The Aceh Globe

Two Buddhists Caned Under Shariah Law in Aceh

2017-03-10T23:54:00.001+07:00

JANTHO, March 10 ― Indonesia’s only province to impose Shariah law caned Buddhists for the first time Friday, after two men accused of cockfighting opted for punishment under the strict Islamic regulations.

Alem bin Suhadi, 57, and Amel bin Akim, 60, both ethnic Chinese and members of the Buddhist minority, were whipped in front of dozens of local officials and residents in the city of Jantho, Aceh province.

The two men grimaced as they received nine and seven lashes respectively on their backs, a sentence that was mitigated because they had spent over a month in detention since police nabbed them for cockfighting in Aceh Besar in January.

“When they were arrested, two chickens and 400 thousand rupiah of betting money were confiscated by the police,” said prosecutor Rivandi Aziz.

Caning is common in Aceh for breaking the province’s strict Islamic laws, for offences ranging from drinking alcohol, to gambling to gay sex.

In the past only Muslim residents could be caned but that changed in 2015, when Aceh’s regulations were overhauled.

Non-Muslims who violate Islamic law can either choose to be tried under the national legal system or Shariah.

The two Buddhists would likely have faced jail under Indonesian nation law.

“We live in Aceh, so we have to obey the regulation in our region,” Alem told AFP shortly after being caned.

A Muslim was also lashed seven times for betting on cockfights today, while another man accused of abusing three teenagers was lashed 112 times.

Aceh, on Sumatra island, began implementing Shariah law after being granted special autonomy in 2001, an attempt by the central government in Jakarta to quell a long-running separatist insurgency.

Islamic laws have been strengthened since the province struck a peace deal with Jakarta in 2005.[]

Din Minimi Wants To Live In Normal Life

2016-01-15T19:29:00.000+07:00

By BENARNEWS

BBC Photo

BANDA ACEH, TAG –The leader of a once formerly armed group in Indonesia’s Aceh province says he wants to live in peace as a commoner now that he and about 120 of his men have surrendered.

However Nurdin bin Ismail Amat, who is widely known by Din Minimi, 36, may not be immune from prosecution by local authorities for alleged crimes committed by his group, although the Indonesian central government had guaranteed amnesties for him and his men in exchange for their surrender on Dec. 29.

“I just want a quiet life. I also want to help people who need my help,” Din in a phone interview last Wednesday. “But I don’t think I will go into politics because I did not finish school.”

The interview occurred a day after Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo reiterated his government’s promises to Din Minimi and his group for turning themselves in and putting down their weapons.

“We will grant him an amnesty for sure,” Jokowi said during a Tuesday cabinet meeting on human rights, Indonesian news website Detik.com reported.

Din, however, is expected to go through the legal process and potentially face criminal charges, despite Jokowi’s guarantee of amnesty.

Aceh police said they would file charges against Din and his men for their alleged roles in more than a dozen crimes committed in the province.

Din and his men surrendered to the chief of National Intelligence Agency (BIN), Sutiyoso, after years of leading his band of fighters in opposition to the provincial government. He also handed over 15 firearms and ammunition to Sutiyoso.

At the time of his surrender, Din requested amnesty for members of his group as well as all former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) combatant. He also demanded that the provincial administration guarantee the welfare of orphans, widows of GAM veterans and victims of Aceh’s three-decade-long conflict.

GAM fought a separatist insurgency against the Indonesian government, which ended with the signing of a peace accord in Helsinki in 2005. In addition, Din demanded that the Corruption Eradication Commission investigate cases of alleged corruption in Aceh’s government.

Last year, Din said in a separate interview that his group was fighting corruption in the provincial government, which is led by ex-GAM rebels.

‘Maybe I’ll do farming’

Now back home with his family in East Aceh regency, Din has received many visitors ranging from commoners to politicians, including former Aceh Gov. Irwandi Yusuf.

Din said that he would like to get back to work, although he is not sure how he would support his mother, wife and three children.

“Maybe I’ll do farming or drive heavy equipment as I did before,” he said, adding that his members worked as fishermen or farmers.

Aceh Provincial Police Chief Husein Hamidi, however, has vowed to bring Din and his group to justice, even though they have surrendered.

On Dec. 31, the police chief blamed Din and his group for 14 criminal cases in the North Aceh and East Aceh districts in the last three years.

“We will process him and his members legally in accordance with the applicable laws,” the chief said, but without saying when the process might begin.

Din denied any role in the crimes including kidnapping, extortion, arson, as well as the killing of two military intelligence officers in North Aceh on March 24, 2015.

The former militant leader asked if he should sue the police for having shot and killed his men.

“I already handed over all weapons. What else do they expect? If they want to arrest me, please. But I kept my promise to Sutiyoso,” Din said.

In December, Sutiyoso told BenarNews that he would ensure the safety of Din and his men after their surrender.

Calls for Din’s prosecution

Two of the people behind the push to bring charges against Din and his followers are the director of Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Banda Aceh, Mustiqal Syahputra, and the coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence Aceh, Hendra Saputra.

“Giving amnesty to a person who allegedly is behind 14 criminal offenses is tendentious and really should be re-examined,” Mustiqal said.

He said group members had been tried and sentenced to five years in prison. Their trials revealed that they had committed the crimes on Din’s orders.

“Din Minimi should be prosecuted because he is still on the Aceh police’s list of wanted people for his alleged crimes,” Hendra said.[]

The Story of Din Minimi

2015-11-03T12:16:00.000+07:00

RELEASE

Din Minimi during inteviewed by Metro TV in August 2015.

JAKARTA (TAG) – Several different groups appear to be deliberately burnishing the image of a former rebel-turned-outlaw in Aceh to draw attention to his criticism of the provincial government, led by senior leaders of the Free Aceh Movement (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka, GAM).

The new report released by the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) in October stated that the misguided support for Din Minimi, who has robbed, kidnapped and killed, encourages partisan violence, which is the last thing Aceh needs.

Din Minimi, The Strange Story of an Armed Group in Aceh, Indonesia, the latest report from IPAC, looks at the rise and likely fall of the outlaw who served as a combatant during the final years of GAM’s insurgency.

He is being portrayed by various parties opposed to the current GAM-led government as a Robin Hood who abducts corruptors and drug dealers and uses the ransom money to assist orphans and widows neglected by the GAM leaders now in power.

In the process, he has attracted the attention of all who would like to see Partai Aceh, the GAM-led political party, discredited – and they include political rivals, intelligence personnel and extremists.

“Din Minimi is a criminal, whose activities only underscore how much violence lurks below the surface in Aceh after the 2005 peace agreement,” says Sidney Jones, IPAC director in the statement published on its website.

”No matter how poorly Partai Aceh has governed, there is no excuse for turning an armed thug into a hero.”

The report looks at Din Minimi’s background and his sudden rise to media prominence in 2014. His real name is Nurdin bin Ismail Amat who claimed as a former GAM fighter.

According to the report, he man who is allegedly Aceh’s most wanted criminal has since been in telephone contact with almost every top security official in Aceh as well many journalists, always giving the same message: the provincial government has failed to make good on its promises to former combatants, it has not given them homes or land, and has not lived up to its commitment to implement the 2005 agreement in full.

"Din Minimi’s long list of crimes since mid-2013, including the March 2015 killing of two military intelligence officers, has been given less prominence in the press than his grievances," the IPAC report said.

At the same time, some 20 of Din Minimi’s men are under arrest and their trials have revealed an interesting fact.

Some of his arms were purchased through a connection to a man serving a sentence in Banda Aceh prison on terrorism charges, for involvement in a terrorist training camp set up in Jantho, Aceh Besar, in 2010, the report said.

"The arms were reportedly financed by a member of a GAM splinter faction living in Norway. Among the many questions raised by this transaction is how security can continue to be so lax in prisons," it said.

The Din Minimi story also reveals ongoing competition between the police and military, showing how the military’s gently gently approach contrasts with hardline police tactics.

Aceh has a history of violence around local elections, and Aceh has 20 district races coming up in February 2016,” says Jones. “It would be in everyone’s interests to have Din Minimi behind bars long before that.[]

Transgender Woman in Aceh

2015-11-03T09:27:00.001+07:00

BY RUTH MORRIS (PRI.ORG)

Illustration - www.corbisimages.com

BANDA ACEH (TAG) – Indonesia has been called the smiling face of Islam for its moderate religious bent. But for Echa, an LGBT activist in the northern Aceh province, that smile can be deceiving.

New regulations in Aceh now punish gay sex with fines, jail time, even canings. It’s the latest phase in a gradual rollout of Sharia laws that also prohibit unmarried men and women from riding on a moped together, or holding hands in public. Gambling is not allowed either, and all Muslim women must wear the traditional head covering known as hijab. It’s the law.

Rights groups have decried the new laws as inhumane and unconstitutional. The Indonesian government handed Aceh a unique allowance to implement Sharia law 10 years ago as part of a peace deal with separatists. Gay sex is not illegal in the rest of Indonesia.

“The private space for LGBT will be invaded,” says Echa, of the new provisions that went into effect in late October.

“I believe Islam is very tolerant on these issues,” she adds. “I believe in God, and God loves. Those who cast us out aren’t God.”

Echa (that’s not her real name. She asked that we use a pseudonym to protect her identity) is a transgender woman who wears a floor-length pink dress and a turquoise headscarf. Not a wisp of hair is showing. She has her own reasons for wearing the hijab: It’s respectable.

“I don’t want the image of transgender people to be associated with prostitution,” she says. Plus, in Aceh’s conservative religious climate, she almost never gets called names as long as her head is covered.

Echa heads the local chapter of Violet Grey — an LGBT advocacy group — and also works as a modeling coach.

On an evening drive through the capital Banda Aceh, the coffee shops are brimming with young people on plastic chairs. There’s no alcohol here, so coffee is king. Echa points out a hotel that used to be a hangout — no more.

Then we pass a street Echa says used to be a “hotspot,” a meeting place for gay and transgender people. Tonight it’s dark. The storefronts are shuttered.

Syahrizal Abbas, director of the local government’s Islamic Sharia agency, says the Sharia regulations were meant to guide people towards a more devout life, not terrorize them. He takes pains to stress that Aceh’s version of Sharia law is moderate — nothing like the Sharia practiced by extremist groups like Boko Haram and ISIS.

“We want good Muslims in Aceh,” he says.

But he’s fully behind the new law that punishes gay relations with up to 100 strokes of the cane. Adultery carries the same penalty.

Abbas argues that gay couples actually enjoy more freedom than unwed straight people in Aceh. Unmarried heterosexual couples can’t be alone together, and they can’t touch in public. But for gay men and women, such behavior is permitted.

“Walking together, it’s no problem. Cooking in the kitchen, no problem. Sleeping in one room, one bed together, is no problem,” Abbas says.

The problem, he says, is if the couple engages in sex.

