Shiah Refugees in Madura Sent Home

“It is a major human rights violation to send the refugees home."

The local government of Sampang Regency has sent home more than 200 Shiah residents who previously took refuge because of arson in Nangkernang village in Karanggayam, Omben, Sampang, Madura, East Java last Dec 29.

The residents, including their leader, Tajuk Muluk, were returned home despite their refusal to leave the sanctuary in Sampang’s Indoor Tennis Stadium, for security reasons.

The team of lawyers of Ahlulbait Indonesia, Hadun Alhadad, regretted this action. He said that the negotiation and discussion processes are not finished yet. He even said that the refugees were sent home because of the coming local election.

“It is a major human rights violation to send the refugees home. The negotiation process has been breached and there was also an intention to remove these people from Sampang,” Hadun said on Friday, Jan 13.

Hadun also said that the policy holders are siding with the majority, because it will be beneficial during the election. “We, the minority, will surely lose,” he continued.

The Coordinator of Missing Persons and Victims of Violence Commission (Kontras) in Surabaya, Andy Irfan Junaidi—who was on-site during the incident—said that the refugees were sent home without prior dialogue.

“Sampang’s local government reasoned that the evacuation was done because the stadium will be used for sports activities,” he said.

Kontras in Surabaya is concerned about Sampang government’s lack of commitment in protecting the rights of the Shiah residents. Kontras urged the central government to take firm actions.