3 Ustaz Arrested By Densus 88, HNW PKS Politician Questions Attendance To Handle Papuan KKB

Deputy Chairman of the MPR RI Hidayat Nur Wahid/Antara

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly, Hidayat Nur Wahid, questioned the absence of Densus 88 Anti-terror in handling and preventing acts of terror carried out by armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua.

In fact, according to him, the group has disturbed the state because it has caused material and immaterial losses. Hidayat's statement is also a response to the arrest of three suspected terrorist missionaries by Densus 88 Anti-terror. The three are Ustaz Farid Okbah (FAO), Ustaz Zain An-Najah (ZA), and Ustaz Anung Al-Hamat (AA). One of them is a member of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

Hidayat then reminded the statement of Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD that since last April, the Papuan KKB had been declared by the state as a terrorist group.

“In fact, they have challenged the state, lowered the red and white flag, they have killed TNI soldiers, Polri, killed health workers, burned markets, health centers, and schools. These are real terrorists in front of our eyes and threaten the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. How come, it doesn't sound like Densus 88 made the arrests," Hidayat told reporters, Thursday, November 18. With the arrest of three ulama and no echo of the arrest of KKB in Papua, Hidayat is worried that the response of Densus 88 to the arrest of three ulama rather than KKB in Papua could raise big questions in the community. One of them is regarding the handling of Densus 88 Anti-terror, which always targets religious groups.

"This injustice raises a big question mark, why are Muslims then targeted," said the senior PKS politician.