At a small hair salon, Echa greets friends who are also nervous about the new law. As they compare selfies and watch soap operas on TV, a gay man who calls himself Mulan says the tightening restrictions make social media more important than ever. Platforms like Blackberry messenger offer the safest way to socialize.

Echa’s home is also a kind of safe haven. There’s a row of lockers in the entryway. Her house is open to students, friends, and runaways. Some members of the local LGBT community have left Aceh for Jakarta; Echa refuses to go.

“We have to have a strategy to ensure that we stay strong and solid. The important thing is for us to survive, even if we need to go further underground,” she says. Then she adds, “We must take a step back and go along with the game, go along with what is wanted.”[]

SOURCE: http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-11-02/transgender-woman-aceh-indonesia-ducks-under-cover-headscarf

'A Sinner in Mecca' Documents Gay Muslim Pilgrimage

2015-08-31T10:14:00.000+07:00

BY AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Parvez Sharma

NEW YORK (TAG) – The confession of a Pakistani murderer. Overzealous religious police. An Arab angered his pregnant wife was molested in the holiest site known to Islam.

A new film made by a gay Muslim pilgrim offers a English-speaking Western audience a warts-and-all view of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in a documentary that has attracted death threats and an online hate campaign.

It is a rebuke of Saudi Arabia and its strict Wahhabi form of Islam, but it is also deeply personal - a man trying to reconcile his faith with his sexuality. From that perspective which includes footage of his wedding to his American husband in New York, millions of Muslims will likely find "A Sinner in Mecca" provocative if not offensive.

But director and pilgrim, Indian-born New Yorker Parvez Sharma, sees it as a wake-up call for a faith followed by nearly a quarter of humanity which he believes has been hijacked by a violent minority.

"Islam is imploding upon itself right now and there's a huge crisis," Sharma told AFP.

"It (a reformation) is happening, but it is happening too slowly and we're running out of time. The change needs to happen with Wahhabi Islam - that is the root of all the problems," he said.

Sharma associates with the Sufi branch of Islam common in his homeland India, which unlike Wahhabism embraces music and a more mystical - and less dogmatic - approach to faith.

He performed hajj in 2011, four months after Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden was killed and seven months after the Arab Spring began. He says the timing was deliberate.

"I felt that it would be the most interesting time to go with all this churning going on in the Muslim world."

Most striking is his footage, filmed on a mobile phone and two tiny cameras without permission from Saudi authorities, then smuggled out of the country.

"Early on," he explains, "my iPhone was taken away by the religious police and they deleted initial early footage," he said. "These guys walk around with sticks and hit you if you're doing something they consider un-Islamic, and I was on the wrong end of the stick several times."

He captures the crush encircling the Kaaba, the sacred site in whose direction Muslims pray, the giant shopping mall next door where you can get a Starbucks coffee and the discomfort of standing on a bus an entire night to go to Mount Arafat.

"There is nothing kind about this process," Sharma says in the film.

He calls his first experience at the Kaaba "probably the most violent night of my entire life." He says he strung his iPhone around his neck and just let the camera roll.

Most of the film focuses on him. But he also includes two of more than 50 interviews he said he conducted. An Arab man in the film complains that his wife was touched by other men, and a man from Lahore, a city in eastern Pakistan, confesses to seeking atonement for taking part in a so-called "honor" killing.

It has been shown at film festivals in Britain and North America, and goes on cinema release in New York on Friday before being aired on European television and Netflix in coming months.

"Sharma's constant filming of his own face and his reactions to what he's seeing give the film a sometimes annoying 'selfie' perspective," wrote reviewer, David Savage, in Cut Print Film.

But he called it "an important and rare film" given "the threats of violence and death that have suppressed many of his fellow Muslim gays into hiding." Sharma says much of the response has been positive. But he has received a torrent of hate mail and online death threats coming from servers in countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

He says the Iranian government has denounced it. He tells of being accosted by yelling Saudi women at a festival in Britain.

"I hope that Muslims will eventually react positively," he told AFP.[]

After a decade of peace, many Aceh ex-rebels left behind

2015-08-13T12:25:00.001+07:00

Banda Aceh (TAG) - Fakhruddin Kasem (35) hoped for a prosperous new life when Indonesia struck a deal to end a separatist conflict in Aceh, but a decade on the unemployed former rebel is so desperate he hopes to join the Islamic State group to make ends meet.

While many ex-fighters have benefited from peace in the western Indonesian province, with ex-rebels now Aceh’s key political players, former local commander Kasem is among a number that feel let down.

“As a rebel fighter, I feel betrayed by the leadership as they have not taken care of me,” said the 350 year-old who also known as "Din Robot", one of about 100 ex-rebels who pledged last month to join IS in Syria as they claim being salaried jihadists is the only way they can support their families.

Up to 500 nationals from Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, are believed to have travelled to the Middle East to join IS, sparking fears they could revive sophisticated militant networks responsible for attacks on Western targets on their return.

It is not clear whether the ex-rebels will really join the fight in Syria and Iraq, but the threat highlights how the transition to civilian life for many Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels has not always been smooth.

In 1976, GAM launched its fight for an independent Islamic state in Aceh, which is fiercely proud of its identity and was historically an important trading centre and seat of Muslim learning.

Over the next 29 years, fighting between rebels and Indonesian government forces left about 15,000 people dead — with abuses committed by both sides — before the 2004 tsunami finally persuaded GAM and Jakarta to strike a peace deal.

The destructive, quake-triggered waves left around 170,000 dead in Indonesia, the vast majority in Aceh, and tens of thousands more in countries around the Indian Ocean.

The deal was signed on August 15, 2005, in the Finnish capital Helsinki, with the rebels agreeing to give up their demands for independence in exchange for greater autonomy.

The GAM fighters laid down their arms and Jakarta withdrew non-local security forces from Aceh and granted an amnesty to rebels and political prisoners.

A transitional reintegration package from the International Organization for Migration was provided to 2,000 prisoners who were granted amnesties and 3,000 former combatants, while ex-rebels have been brought into local politics and now lead the province.

‘Many challenges’

Despite sporadic violence, often between new local political parties set up as part of the peace deal, the accord has largely been viewed as a success, Aceh is mostly peaceful, and the chances of a return to full-blown conflict are slim.

But observers say that while some former GAM members have prospered in oil- and gas-rich Aceh, others have got very little, and those now in positions of power stand accused of being more interested in improving their own lot than helping ordinary Acehnese.

“The whole question of reintegration has been a problem from the start,” said Keith Loveard, a senior risk analyst at Concord Consulting in Jakarta. “Some got involved and some were left out.”

He pointed to high levels of crime in some parts of Aceh, which in many cases is suspected to involve former fighters, as evidence of failure.

One former rebel, Nurdin bin Ismail Amat aka Din Minimi, is leading an armed group that is suspected of being behind the kidnapping of a British energy worker in 2013 and the killing last year of two military intelligence officers.

He told AFP that he had decided to keep up the armed struggle as “we see the people of Aceh and former combatants have not prospered”.

More broadly, critics say that governance in the province over the past decade has been ineffective, pointing to problems in the education system, rising infant mortality rates and growing drug problems.

The end of conflict also led to a dramatic increase in Islamic regulations in Aceh, the only province in Indonesia allowed to implement sharia law, with public canings common for crimes such as gambling and drinking alcohol.

In addition, not all elements of the peace deal have been implemented. In a 2013 report, Amnesty International noted promises to set up a human rights court and a truth and reconciliation commission had not been honoured, leaving many who suffered without a sense of closure.

Aceh governor Zaini Abdullah, himself a former rebel who used to be a key figure in the independence movement’s government in exile, this week hailed “10 years of peace”, but admitted problems remain.

“There are still many challenges,” he told reporters.[]

Din Minimi Denies Hand in Killings of Two Soldiers

2015-04-18T09:59:00.001+07:00

BANDA ACEH, TAG – Indonesian forces are scouring some parts of Aceh areas to find followers of Din Minimi, a former guerrilla who has taken up arms again to protest what he says is economic injustice in the province.

Ten years after a peace deal ended the separatist rebellion in Aceh, the province’s current government has failed to carry out provisions that guarantee the social welfare of the Acehnese people, Din said.

In a phone call Thursday from an undisclosed location, Din acknowledged that his group had committed crimes in East Aceh, including the kidnapping of Scottish oil worker Malcolm Primrose in June 2013, and the theft of cars belonging to natural gas company PT CPM.

“We carried out those actions because people who live around there were not given work by the company. We had hoped the presence of those companies would create job opportunities. But the fact is the people didn’t get jobs,” said Din, whose real name is Nurdin Ismail Amat.

But he denied involvement in the execution-style slayings of two army intelligence officials in North Aceh on March 24. Aceh province lies on the northwestern tip of Sumatra island.

“We have no business with TNI,” he said, using the acronym name for the Indonesian military. “Our opponents are the government of Aceh.”

His group’s mission, he said, was “to fight for justice as envisaged in the peace treaty with Indonesia.”

“We see that the government cannot provide social welfare for the people of Aceh and former GAM combatants,” Din added, using the acronym for the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), the Acehnese rebel group for which he once fought.

In August 2005, the Indonesian government and GAM signed a peace agreement in Helsinki that ended a three-decade conflict, in which some 25,000 people – mostly civilians – died.

Last week, provincial police arrested 13 suspected members of an armed criminal group. They were picked up in disparate locations, including the Acehnese regencies of North Aceh and Bireuen, and nearby Riau province.

Aceh Police Chief Husein Hamidi said members of the group had confessed to being involved in last month’s kidnapping and murders of the two army intelligence officers.

The detained suspects were followers of Din, Husein told reporters in Lhokseumawe on April 13.

The officers with the North Aceh District Command (Kodim), Hendrianto and Indra Irawan, were found shot dead in Nisam Antara district. A day earlier, on March 23, a group of armed men had snatched them.

“To date we don’t know for sure who the executioner was because not all of them have been caught,” Husein said, adding that security forces were still hunting for 10 others.

“Din Minimi’s group has carried out actions in East Aceh and North Aceh. The motive is economic. They look for wealthy people to target for extortion, kidnap them and demand ransom,” he said.

Husein noted that the soldiers’ murders likely had to do with the destruction of marijuana fields by the police and military.

However, Din told reporters that the 13 suspects in police custody were not among his followers.

“I fight alone. Before I had a colleague, but I heard he was arrested in Riau,” he said. “Maybe among those arrested are some people I know (if they are former GAM combatants), but they are certainly not my followers.”

He said he hoped that Aceh Governor Zaini Abdullah and his deputy, Muzakir Manaf – both former GAM leaders – would address the needs of people living in poverty.

