengakui bahwa jumlah umat Islam saat ini makin menurun, sementara jumlah umat nasrani menunjukkan kecenderungan meningkat.
Sayangnya, sulit untuk mencari akurasi data ini, karena memang tidak ada lembaga yang khusus mengani masalah ini. Tapi perbandingan angka dari BPS mungkin bisa menjadi acuan. Beradasarkan survey BPS tahun 1990, dari 200 juta jiwa rakyat Indonesia, 87,3 persennya beragama Islam. Sementara umat Kristen Protestan 6 persen, Katolik 3,6 persen, dan selebihnya penganut agama lain.
Dalam rentang waktu 9 tahun, ternyata terjadi penurunan jumlah umat Islam yang cukup signifikan, seperti dimuat dalam tabloid SIAR edisi No.43, November, 1999. Tabloid itu menuliskan, jumlah umat Islam yang pada survey BPS tahun 1990 prosentasenya mencapai 87 persen lebih, turun drastis menjadi 75 persen.
Terlepas dari apa saja penyebab penurunan itu, hasil temuan Litbang Departemen Agama bisa dicermati. Menurut hasil temuan itu, ada 2 hal penyebab penurunan populasi umat Islam, yaitu keberhasilan program KB yang gencar dilakukan pada kaum Muslimin, tapi tidak pada kaum non Muslim. Sehingga pertumbuhan populasi umat Kristen jauh lebih cepat.
Penyebab kedua adalah, keberhasilan program Kristenisasi, yang makin hari makin berani dan canggih serta mengabaikan kode etik penyiaran agama. Fakta di lapangan menunjukkan para misionaris seringkali melakukan penyimpangan dalam menyebarkan injil dan kekristenan di Indonesia. Penyimpangan yang mereka lakukan antara lain, pembangunan gereja di tengah masyarakat yang mayoritas Muslim.Dengan Gereja yang megah dan kebaktian-kebaktian yang mereka lakukan, kaum nasrani pelan-pelan menarik simpati warga sekitar. Kasus pembangunan gereja yang membuahkan kemarahan warga sekitar misalnya kasus pendirian gereja GPIB Shalom di kawasan Depok yang akhirnya dirusak dan dibakar massa pada tanggal 2 Nopember 1999.
Selain menggunakan cara yang halus, pemurtadan yang dilakukan kaum misionaris juga dilakukan dengan cara yang keji. Kita tentu masih ingat kasus-kasus pemurtadan dengan cara pemerkosaan gadis-gadis muslimah. Kasus seperti ini pernah terungkap di kota Padang, Sumatera Barat.
Siswi MAN Padang Khairiyah Anniswah, diculik dan dijebak oleh aktivis Kristen dengan diberi minuman perangsang lalu diperkosa. Setelah tidak berdaya, dia dibaptis dan dikristenkan. Kasus serupa menimpa Linda, siswi SPK Aisyah Padang. Ia diculik dan disekap oleh komplotan aktivis Kristen dan diperlakukan secara tidak manusiawi supaya masuk Kristen dan menyembah Yesus Kristus.
Itu sebagian modus yang dilakukan untuk memurtadkan umat Islam. Harian Republika edisi April,1999 pernah memuat berita modus pemurtadan dengan cara penyebaran narkoba yang dilakukan oleh misionaris dari Yayasan Sekolah Tinggi Theologi (STT) Doulos, di Lembang, Bandung. Para pemuda diwilayah itu diberi minuman keras dan obat terlarang sampai kecanduan, setelah itu mereka disembuhkan di panti rehabilitasi Doulos sambil dicekoki dengan ajaran-ajaran Kristen dan Injil.
Masih banyak lagi, tipu daya yang dilakukan kaum misionaris untuk memurtadkan umat Islam. Cara mereka pun makin berani, misalnya dengan memberikan kesaksian palsu atau melalui selebaran dan buku-buku yang berkedok Islam.
Eramuslim
Monday, October 04, 2004
Militant cleric appeals for release of Indonesian hostages in Iraq
An Indonesian cleric accused of heading an al-Qaida-linked terror group does not want to be freed in exchange for the release of two Indonesian women being held in Iraq, as their captors have reportedly demanded, his lawyer said Saturday.
Abu Bakar Bashir urged the group holding the Indonesians to release them immediately, saying, "God's warriors should not fight by taking innocent women hostages," attorney Mohammed Assegaf quoted him as saying.
"He only wants to be released by fighting in court," he said. "Even if he is released because of this, he will walk right back into prison."
Arab TV station Al-Jazeera showed footage Thursday of 10 hostages seized in Iraq by a militant group calling itself The Islamic Army. The hostages included Indonesians Rosidah binti Anan and Rafikan binti Aming.
