REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Chairman of the Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) Mahfudz Siddiq has called for a probe into the alleged presence of Israelis and Zionist symbols in Tolikara, Papua.
Their motive would not be to spread their religion as Judaism is an exclusive religion, the lawmaker affirmed here on Wednesday.
"The presence of Israeli citizens in Papua and Israeli symbols in Tolikara as reported on the social media is not by accident," he stated.
He suspected that the Israelis are being used for a political operation in Papua, in general. Therefore, the security authorities must thoroughly investigate their presence in Papua.
"It is most likely that a certain party has used those people to conduct a political operation in Papua," he said.
Not only in Tolikara, but the government, through the National Police, the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), and the foreign ministry, should also investigate the presence of Israeli passport holders, he added.
The Tolikara case could not be considered as a serious issue if it is not related to the Papuan separatist movement.
However, the case could become a serious issue if it is related to the separatist movement in Papua.
"They just need a trigger. We need to remember that maintaining peace in Papua is not only in the interest of Indonesia but also in the interests of several other countries," he added.
The Tolikara case is a warning for the government to comprehensively solve the Papua problem, he stated.
The Tolikara incident occurred on July 17 morning when hundreds of people attacked and pelted stones at the Muslims performing outdoor Eid al-Fitr prayers at the military office's yard in Karubaga sub-district, Tolikara district, forcing the worshippers, who are Muslim minority in the area, to flee to a nearby local military office for protection.
The mob set fires that burnt down more than 50 kiosks and houses, as well as the Baitul Mutaqqin mosque.
The attack prompted security officers to open fire at them. Some 11 perpetrators, who are members of the Evangelical Church in Indonesia (GIDI), were injured, while one was killed in the shooting.
The Tolikara GIDI had earlier issued a circular banning Muslims from performing Eid al-Fitr prayers in the district, as it had coincided with an international Evangelical Churches' meeting on July 13-19, which was attended by 2.5 thousand participants, including representatives from the Netherlands, the United States, Papua New Guinea, Palau, and Israel.
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