“I hope Aceh’s leaders won’t just think about their own well-being, because a lot of people need their attention. Right now many people are on the verge of starvation because there’s no work.”[]

Source:
http://www.benarnews.org/english/news/indonesian/aceh-dinminimi-04172015193245.html

Haunted 70 Years on, Determined to Remember

2015-04-12T20:13:00.000+07:00

HIROSHIMA, Japan (Reuters) - Hiroshi Harada remembers how his leg sank into one of the bodies blocking a narrow Hiroshima street 70 years ago, as he fled the spreading fire ignited by the atomic bomb.

"My leg slid deep into one of them. Then it was very hard to pull my leg out ... To escape, I had no choice," said Harada, the 75-year-old former head of an atomic bomb museum.

Later that day, a woman grabbed Harada, then just 6 years old, by the leg and asked for water. He stepped back in horror to find a chunk of flesh from her hand sticking to his leg.

As the 70th anniversary of the world's first nuclear attack approaches, many survivors still find it too painful to talk about. But with their ranks dwindling, others are determined to pass on their experiences to younger generations.

"The number of survivors will be shrinking and their voices getting smaller," Harada said. "But Hiroshima needs to keep on sending a message to the world that things like this should never happen again."

Hiroshima survivors often refrain from talking about their experiences even with their own children, some from a feeling that the past is too horrific and others from fear of discrimination against themselves and their offspring.

This year's anniversary comes as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe seeks to ease the constraints of Japan's postwar, pacifist constitution on the military.

Critics fear that could lead the nation again down a mistaken path to war, while proponents argue the change is needed to deter growing regional threats.

A U.S. bomber dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, killing about 140,000 by the end of the year, out of the 350,000 who lived in the city. The city still has some 60,000 survivors but their average age is approaching 80.

The United States dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki three days after Hiroshima. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15.

Shortly after the bombing, 15-year-old Shigeo Ito was hurrying home and was asked by a woman to help rescue a person trapped under a collapsed house. He ignored the plea since fire was approaching the bridge he needed to cross to get home.

"Even long after that, I could not help feeling ashamed of myself every time I saw that bridge," said the 84-year-old Ito, who now lectures to school children about his experience.

Shuntaro Hida, 98, was an army surgeon at the time of the bombing. When he first went out after the explosion, he saw a woman with what he thought were tattered clothes hanging from her torso. Then he realised he was seeing her sloughed-off skin.

For Hida, however, the real horror of the nuclear attack lay in its often invisible health effects. "The cruellest aspect of a nuclear attack is not the savage destruction of human bodies or visible burns, but its life-destroying after-effects," said Hida, who treated and advised some 10,000 atomic bomb survivors.

Hiroshima began to see an increased number of leukaemia patients five year after the bombing.

Fumiaki Kajiya, 76, lost his sister to the atomic bomb blast. Their parents had moved her to a rural area to keep her safe, but just before the bombing, they brought her back to the city, succumbing to her pleas to stay with the family.

Kajiya's mother would weep for hours on end in front of the Buddhist alter as Aug. 6 came around every year. Kajiya now performs "picture shows" for children with hand-drawn art to pass on the horror of the atomic bomb.

"If we forget Hiroshima, the world would be a dangerous place," Kajiya said.[]

American Woman with 8 Husbands Denies Fraud Charges

2015-04-12T19:02:00.000+07:00

NEW YORK (Reuters) – An American woman from New York City accused of being married to eight men at the same time pleaded not guilty in state court in the Bronx to two counts of felony fraud that prosecutors say stemmed from a scheme to gain U.S. citizenship for grooms from countries "red flagged" by the Department of Homeland Security.

After Liana Barrientos, 39, married men from Egypt, Turkey, Georgia and other countries, she tied the knot an eighth time with Pakistani man Rashid Rajput, the Bronx District Attorney's Office said on Friday.

Rajput was later deported to Pakistan in 2006 following an investigation into making threatening statements about the United States by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency's Joint Terrorism Task Force.

ICE, part of the Department of Homeland Security, tags certain countries with red flags as part of efforts to prevent "illegal export of sensitive U.S. munitions and strategic technology" and protect "American technological accomplishment from adversaries," according to the State Department.

"Not guilty," said Barrientos, sporting a ring on her left hand and shaking her head as she faced a judge during her arraignment.

The blonde woman got married as many as six times in a single year, in 2002, according to the criminal complaint.

Assistant District Attorney Jessica Lupo said Barrientos is still married to four men. When investigators asked her about her marriage to husband Vakhtang Dzneladze of Georgia as he sought U.S. residency, Barrientos admitted "receiving money for those actions," Lupo said.

As soon as the wedding bells stopped ringing, seven husbands filed for legal permanent resident status, Lupo said.

"When some of them were denied, they filed for divorce immediately and re-filed for their immigration status with other marriages," she said.

Barrientos was arrested last November after forms she filed in New York City in 2010 for a marriage license with Salle Keita from Mali raised suspicions. A District Attorney's Office investigator found a trove of marriage certificates tying her to multiple other husbands in various towns across New York state.

Barrientos had stated on the 2010 forms that Keita was her first and only husband, and that statement prompted the two felony counts of offering a false instrument for filing, each punishable by up to four years in prison if convicted.[]

200 Years After Tambora Volcanic Blast

2015-04-12T18:12:00.001+07:00

BY BECKY OSKIN

BANDA ACEH, TAG – Two hundred years after the biggest volcanic blast in recorded history, scientists have ranked that the countries most at risk of a deadly volcanic eruption.

On April 10 marks the 200th anniversary of the Tambora eruption in Indonesia. The enormous explosion changed global climate, causing a "year without a summer" in the Northern Hemisphere. Sulfur dioxide from Mount Tambora lingered in the atmosphere for several years, cooling the planet and triggering crop failures, famine and human disease pandemics in North America, Europe and Asia.

"People were eating cats and rats," said Stephen Self, a volcanologist at the University of California, Berkeley and an expert on the Tambora eruption.

There is a 30 percent chance of another Tambora-size eruption striking this century, according to a new global volcanic hazard report prepared for the United Nations. An international team of experts, known as the Global Volcano Model Network, culled reports of the death and destruction wrought by volcanoes and ranked the countries most likely to face such future disasters. The report, called "Global Volcanic Hazards and Risk," will be published in May by Cambridge University Press.

Indonesia remains the country most at risk of another deadly volcanic eruption, according to the new report. To create the rankings, the scientists considered how often volcanoes within a country have erupted in the past 10,000 years and their different hazards. For example, ice-covered volcanoes can unleash fast-flowing mudflows called lahars. One of the most lethal volcanic events in the past 400 years was a lahar that raced down Colombia's Nevado del Ruiz volcano in 1985, killing more than 23,000 people.

The report's authors also accounted for the number of people living in a volcano's blast zone (800 million people live within 62 miles, or 100 kilometers, of a volcano, on average around the world) and whether the volcano has killed before.

Following Indonesia on the list of most-threatened countries are the Philippines, Japan, Mexico, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Ecuador, Italy, El Salvador and Kenya.

However, some countries are more vulnerable to volcanic threats than others. Island nations, whose populations must flee an eruption, are more exposed to a volcano's deadly hazards, according to the report. By this measure, the rankings place Montserrat, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the West Indies, Dominica, the Azores, St. Lucia, the Atlantic-United Kingdom Islands, El Salvador and Costa Rica among the island countries most vulnerable to volcanic eruptions.

On guard

Mount Tambora's devastating eruption was not without warning. The volcano first rumbled to life in 1812. But before it awakened, Tambora was dormant for more than 1,000 years, and many villages were clustered on the volcano's lush slopes. Because no one evacuated before 1815, more than 10,000 people were killed by pyroclastic flows and tsunamis.

Now, thanks to volcano monitoring, deaths from eruptions have dramatically dropped in recent decades, the report said. But volcano experts are concerned that fatalities could rise in the future, from unmonitored volcanoes; from challenges in evacuating large numbers of people in time; or from giant eruptions like Tambora.

"An eruption of that size today would certainly have major effects on air traffic as well as atmospheric circulation around the globe," Self said.

More than 278,000 people have died in volcanic eruptions since 1600, according to the report. Just five eruptions caused 58 percent of recorded fatalities (this includes Tambora). Of all the deaths, 33 percent were killed by pyroclastic flows and 20 percent by tsunamis; another 14 percent died in lahars. Only 887 people died from lava. Another 24 percent of deaths were indirect, of famine and disease. Ash, avalanches, lightning and other hazards account for the remaining deaths. (Volcanoes can trigger tsunamis from landslides or underwater eruptions.)

Pyroclastic flows are deadly and unpredictable. These flows tumble down the volcano as fast as jet planes, carrying a mix of lethally hot volcanic gas and rock fragments.[]

Gunmen kidnap, kill two soldiers in Aceh

2015-03-24T15:18:00.001+07:00

BANDA ACEH, TAG – Two Indonesian intelligence officers were found shot dead Tuesday, a day after being kidnapped by gunmen in the former separatist rebel heartland of Aceh province in the country's west, a military spokesman said.

The bodies of the two soldiers were found face down and half naked in a remote area in northern Aceh, the spokesman of Aceh’s Iskandar Muda Military Command Lieutenant Colonel Machfud said.

The hands of one soldier had been bound behind his back.

"Authorities found the bodies this morning in a jungle close to the location where they were kidnapped," Machfud said.

Police had yet to determine a motive for the killings, or the identities of the gunmen.

Witnesses said a group of gunmen ambushed the soldiers as they returned from questioning residents about former rebels considered active in the east and north of the province on Sumatra island's northernmost tip.

Their car was found abandoned a short time later.

Machfud denied the military was questioning local residents, saying its presence in the area was limited to "social work such as helping farmers in paddy fields".

The episode was a reminder of the fragile security situation in Aceh a decade after a peace deal ended a 30-year separatist insurgency in the province that left some 25,000 people dead.

Attacks on soldiers are now rare in Aceh, although gun-related violence is not uncommon.[]

Political Power Struggles in Aceh

2015-02-08T21:24:00.001+07:00

Jakarta, TAG - Rifts within the top ranks of the Free Aceh Movement (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka, GAM) suggest that a transfer of power to a younger generation is underway, a report said, Sunday (February 8, 2015).

This could have implications for the strength of GAM’s political vehicle, Partai Aceh. It could also affect relations with Jakarta, the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) said in a report named 'Political Power Struggles in Aceh' released in Jakarta.

It was the latest report that looks at how political power in Aceh is moving away from the old GAM government-in-exile.

Authority is now derived more from control over local resources and political institutions than from closeness to GAM’s founders and service to the organisation, the report said.

According to IPAC, the situation makes Vice-Governor Muzakir Manaf, former top commander of the GAM guerrilla forces and head of Partai Aceh, the most powerful man in Aceh. He is increasingly at odds with Governor Zaini Abdullah, GAM’s former “foreign minister”, and other members of the old guard.

“As the rift between Muzakir and the old diaspora elite deepens, younger members of Partai Aceh are trying to find a new basis for unity,” Sidney Jones, IPAC director, said. “They also need to make the party less thuggish and more democratic.”

