Indonesian Women’s Coalition decided to join in the rally of National Alliance for the Freedom of Faith and Religion (Aliansi  Kebangsaan untuk Kebebasan Beragama dan Berkeyakinan) as part of an important reflection as citizen of the nation. Initial information: the rally for religious tolerance was in the form of a Declaration of Public Petition for Freedom of Religion and to protest the rise of oil price. The route of this rally was around the National Museum – Hotel Indonesia Circle. Many people joined this rally, and most of them were women and children.

Myself (Lolly) and several friends from Indonesian Women’s Coalition arrived at the gate of National Museum at 13.10 that day. Some friends had cancelled their participation for several reasons. At that time we were confused to identify where the participants of the rally were because there were several other groups in same location. We saw Guntur Romli, one of the rally leaders, and tried to call him. He waved his hand and seemed busy talking with the others. We, then, decided to reach the location where the participants gathered and to start the rally by walking to Hotel Indonesia Circle.

While walking, we saw many people running towards us in panic. We tried to ask them on what was happening, but they did not answer and kept running. I realized that I brought a camera, and then I decided to separate from my group and run into the riot point. There a women, middle age man and older man ran toward me. I tried to ask once more what was happening there. They answered ‘we do not know, suddenly several people attacked and hit us’. The older man stopped and asked me where are I was from?. I answered that I am member of the Indonesian Women’s Coalition. In front of me, his son and daughter called him loudly to restrain from entering the riot. The old man seemed worried about me and told me something that I was not able to hear. My heart was beating fast but I kept running into the location to ensure the real situation. I saw Guntur running while he told the women and children to run and save their lives.

Next, I saw the Islamic Defenders Front members attacking the rally participants brutally. They did not consider that the participants were mainly women and children. While attacking the women and children the rioters were shouting the name of God (Allahu Akbar). The situation was out of control, there were people screaming every where. It was really unbelievable, and made me almost cry while I saw immoral things happening in front of me. I tried to help evacuate some women and children by liftomg up the portal in the park. I still remember seeing a man carrying his children on his back running with his wife to avoid the attacks. Unfortunately, he got caught and one of the mob caught hold of him by his neck. His children fell and his wife tried to help him by hitting the man who was attacking her husband. Her actions made that the attacker retaliate against her and he hit her also. All I could do was just scream out loud for help. The attackers were only 10 meters away from me. I was hoping there will be some help to save that family. Some people around me did the same thing; their screaming made the extremist group members run toward us and tried to catch us. There were about a hundred brutal men attacking several people around me. I tried to calm down myself and keep silent to not attract attention. I stood at the centre of the riot till thankfully, the police team (around 50 officers) is came to stop the violence.

After the perpetrators were caught by the police, I felt the air was so fresh. I could not describe my feeling while the mob was screaming the sacred words “Allahu Akbar”. For me, their brutality was inconsistent with the meaning of the words. The police made a barricade in front of the extremists. I thought the situation was rather normal and it was safe for me to take some pictures when I suddenly heard someone screaming and pointing toward a woman. ‘That is the women who we were searching for this time’. And, suddenly, they were also pointing towards me and they tried to cross police barricade. The woman, whom I acknowledge as a member from the National Alliance of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (ANBTI) was run to save her life. I did the same thing. I hid behind the police barricade to save my life. I wonder would have happened if there were no police at that time. I realized even though I brought a camera I did not have a press ID card. I was in a dangerous situation.

I joined my group, Indonesian Women’s Coalition, after ensuring that the situation was in control. We, then, moved to the National Gallery to join the National Alliance conducting a press conference. There were many journalists who attended to hear and report the chronology of the incident. We also tried to identify some victims from our side and we decided to report the FPI to the authorities for the attacks. I also met several journalists who at that time ignored their journalistic tasks and helped the women and children.

We returned to our office after the press conference and wrote articles and press releases asking for the authorities to take quick response for the incident. We distributed these articles via our mailing list and mass media. Several friend monitored the progress in the media.

My friends, I feel that this is a very traumatic experience. I keep remembering this scary incident in my mind and it makes me very sad. I give my deepest sympathy and condolences for all of the incident victims and for the hard challenges that the people of Indonesia have to face. I feel peace has been curtailed in this country.

 

Best regards,

Loly Suhenti

KPI/ Indonesian Women’s Coalition