On Saturday, Al-Jazeera said it had received a written statement from the group demanding that Bashir, who has been in jail since 2002, be released. (Wow, its now a global issue)
Indonesia's foreign ministry said it would not comment until the report was confirmed.
If true, the demand to free Bashir will dramatically add to the pressure on Indonesia's secular government as it prepares to bring fresh charges against him of heading Jemaah Islamiyah, a regional terror network.
Bashir was cleared of separate terrorism-related charges last year by a Jakarta court but was sentenced to 18 months in jail for immigration violations. He was rearrested in April after serving his jail sentence and has remained behind bars since then.
Assegaf suggested that the demand hadn't come from the kidnappers, but could be a "game by the Americans to smear Bashir's name. They want to create an impression that there is a link between Abu Bakar Bashir and the group in Iraq."
Bashir has always denied any links to Jemaah Islamiyah. Police blame the group for last month's suicide attack outside the Australian Embassy that killed nine Indonesians and for the 2002 Bali bombings, which left 202 dead.
Bashir has little active support in the world's most populous Muslim nation, but some fellow clerics and ordinary Indonesians are sympathetic to the aging cleric's plight amid allegations that he is a victim of American pressure on Indonesia to crack down on terror.
Outgoing Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri urged the kidnappers to release the women and allow them to return to their families.(What else can she do... appeals)
China Post, Taiwan
Jailed cleric refuses release for hostages
By Lely T Djuhari
JAKARTA, Indonesia — A jailed Indonesian cleric refused to be freed in exchange for two hostages held in Iraq, claiming that kidnapping and holding fellow Muslims is not permitted in Islam.
Cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, who Washington says is a terror mastermind in Southeast Asia, has been in prison since 2002, accused of heading an al Qaeda-linked group. He was arrested three weeks after the Bali bombings killed 202 persons that year.
In Iraq, an Islamic militant group claiming to have kidnapped two Indonesian women in Iraq had demanded Bashir's release in exchange for the hostages.
But yesterday, the slender, white-bearded preacher — an admirer of Osama bin Laden (since when FBI found Osama pix inside Abu Bakar wallet, what a surprise)— castigated the captors as un-Islamic and said he would not be part of any exchange.
"I cannot justify this kidnapping. I demand that they be freed as Islam does not condone taking hostages of Muslim sisters and brothers," Bashir said in response to questions by the Associated Press. "If the captors are Muslim, they truly do not understand Islam."
Bashir's voice was recorded and a copy of the recording was smuggled out of prison.
The kidnapping report could not be immediately confirmed.
Arab TV station Al Jazeera showed footage Thursday of 10 hostages seized by a militant group calling itself The Islamic Army in Iraq. The hostages included Indonesians Rosidah binti Anan and Rafikan binti Aming. It is unclear when the two Indonesian women were seized. Of the other hostages shown, two were Lebanese, and six Iraqi.
Earlier yesterday, Al Jazeera said it had received a written statement from the group demanding that Bashir be released. The Islamic Army in Iraq has also claimed responsibility for kidnapping two French journalists who disappeared with their Syrian driver on Aug. 20.
Bashir's attorney, Muhammad Assegaf, also said the cleric rejected the kidnapping. Bashir wants to fight the charges against him in court and refuses to be released in such circumstances, Mr. Assegaf said.
"Even if he is released because of this, he will walk right back into prison," he said.
Bashir has little active support in the world's most populous Muslim nation, but some fellow clerics and ordinary Indonesians are sympathetic to the aging cleric's plight amid allegations that he is a victim of American pressure on Indonesia to crack down on terror.
U.S. Embassy officials could not be reached for comment. (As usual)
Indonesian police have dropped plans to charge Bashir in the Bali bombings. Prosecutors say they now plan to charge him with heading Jemaah Islamiyah, a regional terror network, and for the bombing last year of the Jakarta JW Marriott hotel, in which 12 persons were killed.
Bashir has repeatedly denied involvement in terrorism and being linked to Jemaah Islamiyah.
Outgoing Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri urged the kidnappers to release the women and allow them to return to their families.
AP/Washington Times
Hostages offered in return for Bashir
Indonesia awaits news of Iraq hostages, tries to trace families
AG: That sound great right, JI nowadays goes global. First Australia, now Iraq. Where do you think next? Officially from now Abu Bakar will become Sec General for Osama groups in South East Asia.
Abu Bakar Bashir urged the group holding the Indonesians to release them immediately, saying, "God's warriors should not fight by taking innocent women hostages," attorney Mohammed Assegaf quoted him as saying.