The waning influence of the old guard, whose legitimacy rests in part on its role in the Helsinki talks, could weaken Partai Aceh, which portrays itself as the party that brought peace to Aceh.

Partai Aceh strategists are trying different strategies for strengthening the grassroots base to compensate, including by recruiting younger, more professional cadres.

A highly publicised reconciliation meeting in Jakarta in late January between Muzakir and former governor Irwandi Jusuf has been seen by some as a necessary precursor to easing the GAM elders out.

In the meantime, rising stars from national parties are showing a kind of public appeal that Partai Aceh will struggle to match as long as its political machine relies heavily on poorly educated ex-combatants.

“Partai Aceh’s fortunes in the next round of elections in 2017 will depend not just on what happens to the old elite but to some extent on whether the party can distance itself from violence and intimidation and actually produce a workable program for change,” Jones said.

Aceh also needs the direct engagement of the president. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was personally involved in Aceh because the peace process happened on his watch.

Given President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's political problems, Aceh is probably the last thing on his mind, but it is critically important that Aceh policy not be left to the security sector.[]

Kisah Bocah Papan Hanyut

2014-12-31T15:44:00.001+07:00

INI kisah satu keluarga korban tsunami Aceh. Pasangan ini tak pernah kehilangan harapan kalau dua anak mereka, yang hilang saat gelombang laut menerjang daratan, masih hidup. Harapan mereka akhirnya terwujud menjelang peringatan 10 tahun tsunami. Keajaiban pun datang. Bukan hanya sekali, tapi dua keajaiban.

MINGGU, 26 Desember 2004. Jarum jam tepat pada angka 07:58 Wib. Bumi terguncang hebat. Pria 42 tahun itu masih rebahan di tempat tidur. Matanya terpejam. Usai melaksanakan shalat Shubuh pukul 6:05 Wib, Septi Rangkuti memilih tidur lagi karena hari itu tidak bekerja. Kain sarung yang digunakan untuk shalat masih dikenakannya.

Ia membangunkan dua putranya – Zahry Rangkuti, 8 tahun, dan Arif Pratama Rangkuti, 7 tahun – yang terlelap di kamar sebelah. Putri semata wayangnya, Raudhatul Jannah, 4,5 tahun, yang asyik bermain boneka di ruang keluarga, segera digendongnya.

Mereka secepatnya lari keluar melalui pintu belakang rumah, yang terletak di Lorong Kangkung, Desa Panggong, Kecamatan Johan Pahlawan, Kabupaten Aceh Barat. Istrinya, Jamaliah, 32 tahun, yang sejak pukul 6:30 Wib mencuci pakaian di sumur sudah duluan keluar begitu gempa mengguncang.

Mereka berlima berdiri di samping rumah toko lantai dua yang belum selesai, tepat di belakang rumahnya. Karena guncangan bumi sangat dahsyat, mereka terpaksa harus duduk di tanah. Seorang warga yang berdiri di jalan, tak begitu jauh dari mereka, berteriak, “Jangan di situ, nanti roboh.”

Septi yang merangkul Arif dan Raudha bangkit. Begitu juga dengan Jamaliah, yang memegang Zahry. Dengan sempoyongan, mereka berlima tertatih ke tengah jalan, tempat sejumlah warga duduk. Semua berzikir. Mulut mereka tak henti mengucapkan, “Lailahaillallah.” Dua menit berselang, lantai dua rumah toko, tempat keluarga Septi pertama duduk, ambruk.

Kekuatan gempa bumi pagi itu awalnya dicatat 8,9 Skala Richter. Pusatnya di kedalaman Samudera Hindia, lepas pantai barat Pulau Sumatera. Belakangan, para ilmuan merevisi kekuatan gempa teknonik itu menjadi 9,3 Skala Richter. Guncangan kuat berlangsung selama delapan menit lebih.

Belasan menit berselang, tsunami menerjang hampir 1.000 kilometer pesisir Aceh. Gelombangnya menyapu 15 negara di sepanjang garis pantai Samudera Hindia hingga mencapai Benua Afrika. Tak kurang 234.000 orang, termasuk 170.000 lebih warga Aceh, tewas dalam bencana paling dahsyat dalam sejarah modern manusia.

Di provinsi ujung barat Indonesia, yang sedang dirundung konflik bersenjata antara pasukan keamanan TNI/Polri dan gerilyawan Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM), tingkat kerusakannya mencapai antara satu hingga enam kilometer ke daratan, meluluhlantakkan berbagai infrastruktur, meratakan kampung-kampung nelayan. Perekonomian rakyat lumpuh. Lebih dari 550.000 warga Aceh terpaksa harus mengungsi.

Saat gempa reda, Septi masuk ke rumah. Beberapa perabotan rumah jatuh ke lantai. Dia tak berusaha membereskan. Setelah menggantikan sarung dengan celana, dia bergegas mengeluarkan sepeda motor Suzuki 120cc. Septi segera bergabung dengan istri dan tiga buah hati hasil perkawinan yang telah mereka bina sejak tahun 1994.

Di tengah kekhawatiran dan ketakutan akan terjadi gempa susulan, terdengar teriakan dari kejauhan, “Air laut naik!” “Air laut naik!” “Air laut naik!” Orang-orang berlarian ke arah jauh dari laut. Septi menghidupkan sepeda motornya. Dia meraih Raudha, didudukkan paling depan. Arif diletakkannya antara dia dan Raudha. Zahry naik dan duduk di belakangnya. Jamaliah berada di posisi paling belakang.

Septi memacu sepeda motor melintasi pasar tradisional yang padat pembeli. Tapi, hanya 1,5 kilometer dia mengendarai Suzuki merah, yang dibelinya tiga tahun silam. Arus lalu lintas semakin padat. Sepeda motornya tak bisa dilalui lagi, karena macet. Mereka terpaksa berhenti di tengah kerumunan mobil, sepeda motor dan orang-orang yang berlarian.

Tiba-tiba dari sisi kanan, mereka melihat gelombang laut menerjang. Tapi tak terlalu tinggi. Mereka turun dari sepeda motor. Dalam hitungan detik, air laut berwarna hitam menghantam keluarga itu dan warga yang dalam kepanikan. Septi merangkul Raudha dan Arif. Istrinya memegang Zahry. Mereka diseret ombak laut.

Tak berapa lama, gelombang kedua lebih tinggi menerjang. Septi, yang masih mendekap Raudha dan Arif, melihat sepotong papan hanyut – antara puing rumah dan bangunan yang diseret arus – menuju ke arahnya. “Mungkin daun pintu rumah orang,” katanya. Secara reflek, dia letakkan Raudha dan Arif ke papan itu. Septi masih sempat berenang sambil memegang papan itu.

Lalu, gelombang kembali menghantam Meulaboh, ibukota Aceh Barat. Papan terlepas dari tangannya. Sebelum digulung ombak raya, Septi masih sempat mendengar panggilan dua buah hatinya, “Ayah!” Tubuhnya diputar-putar di bawah pusaran air laut berwarna hitam. Beberapa kali, dia timbul tenggelam. Septi hanya bisa pasrah dan berdoa.

Septi kembali muncul ke permukaan. Dengan sisa tenaga yang dimilikinya, ia berusaha berenang agar tidak lagi ditarik ke pusaran air. Dilihatnya sebatang pohon kuini, yang terpaut 10 meter. Ternyata, air laut telah menyeretnya satu kilometer lebih dari tempat dia menghentikan sepeda motor. Perlahan, Septi berenang, berusaha mencapai pohon itu. Dia berhasil.

Di atas batang kuini, Septi mengumpulkan tenaga. Beberapa bagian tubuhnya penuh luka akibat tergores puing rumah yang dihumbalang ombak raya. Baju dan celananya robek. Ia tak peduli kondisinya. Dalam hati, Septi terus berdoa pada Allah agar diberi kekuatan dan keselamatan. Tujuh menit dia bertahan di pohon kuini.

Terpaut delapan meter dari batang kuini, Septi melihat jejeran toko berlantai dua yang belum selesai dibangun. Sejumlah warga telah duluan berada di situ, menyelamatkan diri. Beberapa orang memanggilnya, supaya berenang ke toko itu. Dengan perasaan was-was akan kembali datang gelombang, sambil terus berdoa, Septi berenang ke toko lantai dua. Begitu mendekat, beberapa warga segera menariknya.

“Saya hanya duduk bersender di dinding toko dan tak bicara sepatah kata pun dengan orang-orang di situ. Pikiran saya seperti hampa dan tak teringat apa-apa. Saya juga tak ingat istri saya dan anak-anak,” kata Septi, sambil berusaha menahan tangis saat menceritakan kembali kejadian hampir satu dekade lalu.

Pertengahan Oktober silam, acehkita.com menyambangi keluarga Septi, yang tinggal sementara di sebuah rumah, sejak akhir Agustus lalu. Rumah di ujung Lorong Kangkung, Desa Panggong, itu milik bibi Jamaliah. Rumah bantuan NGO asing tersebut hanya terpaut sepelemparan batu dari tempat keluarga Septi tinggal selama 10 tahun sebelum tsunami. Di bekas lokasi rumah peninggalan nenek Jamaliah itu kini ditempati adik kandungnya, Samsul bersama istri dan anak-anaknya.

Sementara itu, Jamaliah memeluk erat tubuh Zahry ketika gelombang laut pertama menghantam Kota Meulaboh. Gempuran ombak hitam pekat tersebut menggulung ibu-anak ini. Jamaliah semakin mencengkram Zahry. Ia tak ingin berpisah dengan putra sulungnya itu. Beberapa kali mereka timbul tenggelam dalam pusaran ombak, yang dipenuhi puing bangunan. Mereka masih berpengangan.

Tiba-tiba, tubuh Zahry seperti ada yang menarik dari tangan ibunya. Terlepas. Jamaliah kembali digulung dalam pusaran ombak. Zahry berhasil mencapai atap sebuah rumah berlantai dua setelah ditarik beberapa warga, yang lebih dulu menyelamatkan diri. Zahry mencari ibunya, tapi tak ada di situ. Seorang pamannya yang kebetulan selamat di atap rumah itu menenangkan Zahry. Sementara sebelumnya, Jamaliah sudah terpisah dengan suaminya, Septi, dan kedua anak mereka: Arif dan Raudha.

“Saat digulung ombak itulah, saya terus berdoa kepada Allah. Kalau memang saat ini ajal saya, saya sudah siap. Saya juga bermohon agar diberikan umur panjang,” kata Jamaliah, sambil mengusap butiran air mata yang membasahi pipinya ketika mengisahkan kembali kejadian tragis dialaminya.

Ia kembali ditarik dalam pusaran air hitam, beberapa kali. Tiba-tiba, Jamaliah seperti punya kekuatan. Tumpukan puing bangunan di sekelilingnya terseret ombak. Tubuhnya, terangkat ke permukaan gelombang, menghantam dinding lantai dua sebuah rumah. Dengan sisa tenaga, ia pegang erat-erat bagian atap rumah itu sambil berusaha memanjat. Dua warga segera menariknya ke atap.

Ternyata di situ, ada Zahry yang lebih dulu ditolong warga. Jamaliah segera memeluk putra sulungnya. Ia tak bisa menahan tangis. Zahry ikut menangis. Sepupunya berusaha membujuk Jamaliah agar tetap tenang dan berdoa. “Dari atap rumah itu, saya melihat orang-orang, dan rumah-rumah hancur, diseret gelombang,” tutur Jamaliah.

Sekitar pukul 16:30 Wib, air laut yang menggenangi Meulaboh surut sudah. Melihat warga lain turun dari atap, Jamaliah dan anaknya juga turun. Mereka menyusuri Jalan Nasional di antara puing dan sampah yang diseret tsunami. Keduanya menyaksikan mayat-mayat bergelimpangan di jalan, tak ada yang peduli. Memegang tangan Zahry, dalam kebingungan Jamaliah terus berjalan, tanpa arah.

Pada saat bersamaan, Septi masih duduk di lantai dua toko. Dia trauma berat dan tetap duduk sendiri, padahal semua warga lain sudah turun. Seperti ada yang perintah, dia bangkit. Tak sengaja, pandangannya diarahkan ke Jalan Nasional yang penuh tumpukan sampah. Dia lihat mayat-mayat berserakan di jalan.

Tiba-tiba di antara orang-orang yang linglung berjalan, Septi melihat istri dan putra sulungnya. “Zahry, Zahry, ayah di sini,” teriaknya, dengan suara parau. Mendengar namanya dipanggil, Zahry dan Jamaliah mendongak kepala ke arah panggilan. Mereka segera naik ke lantai dua toko, tempat Septi berada. Ketiganya saling berangkulan, sambil menangis.

“Arif dan Raudha terlepas dari tangan saya setelah saya letakkan di papan,” kata Septi kepada istrinya saat Jamaliah bertanya dimana kedua anak mereka, yang dipegang suaminya. “Sudah, jangan tanya lagi. Kita doakan saja semoga mereka selamat.” Jamaliah pun terdiam. Mereka hanya bisa menangis lagi.

Akhirnya mereka bertiga turun dari lantai dua toko. Apalagi ada imbauan dari anggota Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) melalui pengeras suara agar semua warga pergi Masjid Rundeng, yang dijadikan tempat penampungan darurat sementara. Di sini, personil TNI membagikan roti dan air mineral buat warga yang selamat dari bencana – termasuk Septi, Jamaliah, dan Zahry. Seorang teman Septi yang tinggal dekat Masjid Rundeng memberikan pakaian kepada mereka.

Tetapi, keluarga Septi hanya bertahan di masjid itu dua jam. Pasalnya, banyak warga memilih pergi ke tempat jauh dari pusat Kota Meulaboh, yang mulai gelap gulita. Mereka pun ikut-ikutan pergi. Melihat ada sebuah mobil pick up berhenti di depan masjid, ketiganya bersama warga lain berebut naik. “Yang terpenting waktu itu, jauh dari kota karena kami benar-benar takut. Apalagi gempa masih sering terjadi,” ujar Jamaliah.

Selama dalam perjalanan, Septi memilih diam. Jamaliah terus memikirkan dua anaknya. Dalam hati, ia berdoa agar kedua anaknya selamat. Zahry hanya memegang pergelangan tangan ayahnya. Dia juga diam. Suasana dalam mobil pick up senyap, tidak ada warga berbicara. Mereka seolah larut dalam pikiran masing-masing usai mengalami tragedi memilukan.

Mobil yang mengangkut mereka berhenti di Pesantren Abu Usman, Gunung Mas, Kecamatan Kaway XVI. Di situ, banyak warga berkumpul. Warga sekitar sibuk menyiapkan makanan untuk para korban yang selamat dari gelombang raya. Usai shalat, warga makan. Jelang tengah malam, Septi dan keluarganya tidur bersama warga lain dalam kelas, beralaskan lantai semen di pesantren itu.

***

SENIN, 27 Desember 2004. Sekitar pukul 07:30 Wib, Jamaliah bergegas naik ke sebuah pick up. Ia mau mencari dua buah hatinya, Arif dan Raudha. Mobil, yang parkir di pesantren, siap mengantar warga selamat dari tsunami ke Meulaboh. Sejumlah warga telah duluan duduk di bak terbuka pick up. Mobil bergerak, meninggalkan kawasan Gunung Mas.

Setelah menurunkan penumpang hingga batas bisa dilalui kendaraan di ujung jalan, mobil balik arah. Kembali ke pesantren untuk mengangkut warga lain. Jamaliah menyusuri jalan, sendiri. Setiap mayat anak yang dijejer di pinggir jalan didekatinya, untuk mengecek. Kerumunan warga didatanginya. Namun, yang dicarinya, tak ditemukan. Menjelang Maghrib, ia kembali ke pesantren, menumpang mobil pick up, bersama warga lain.

Hari itu, Septi dan Zahry bertahan di pesantren. Septi masih sangat trauma. Ia hanya termenung saja, enggan berbicara. Zahry membawa ayahnya, untuk mengobati luka-luka goresan, ke tim medis yang mendirikan posko kesehatan di Dayah Abu Usman. Usai mendapatkan obat-obatan, Septi kembali ke kelas, istirahat sambil tidur-tiduran.

Keesokan harinya, Jamaliah kembali lagi ke Meulaboh. Tempat pengungsian, di seputaran ibukota Aceh Barat, didatanginya. Hari ketiga dan selanjutnya, Zahry mulai menemaninya. Usaha mereka mencari Arif dan Raudha nihil.

Septi baru ikut ke Meulaboh pada hari kelima. Mereka menyusuri jalanan dan mendatangi tempat-tempat pengungsian. Rumah Sakit Cut Nyak Dhien tak lupa mereka singgahi. Tidak ada infomasi keberadaan kedua anak mereka. Raudha dan Arif bagai lenyap ditelan bumi.

Setelah dua minggu mencari, mereka memutuskan pergi ke rumah Zainuddin, abang tiri Jamaliah, di Desa Padang Baro, Kecamatan Susoh, Kabupaten Aceh Barat Daya. Menumpang sebuah mobil, yang kebetulan pergi ke Aceh Barat Daya, mereka tiba di Padang Baro, menjelang senja. Ternyata, di rumah Zainuddin masih tersimpan foto Arif dan Raudha.

Esoknya mereka kembali ke Meulaboh. Zainuddin ikut membantu mencari Arif dan Raudha. Seminggu, mereka bolak balik Padang Baro dan Meulaboh. Hasilnya tetap nihil. Atas saran Zainuddin, mereka memutuskan meminta bantuan “orang pintar” – seorang lelaki tua dekat Meulaboh. Tak lupa mereka membawa foto Arif dan Raudha.

“Kakek itu bilang, kedua anak kami masih hidup. Dia berada di daerah arah matahari terbit. Jika dalam seminggu tak ketemu, anak-anak kami diambil orang,” jelas Jamaliah, mengenang upaya pencarian Raudha dan Arif.

Mendapat informasi demikian, besoknya mereka pergi ke Tapaktuan, ibukota Kabupaten Aceh Selatan. Mereka bawa foto Arif dan Raudha. Setiap orang ditemui, mereka tanya sambil menunjukkan foto. Beberapa lokasi, setelah mendapatkan informasi keberadaan anak korban tsunami, mereka datangi.

Tapi Arif dan Raudha tak ditemukan. Sebulan berada di rumah Zainuddin, keluarga Septi memutuskan kembali ke Meulaboh. Mereka tinggal di tempat pengungsian bersama warga lain, sambil terus mencari Arif dan Raudha.

Suatu hari, dua bulan usai tsunami, Hamdan Rangkuti, seorang adik kandung Septi, datang ke Meulaboh. Setelah menemukan Septi, adiknya mengabarkan jika ibu mereka, Karsitem –yang tinggal di Desa Paringgonan, Kecamatan Ulu Barumum, Kabupaten Padang Lawas, Sumatera Utara— setiap hari menangis karena tak ada kabar dari Septi, putra tertuanya, dan keluarganya.

“Ibu berpesan jika adik menemukan kami agar membawa pulang ke kampung halaman saya,” tutur Septi. Akhirnya, mereka memutuskan pulang ke tanah kelahiran Septi. Apalagi, tinggal di pengungsian serba kekurangan dan rumah mereka di Desa Panggong, tak dapat ditempati lagi karena rusak parah.

“Ketika meninggalkan Meulaboh, saya sangat yakin kedua anak kami masih hidup,” jelas Jamaliah. “Saya sangat yakin suatu hari nanti, akan menemukan mereka.”

Keyakinan yang sama juga diungkapkan Septi dan Zahry. Ketiganya mengaku tak terbersit sedikitpun pikiran kalau Raudha dan Arif ikut menjadi korban tsunami, bersama ribuan warga Meulaboh.

Beberapa hari berlalu, warga Paringonan berinisiatif membangun satu rumah untuk keluarga Septi, secara gotong royong. Dalam tiga hari, rumah ukuran 4 x 3 meter telah berdiri, siap ditempati. Hanya ada satu kamar tidur dan satu ruangan keluarga, yang juga dipakai buat memasak. Lantai beralaskan tanah. Atapnya dari daun rumbia, tanpa plafon.

“Kayu untuk tiang diambil di hutan dekat kampung. Sebagian dindingnya dari kayu bekas yang masih bisa dipakai. Malah, ada satu bagian dinding dari meja badminton bekas,” jelas Septi, sambil tersenyum.

Meski sudah punya tempat tinggal serba darurat, Septi tetap termenung. Dia masih trauma dan enggan bekerja. Tiga tahun lebih, dia hanya di rumah saja, tanpa berusaha mencari nafkah untuk keluarganya. Melihat kondisi suaminya begitu, Jamaliah memutuskan bekerja untuk menghidupi keluarga.

Lalu, ia membuka warung nasi pinggir jalan. Jamaliah juga menerima jahitan pakaian, pekerjaan sampingan yang dilakoninya ketika mereka masih tinggal di Meulaboh, untuk menambah keuangan keluarga.

Hari terus berganti. Kehidupan harus dijalani. Hari-hari dijalani Septi dengan berada di rumah. Jamaliah berjualan di kedai. Zahry melanjutkan sekolahnya. Prestasinya lumayan. Setiap semester, dia selalu masuk rangking 10 besar.

“Saya sangat sedih melihat ayah setiap hari hanya termenung saja di rumah,” kenang Zahry, remaja pendiam yang suka menulis puisi, kepada acehkita.comyang mewawancarainya sambil menikmati secangkir kopi di sebuah kedai, tak jauh dari rumah mereka tinggal sementara.