"He only wants to be released by fighting in court," he said. "Even if he is released because of this, he will walk right back into prison."
Arab TV station Al-Jazeera showed footage Thursday of 10 hostages seized in Iraq by a militant group calling itself The Islamic Army. The hostages included Indonesians Rosidah binti Anan and Rafikan binti Aming.
On Saturday, Al-Jazeera said it had received a written statement from the group demanding that Bashir, who has been in jail since 2002, be released. (Wow, its now a global issue)
Indonesia's foreign ministry said it would not comment until the report was confirmed.
If true, the demand to free Bashir will dramatically add to the pressure on Indonesia's secular government as it prepares to bring fresh charges against him of heading Jemaah Islamiyah, a regional terror network.
Bashir was cleared of separate terrorism-related charges last year by a Jakarta court but was sentenced to 18 months in jail for immigration violations. He was rearrested in April after serving his jail sentence and has remained behind bars since then.
Assegaf suggested that the demand hadn't come from the kidnappers, but could be a "game by the Americans to smear Bashir's name. They want to create an impression that there is a link between Abu Bakar Bashir and the group in Iraq."
Bashir has always denied any links to Jemaah Islamiyah. Police blame the group for last month's suicide attack outside the Australian Embassy that killed nine Indonesians and for the 2002 Bali bombings, which left 202 dead.
Bashir has little active support in the world's most populous Muslim nation, but some fellow clerics and ordinary Indonesians are sympathetic to the aging cleric's plight amid allegations that he is a victim of American pressure on Indonesia to crack down on terror.
Outgoing Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri urged the kidnappers to release the women and allow them to return to their families.(What else can she do... appeals)
China Post, Taiwan
Jailed cleric refuses release for hostages
By Lely T Djuhari
JAKARTA, Indonesia — A jailed Indonesian cleric refused to be freed in exchange for two hostages held in Iraq, claiming that kidnapping and holding fellow Muslims is not permitted in Islam.
Cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, who Washington says is a terror mastermind in Southeast Asia, has been in prison since 2002, accused of heading an al Qaeda-linked group. He was arrested three weeks after the Bali bombings killed 202 persons that year.
In Iraq, an Islamic militant group claiming to have kidnapped two Indonesian women in Iraq had demanded Bashir's release in exchange for the hostages.
But yesterday, the slender, white-bearded preacher — an admirer of Osama bin Laden (since when FBI found Osama pix inside Abu Bakar wallet, what a surprise)— castigated the captors as un-Islamic and said he would not be part of any exchange.
"I cannot justify this kidnapping. I demand that they be freed as Islam does not condone taking hostages of Muslim sisters and brothers," Bashir said in response to questions by the Associated Press. "If the captors are Muslim, they truly do not understand Islam."
Bashir's voice was recorded and a copy of the recording was smuggled out of prison.
The kidnapping report could not be immediately confirmed.
Arab TV station Al Jazeera showed footage Thursday of 10 hostages seized by a militant group calling itself The Islamic Army in Iraq. The hostages included Indonesians Rosidah binti Anan and Rafikan binti Aming. It is unclear when the two Indonesian women were seized. Of the other hostages shown, two were Lebanese, and six Iraqi.
Earlier yesterday, Al Jazeera said it had received a written statement from the group demanding that Bashir be released. The Islamic Army in Iraq has also claimed responsibility for kidnapping two French journalists who disappeared with their Syrian driver on Aug. 20.
Bashir's attorney, Muhammad Assegaf, also said the cleric rejected the kidnapping. Bashir wants to fight the charges against him in court and refuses to be released in such circumstances, Mr. Assegaf said.
"Even if he is released because of this, he will walk right back into prison," he said.
Bashir has little active support in the world's most populous Muslim nation, but some fellow clerics and ordinary Indonesians are sympathetic to the aging cleric's plight amid allegations that he is a victim of American pressure on Indonesia to crack down on terror.
U.S. Embassy officials could not be reached for comment. (As usual)
Indonesian police have dropped plans to charge Bashir in the Bali bombings. Prosecutors say they now plan to charge him with heading Jemaah Islamiyah, a regional terror network, and for the bombing last year of the Jakarta JW Marriott hotel, in which 12 persons were killed.
Bashir has repeatedly denied involvement in terrorism and being linked to Jemaah Islamiyah.
Outgoing Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri urged the kidnappers to release the women and allow them to return to their families.
AP/Washington Times
AG: That sound great right, JI nowadays goes global. First Australia, now Iraq. Where do you think next? Officially from now Abu Bakar will become Sec General for Osama groups in South East Asia.
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