Tak ada niat keluarga Septi untuk kembali ke Meulaboh yang sedang booming proses rehabilitasi dan rekonstruksi paska-tsunami. Padahal saat itu, keahlian Septi sebagai tukang instalasi listrik sangat dibutuhkan karena banyak rumah warga korban tsunami sedang dibangun.

25 Agustus 2007, Jamaliah melahirkan anak keempat. Mereka memberi nama Jumadil Rangkuti. Warung Jamaliah dikelola seorang famili Septi beberapa bulan saat pemiliknya harus istirahat usai melahirkan. Jamaliah hanya pasrah melihat suaminya yang tetap tak mau bekerja.

Setelah Jumadil berusia dua tahun, Septi mulai bangkit dari keterpukuran. Ia sering bercanda dengan sang jabang bayi. Septi juga mulai mau bekerja, menginstalasi listrik. Semangatnya perlahan pulih. Setahun lebih kemudian, saat usia Jumadil hampir empat tahun, seorang abang sepupunya mengajak Septi mendirikan perusahaan instalasi listrik berbentuk CV.

“Sejak saat itu, saya tak trauma lagi,” ujarnya.

***

SABTU, 21 Juni 2014. Sekitar pukul 10:00 Wib, Zainuddin, 59 tahun, mengisi pulsa di sebuah kedai Gampong Padang Baro. Kemudian, kakinya melangkah ke warung kopi pinggir jalan, milik Rosmani. Di kedai papan ukuran 3 x 4 meter, seorang pria sedang menikmati kopi. Keduanya terlibat pembicaraan santai.

Tiga anak perempuan berjalan santai, menghampiri warung. Mereka gembira sambil bercanda. Ros – panggilan akrab Rosmani – memanggil seorang dari anak-anak yang baru menerima rapor dari Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Negeri (MIN) Pawoh Padang. Yang dipanggil mendekat. Bocah pemalu itu dikenal dengan nama Weniati, 14 tahun.

Keduanya larut dalam canda usai Rosmani memperhatikan isi rapor Weniati. Sesekali tangan Rosmani membelai kepala Weni, begitu dia biasa dipanggil. Bocah itu terus mengumbar senyum bahagia karena kali ini dia tidak tinggal kelas. Rosmani dan Weni akrab karena mereka bertetangga di Gampong Pulo Kayu, yang bersebelahan dengan Padang Baro.

Mereka duduk di bangku panjang semeter dalam warung, tak jauh dari posisi Zainuddin dan rekannya. Zainuddin memperhatikan candaan Ros dan Weni. Tanpa sepengetahuan Ros dan Weni, Zainuddin mengaku menyaksikan satu kejadian yang membuat jantungnya berdegup kencang.

“Sebagian rambut anak itu tersibak dari jilbab. Lalu dua helai rambut jatuh ke pahanya,” ujar Zainuddin, lelaki ramah yang sehari-hari bekerja sebagai sopir alat berat.

Ia segera teringat mimpinya pada suatu malam, beberapa hari sebelumnya. Dalam mimpi itu, Zainuddin mengaku didatangi seorang gadis kecil yang langsung duduk di pangkuannya. Sang bocah hanya diam saja, sambil tersenyum.

“Tiba-tiba sehelai rambutnya jatuh ke pangkuannya, sama persis seperti yang saya lihat ketika Ros bersenda dengan Weni,” ungkap Zainuddin, saat ditemui acehkita.com di rumahnya, akhir Oktober lalu.

Sambil menghembus asap rokok, Zainuddin bertanya, “Anak siapa itu, Ros?” Yang ditanya menjawab, “Anak tsunami. Kedua orangtuanya meninggal dunia saat tsunami dulu.” Ros melanjutkan cerita bahwa anak itu dibawa dari Pulau Banyak oleh Mustamir, seorang nelayan di Pulo Kayu, awal tahun 2006.

Zainuddin tak ingin berlama-lama di warung Ros. Kopi yang tinggal setengah gelas diseruputnya sampai habis. Nikmatnya rasa kopi, seolah hambar. Bulu-bulu di tangannya berdiri. Dia merinding. Usai membayar kopi, dia beranjak, meninggal warung. Masih sempat dirogohnya kantong celana. Dua lembar Rp 2.000 dari sisa membeli pulsa diberikannya kepada Weni. Tangan Zainuddin bergetar saat menyentuh tangan bocah itu.

“Terima kasih, Pak,” ujar Weni, tersenyum bahagia.

Zainuddin segera pulang ke rumah. Album foto dibongkarnya. Setelah diutak-atik, dia menemukan yang dicarinya. Tanpa memberitahu istrinya, dia balik ke kedai Ros. Ditunjukkannya foto yang di dalamnya ada tujuh orang kepada Ros. Foto itu diabadikan saat ulang tahun keempat Raudha, beberapa bulan sebelum tsunami terjadi.

Saat Zainuddin tiba di warung Ros, hari menjelang sore. Weni sudah tak ada lagi di situ. Setelah menghabiskan air putih yang diberikan Ros, gadis cilik itu minta izin, pulang ke rumah Sarwani – seorang perempuan miskin 69 tahun yang selama beberapa tahun terakhir merawatnya di Pulo Kayu. Dengan rona wajah ceria karena naik kelas empat, Weni menelusuri jalanan desa beraspal.

“Apakah anak tadi itu, ada dalam foto ini,” tanya Zainuddin. Setelah melihat dengan seksama, Ros menjawab pasti, “Iya, ini anaknya”, sambil menunjuk ke bocah perempuan yang memakai bando di foto itu. Lalu, ia bertanya, “Kenapa foto anak ini ada sama bapak?”

Zainuddin kemudian menceritakan tentang keponakannya yang hilang ketika tsunami di Meulaboh. Anak perempuan dan bocah pria di sampingnya adalah anak tiri adiknya, Jamaliah. Mereka hilang ketika tsunami meluluhlantakkan Kota Meulaboh.

Zainuddin kembali ke rumah. Baru diceritakan pada orang rumah tentang apa yang baru dilihatnya di kedai kopi Ros. Dia juga baru mengisahkan mimpinya yang sama persis dengan kejadian disaksikannya di warung Ros. Padahal saat bermimpi dulu, Zainuddin hanya menanggap sebagai bunga tidur belaka dan tak menceritakan pada siapapun.

Suasana di rumah Zainuddin heboh. Lalu ia menekan tombol handphonenya, mencari nama Septi. Tak sabar, dia ingin segera menceritakan kabar gembira kepada adik iparnya yang – sejak dua bulan usai tsunami – memilih tinggal di desa kelahirannya, Paringgonan, sebuah desa di pedalaman Sumatera Utara yang dikelilingi pepohonan rindang.

Dari ujung telepon terdengar suara, “Nomor yang Anda tuju sedang tidak aktif atau berada di luar jangkauan. Cobalah beberapa saat lagi.” Zainuddin tidak sabar. Ia kembali menekan nama Septi. Pesan yang sama terdengar. Berulang kali dicobanya. Ketika malam menyelimuti siang, Zanuddin kembali beberapa kali menghubungi Septi. Tetap jawabannya sama.

“Malam itu, saya tidak bisa tidur karena terus memikirkan kenapa nomor HP Septi tidak aktif,” ujar Zainuddin.

***

MINGGU, 22 Juni 2014. Sekitar pukul 7:30 Wib, Septi sedang mengutak-atik sepeda motor bututnya di halaman rumah semi permanen ukuran 6 x 6 meter yang dibangunnya, dua tahun silam. Handphone Nokia di kantong celananya berdering. Segera diraihnya. Di layar handphone tertera nama Zainuddin.

Dalam hati Septi sempat bertanya, apa gerangan abang iparnya menelpon pagi-pagi. Di ujung telepon, Zainuddin mengabarkan berita mengejutkan. Di Pulo Kayu, ada seorang anak sangat mirip Raudha – putri Septi yang terlepas dari tangannya setelah diletakkan di papan hanyut saat tsunami menerjang 10 tahun silam.

Seolah tak percaya, Septi bertanya, “Kelas berapa anak itu, bang?” Zainuddin menjawab, “Kelas empat MIN.” Septi langsung menjawab, itu bukan anaknya. Sebab kalau anak itu benar Raudha, seharusnya dia sudah duduk di bangku Sekolah Menengah Pertama (SMP) karena usianya genap 14 tahun.

Secara tak sengaja, tangan Septi tersentuh sepeda motor. Nokia di tangannya terjatuh. Pembicaraan mereka pun terputus. Septi sempat bercerita apa yang dikatakan Zainuddin kepada istrinya. Ketika dibilang anak itu kelas 4 MIN, Jamaliah tak percaya karena bila putrinya masih hidup, sekarang sudah kelas 1 atau 2 SMP.

Sesaat kemudian, seorang putri Zainuddin menelpon. Kali ini, Jamaliah yang menjawab. Putri Zainuddin mengatakan, ayahnya sekarang sedang menangis di kamar. Dia berusaha meyakinkan bibinya. Lalu, Jamaliah minta dikirimkan foto anak itu melalui HP. Karena HPnya tak bisa menerima kiriman foto, dia memberikan satu nomor seorang tetangganya.

Esoknya, atas bantuan Ros, Weni dibawa ke rumah Zainuddin. Setelah difoto, segera dikirim ke nomor tetangga Septi. Perempuan yang rumahnya di depan rumah Septi memperlihatkan foto itu kepada Jamaliah. Ketika melihat foto anak dalam HP, Jamaliah mengaku jantung berdegup kencang. “Rahim saya tiba-tiba terasa sakit,” katanya.

Septi yang duduk di samping meraih telepon di tangan istrinya. Seksama, dia menatap foto anak dalam handphone. “Betul ini Raudha, anak kita,” ujarnya.

Zainuddin meminta keluarga Septi segera datang ke Aceh. Di Paringgonan, kabar putri Septi telah ditemukan cepat beredar. Puluhan tetangga datang ke rumahnya. Septi dan Jamaliah ingin segera ke Aceh. Tetapi, tak ada uang karena telah diserahkanke Zahry, untuk biaya mendaftar masuk universitas di Medan, beberapa hari lalu.

Warga berinisiatif, mengumpulkan uang. Famili Septi juga ikut menyumbang. Akhirnya, terkumpul uang Rp 3 juta. Mereka siap berangkat ke Aceh. Tanggal 25 Juni 2014 malam, Septi, Jamaliah dan putra bungsu mereka, Jumadil, naik bus di Sibuhuan, ibukota Padang Lawas – kabupaten pemekaran dari Tapanuli Selatan – menuju Medan. Perjalanan ditempuh selama 12 jam.

Sebelum berangkat, mereka menghubungi Zahri, yang meunggu ujian masuk perguruan tinggi di Medan. Putra sulung Septi itu telah mendaftarkan diri di dua universitas. Dia memilih jurusan Bahasa Inggris dan Teknik Pertambangan. Zahry dikabari adiknya telah ditemukan di Aceh.

Zahri diminta menunggu kedua orang tua dan adiknya di Medan. Selanjutnya, mereka berempat berangkat ke kampung Zainuddin, dengan menyewa sebuah mobil. Menjelang subuh keesokan harinya, mereka tiba di rumah Zainuddin.

Zahry harus mengorbankan harapannya, tak ikut tes masuk perguruan tinggi. “Saya rela tidak ikut ujian masuk perguruan tinggi. Saya senang akhirnya adik saya ditemukan selamat setelah hampir 10 tahun terpisah,” ungkapnya seraya berharap tahun depan bisa kuliah untuk menggapai cita-citanya.

Keinginan Zahry bertemu kedua adiknya pernah dinukilkan dalam satu puisi, pada suatu malam setahun lalu.

Doa dalam Sujudku

Terbalut dalam dinginnya malam,

Kulihat samar wajah indah di sudut kamar.

Kedua adikku... entah dimana dan bagaimana kabarnya,

Entah kapan dan dimana aku akan bertemu dengannya.

Masih terlihat tingkah lucunya,

Masih kurasa canda tawa dan senyumnya.

Apakah aku masih bisa melihatnya,

Atau waktu tak mengizinkan aku bertemu dengannya.

Dalam sujudku padaMu,

Aku panjatkan doa untuk semua yang hilang dari pandanganku.

Akankah waktu mempertemukan mereka denganku.

Dalam sujudku padaMu,

Aku panjatkan doa untuk semua yang hilang dari pandanganku.

Tunjukkan padaku keberadaannya, antara ada dan tiada...

Dalam sujudku padaMu,

Aku panjatkan doa untuk semua yang hilang dari pandanganku,

Izinkan aku melihatnya di tengah sepi, walau hanya dalam mimpi.

Sekitar pukul 9:00 Wib keesokan harinya, Zainuddin menghubungi Ros agar membawa Weni ke rumahnya. Jamaliah duduk lantai di ruang tamu, dengan istri Zainuddin. Sementara itu, Septi dan Zainuddin duduk di ruang keluarga sambil mengisap rokok. Zahry, dan Jumadil juga ada di situ. Suasana senyap. Tak ada yang berbicara.

Tiba-tiba Ros dan Weni datang, mengucapkan salam. Ros bersalaman dengan Jamaliah dan istri Zainuddin. Weni yang berjalan di samping Ros melakukan hal sama. Begitu Weni bersalaman dengan Jalamiah, perempuan tambun itu menjerit, “Benar, ini anak saya.” Weni yang masih bingung segera dipeluknya. Dia pun membalas pelukan Jamaliah.

Septi yang duduk sekitar dua meter dari istrinya bangkit. Dia memeluk tubuh mungil. Zahry, Jumadil dan semua anggota keluarga Zainuddin bangkit dari duduk. Mereka mengelilingi Septi dan Jamaliah yang sedang memeluk Weni. Pasangan suami istri itu tak mampu menahan tangis. Air mata seluruh anggota keluarga Zainuddin dan Rosmani yang melihat momen mengharukan itu, ikut menetes.

Usai makan siang bersama di rumah Zainuddin, Ros mohon diri. Tak lupa, dia membawa pulang Weni. “Kalau mau ikut perasaan, kami tak ingin melepaskan lagi Raudha,” kata Septi.

***

SABTU, 28 Juni 2014. Sekitar pukul 7:30 Wib, keluarga Septi bertamu ke rumah Sarwani, perempuan yang selama ini merawat Weniati, di Pulo Kayu. Zainuddin dan istrinya juga ikut. Sebelum meninggalkan rumah, ia menelpon Rosmani agar memberitahu Sarwani kalau mereka ingin bertamu.

Selain Sarwani dan Weniati, di rumah bantuan sebuah NGO asal Jerman bagi korban tsunami itu juga tinggal dua putra Ida Maryam, putri sulung Sarwani. Sejak tahun 2009 silam, Ida menetap di Takengon, ibukota Kabupaten Aceh Tengah, setelah menikah lagi dengan warga setempat.

Untuk menghidupnya bersama kedua cucu dan Weniati, Sarwani setiap pagi mencari lokan di pinggir laut dan tambak dekat pantai di belakang rumahnya. Ia juga mengumpulkan barang-barang bekas yang layak pakai, botol dan gelas minuman mineral untuk dijual pada pengumpul yang dua pekan sekali datang ke rumahnya.

Sarwani menyambut hangat kunjungan keluarga Septi dan Zainuddin. Apalagi Rosmani telah menceritakan padanya jika ada keluarga korban tsunami yang dulu tinggal di Meulaboh mengaku orang tua Weniati. Sarwani bahagia bila memang benar Septi dan Jamaliah adalah orang tua kandung Weniati.

Dalam pertemuan penuh kekeluargaan, Jamaliah menyampaikan keinginan mereka membawa pulang Weniati. Tapi, Sarwani tak mengizinkannya karena ia masih ingin menjalani ibadah puasa bersama. Dia bilang kepada Septi dan Jamaliah agar datang lagi usai Hari Raya Idul Fitri 1435 Hijriah. Pasangan itu tak memaksa. Mereka membiarkan Weniati tinggal bersama Sarwani dan dua cucunya.

Selama Ramadhan, keluarga Septi sering datang ke Pulo Kayu, untuk bertemu putrinya. Mereka juga mengajak aparat Desa Panggong untuk bermusyawarah dengan keluarga besar Sarwani. Selain aparat Pulo Kayu, dari pihak keluarga Sarwani juga selalu hadir Rusmadi, mantan Panglima Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM) setempat.

Atas bantuan Zainuddin, acehkita.com bertemu Rusmadi. Tempatnya di kedai Rosmani, lokasi pertama Zainuddin melihat Weniati, yang kemudian diyakini sebagai Raudha. Rusmadi adalah seorang sosok yang tegas bicaranya. Ia juga tinggal di Pulo Kayu. Rusmadi masih ada hubungan famili dengan Sarwani.

Rusmadi mengaku sering melihat Weniati di desanya, sejak bocah itu dibawa Mustamir, menantu Sarwani, dari Pulau Banyak pada 2006. Kepada Rusmadi dikatakan Weniati ialah anak yatim piatu yang masih ada hubungan keluarga dengan Mustamir.

Seiring perjalanan waktu, Rusmadi mengaku agak penasaran karena tidak ada seorangpun keluarga di Pulau Banyak datang menjenguk Weniati. Dia merasa terganggu saat Mustamir dan istrinya, Sarina Dewi, serta ketiga putra mereka memutuskan pindah ke Belawan, pada 2009.

Kalau tak dibawa serta ke Belawan, ujar Rusmadi, seharusnya Weniati diantar pulang ke Pulau Banyak, untuk tinggal bersama dengan keluarganya. Tapi, dia ditinggalkan bersama Ida Maryan dan Sarwani. Ida merupakan janda beranak dua.

Rusmadi mulai curiga ketika secara kebetulan melihat Weniati diganggu seorang anak laki-laki dengan panggilan “anak tsunami”, sekitar tiga tahun lalu. Mantan panglima sagoe GAM itu mendengar jawaban Weniati, “Memang benar aku anak tsunami. Seharusnya kamu jangan ganggu aku.”

Kemudian, pada Mei 2013, seorang nelayan bernama Darman alias Gaipe, 32 tahun, datang menemui Rusmadi di Pulo Kayu. Adik kandung Mustamir itu ingin berterima kasih kepada Rusmadi yang telah membantu pembebasannya saat ditawan pasukan GAM, tahun 2000.

“Dia juga bertanya pada saya, ‘Bagaimana kondisi anak tsunami yang dibawa abang saya?’,” tutur Rusmadi. “Gaipe juga bilang dialah yang menyelamatkan Weni bersama abangnya di laut ketika tsunami. Kemudian ia membawa kedua anak itu ke Pulau Banyak.”

Rusmadi mengaku saat Darman bercerita tentang anak tsunami, ia tak terlalu menyimak. Ia baru teringat pengakuan Darman ketika keluarga Septi datang ke Pulo Kayu. Meski masih ada hubungan keluarga dengan Sarwani, tetapi Rusmadi sangat yakin kalau Septi dan Jamaliah orang tua Weniati.

Namun, semua cerita Rusmadi dibantah Darman. “Saya tak pernah ditangkap GAM. Saya memang kenal Bang Rusmadi karena dia keluarga Kak Sari, tetapi tidak benar kalau dia bilang saya pernah datang ke Pulo Kayu tahun lalu,” ujar Darman, yang kini menetap di Nias, saat dikonfirmasi acehkita.com melalui telepon, awal Desember lalu.

Darman juga membantah pernah menyelamatkan anak korban tsunami. “Jika mayat yang hanyut di laut ada ketemu dan saya langsung lapor ke polisi air,” katanya seraya menyebutkan bahwa saat tsunami menerjang Aceh, dia sedang berada di Simeulue, mencari tripang.

Sementara itu, Sarwani mengisahkan, awal 2006, Mustamir melaut ke Pulau Banyak. Di sana, dia melihat dua bocah kurang terurus. Dari penuturan warga setempat diketahui kedua anak itu korban tsunami, yang orang tuanya sudah meninggal dunia dihumbalang gelombang Samudera Hindia.

“Menantu saya telepon istrinya, anak saya, Sari. Ia bilang di Pulau Banyak ada dua anak tsunami. Mustamir tanya apa Sari mau merawat mereka. Tapi, Sari hanya mau merawat anak perempuan karena mereka sudah punya tiga anak laki-laki. Lalu, dibawa pulanglah anak perempuan itu. Anak laki-laki tinggal bersama keluarga nelayan di Pulau Banyak,” jelas Sarwani.

Sejak dibawa, bocah itu tinggal bersama keluarga Mustamir. Namun, Sarwani mengaku, sering bertemu bocah yang sangat pendiam karena rumahnya dan rumah keluarga Mustamir berdekatan. Malah anak itu sering makan dan tidur di rumah Sarwani.

“Kalau ditanya siapa namanya, ia hanya diam saja. Makanya kami panggil dia kakak, kadang-kadang kami panggil adik. Baru saat hendak masuk sekolah MIN, saya beri nama Weniati,” kata Sarwani pada acehkita yang mendatangi rumahnya, akhir Oktober lalu.

Perempuan tua itu tak mampu membendung air matanya saat berujar, “Weni sekarang telah melupakan saya yang pernah merawatnya setelah dia bertemu dengan orang tuanya.”

Setelah beberapa kali pertemuan yang melibatkan aparat Gampong Panggong dan Pulo Kayu disepakati supaya Mustamir datang ke desa kelahiran istrinya, untuk menjelaskan latar belakang Weniati. Apalagi dari pembicaraan melalui telepon, dia mengklaim Weniati bukan korban tsunami, tapi anak yatim piatu yang masih ada hubungan keluarga dengannya.

Mustamir yang tinggal di kawasan Belawan, Sumatera Utara, bersedia datang ke Pulo Kayu, tapi tak punya uang untuk ongkos transportasi. Seorang sepupu Jamaliah di Meulaboh mengirimkan sejumlah uang kepada Mustamir. Meski sudah dikirim uang, Mustamir tetap tak datang. Dia hanya mengutus istrinya, Sarina Dewi, ke Pulo Kayu.

“Uang yang dikirim tak cukup untuk ongkos kami sekeluarga. Makanya hanya istri saya saja yang pulang,” katanya ketika dikonfirmasi acehkita.com melalui telepon, awal November silam.

Menurut Mustamir, Weniati adalah anak yatim piatu yang dirawat Inagamasi, neneknya di Desa Ujung Sialit, Kecamatan Pulau Banyak Barat, Aceh Singkil. Weniati punya dua orang adik, laki-laki dan perempuan. Saat ke Ujung Sialit, pada awal 2006, untuk mengunjungi kedua orang tuanya, Mustamir mengaku melihat tiga orang anak yang dirawat Inagamasi. Lalu, perempuan miskin itu meminta Mustamir untuk membawa seorang dari mereka.

“Saya telepon istri saya. Saya bilang kalau di Ujung Sialit ada tiga anak yatim piatu yang dirawat kakak ibu kandung saya. Saya tanya, apa dia mau jika saya bawa mereka ke Pulo Kayu. Terus, istri saya jawab untuk membawa seorang anak perempuan saja karena kami sudah punya tiga orang anak laki-laki,” jelas Mustamir, seraya menambahkan kedua orang tua ketiga anak itu sudah meninggal dunia sebelum tsunami.

Cerita yang sama disampaikan Sarina Dewi, 32 tahun, saat acehkita.com mendatangi rumah sewanya di kawasan Belawan, akhir Oktober silam. Waktu itu, suaminya telah pergi melaut. Biasanya, Mustamir baru pulang dua pekan kemudian. Pasangan yang menikah pada Oktober 1999, tinggal di rumah sewa dari kayu bersama tiga putra mereka.

Perempuan bertubuh mungil itu menyambut ramah kunjungan acehkita.com. Wawancara berlangsung di ruang tamu pemilik rumah. Dua anaknya bermain di luar rumah. Seorang lagi sedang berada di sekolah.

Rumah dari kayu itu menyatu dengan rumah yang disewa keluarga Mustamir: sebuah kamar ukuran 3 x 4 meter dan satu ruangan 3 x 3 meter yang dipakai untuk meletakkan pakaian dan barang lainnya. Satu sepeda motor terparkir di situ.

“Weni itu adalah keluarga suami saya. Bagaimana mungkin tsunami sudah 10 tahun, tapi masih ada keluarga yang mengaku anak mereka masih hidup. Itu sama sekali tidak masuk akal,” tegas Sarina, dengan suara berusaha menahan marah. “Kalau dulu kami ikut bawa Weni ke Belawan, kejadiannya tidak akan seperti ini.”

Saat ditanya kenapa mereka atau keluarganya di Ujung Sialit tak menjemput Weniati, Mustamir dan Sarina mengaku mereka tidak punya uang. “Kami juga tak punya uang untuk melaporkan masalah ini kepada polisi,” kata Mustamir. “Tapi, kami punya bukti di Ujung Sialit kalau Weni bukan anak tsunami.”

Dia menambahkan bahwa adik laki-laki Weniati kini tinggal di Nias bersama pamannya. Sedangkan adik perempuannya masih tetap berada di Ujung Sialit bersama neneknya. “Boleh dicek ke sana kalau Weni itu anak yatim piatu yang masih ada hubungan keluarga dengan saya,” ujar Mustamir.

Pengakuan Mustamir dikuatkan keterangan Kepala Desa Ujung Sialit, Okta Derita Gea, yang dihubungi acehkita.com, akhir Oktober lalu. Dia memastikan, tidak ada anak korban tsunami yang selamat atau dibawa ke Ujung Sialit.

Di perkampungan nelayan yang penduduknya seribuan lebih jiwa itu, kata Okta, kalau ada suatu kejadian, semua warga pasti mengetahui.

“Konon lagi kalau ada korban tsunami yang dibawa atau diselamatkan, pasti akan heboh,” katanya, seraya menambahkan, waktu tsunami menerjang, Ujung Sialit tidak terkena dampaknya.

Namun, cerita Okta agak berbeda dengan klaim Mustamir, terkait kedua orang tua Weniati. Menurut dia, orang tua Weniati dan dua adiknya bukan telah meninggal dunia, tapi bercerai. “Ayah mereka tinggal di Pekanbaru, Riau. Sedangkan ibunya sudah kawin lagi di Nias,” jelas Okta.

Lalu, kenapa Sarwani menyebutkan Weniati, anak korban tsunami? Ketika hal itu ditanyakan pada Mustamir dan istrinya, mereka menjawab, “Mungkin ibu saya sudah dipengaruhi oleh orang yang mengaku orang tua Weniati.”

Sarina mengaku, saat pulang ke Pulo Kayu, ia telah menjelaskan tentang latar belakang orang tua Weniati kepada keluarga Septi. Tapi, karena “didesak dan ada jaminan semua pihak” akhirnya ia bersedia menyerahkan Weniati, setelah mendapat persetujuan suaminya, pada keluarga Septi selama sepekan “untuk kepentingan tes DNA.”

Apalagi, waktu itu, Sarwani ikut mendampingi Weniati ke Meulaboh pada 6 Agustus lalu. Perempuan tua yang telah menganggap Weniati sebagai cucunya sempat tinggal bersama keluarga Septi hampir dua pekan di Meulaboh.

“Tapi, hingga sekarang tes DNA tak pernah dilakukan dan Weni telah diambil mereka,” ujar Mustamir.

***

MINGGU, 10 Agustus 2014. Sekitar pukul 17:30 Wib, Lana Bestari – seorang ibu rumah tangga berusia 30 tahun di Kota Payakumbuh, Sumatera Barat – menghidupkan televisi di rumahnya. Remote di tangannya dipencet beberapa kali, mencari siaran menarik. Akhirnya, dia memilih TVOne. Sejumlah berita perkembangan politik di Indonesia berlalu.

Beberapa menit kemudian, berita reunifikasi keluarga korban tsunami dengan putrinya, Raudhatul Jannah alias Weniati. Waktu itu, reporter TVOne sedang mewawancara Jamaliah. Sambil menangis, perempuan di layar kaca mengaku masih berusaha mencari putranya yang juga terlepas dari tangan suaminya, Septi Rangkuti, akibat dihumbalang gelombang raya, hampir 10 tahun silam.

Berita yang disiarkan secara langsung menarik perhatian Lana. Tiba-tiba, dia teringat seorang remaja jalanan yang sering datang ke rumahnya untuk minta uang atau makanan. Wajah remaja itu mirip Jamaliah. Lana agak ragu karena Jamaliah menyebut nama anaknya Arif Pratama Rangkuti, sementara remaja jalanan itu dipanggil Ucok.

Dia meraih Blackberrynya. Lana memotret wajah Jamaliah di layar kaca yang sedang menangis. Pikirannya tak lagi fokus pada berita lain yang disiarkan stasiun televisi itu. Dia merasa perlu bertemu Ucok.

Bagi Lana, Ucok tak asing. Perkenalan anak tanggung itu dengan keluarganya terjadi pada suatu pagi tahun 2007. Hari itu, saat suaminya membuka warung internet (warnet) miliknya, dia menemukan seorang anak, berpakaian lusuh dengan bekas luka besar yang belum pulih di kepala bagian depan, tertidur di pintu toko.

Suami Lama mengajak anak itu masuk. Setelah memberi makanan dan baju, suami Lana minta anak itu tidur dalam warnet dan menetap saja di situ kalau tak ada tempat tinggal. Tapi, menjelang siang, dia pergi tanpa memberitahu Lana dan suaminya.

“Dia tidak bisa bahasa Indonesia. Logat bicaranya bukan logat Padang. Waktu kami tanya siapa namanya, dia diam saja. Saat kami tanya kenapa kepalanya, dia bilang disiram air panas oleh seseorang. Dia juga bilang diturunkan sopir truk dari Medan,” jelas Lana saat diwawancara acehkita.com melalui telepon, akhir Oktober lalu.

Karena tidak diketahui namanya, keluarga Lana memanggil bocah itu, “Ucok”. Keesokan harinya, anak itu datang lagi ke warnet. Setelah diberi makanan, dia pergi lagi. Ucok sering datang sehingga keluarga Lana dekat dengannya. Saat Lana menutup usaha warnetnya tiga tahun lalu, Ucok masih tetap datang ke rumahnya. Ucok akrab dengan Lana, suaminya dan ketiga putra mereka.

Pernah suatu ketika keluarga Lana menawarkan Ucok didaftarkan ke sekolah, tapi dia menolak. Tampaknya, ia lebih memilih hidup di jalanan. Bila malam, Ucok tidur di pasar, bersama anak jalanan lain. Dia juga sering tidur di kuburan.

Kehidupan sebagai anak jalanan di Payakumbuh dilakoni Ucok selama tujuh tahun. Garis hidupnya mulai berubah ketika Lana memperlihatkan foto yang dipotretnya dari layar televisi. Saat Ucok melintasi di depan rumahnya, 11 Agustus lalu, Lana memanggilnya. Ditunjukkan foto perempuan yang sedang menangis.

“Ucok memperhatikan foto di BB saya. Lalu, dia bilang, ‘Mak’. Tentu saja, saya tak langsung percaya ucapannya. Saya tanya nama ibunya. Dia menjawab ‘Liah’. Saya juga tak bilang padanya kalau wanita itu sedang mencara anaknya yang hilang waktu tsunami,” tutur Lana.

Ternyata Liah adalah nama panggilan Jamaliah. Ketika ditemui acehkita.com,ia mengaku beberapa kawannya di Meulaboh sebelum tsunami memanggilnya dengan sebutan Liah.

Mendengar pengakuan Ucok, Lana coba menyelidiki. “Saya tanya dia, ‘Kalau begitu kamu sebenarnya asalnya dari mana?. Tiba-tiba Ucok menangis sambil berujar, ‘Gelombang besar’,” ungkap Lana.

Sesaat kemudian, perempuan yang selalu mengenakan hijab itu menghubungi seorang familinya yang bekerja di TVOne, untuk mendapatkan nomor kontak reporter stasiun televisi itu di Padang. Lalu, diperoleh nomor Donal Caniago, reporter TVOne di Padang. Setelah Donal datang ke rumah Lana, dia memotret Ucok dan mengunggah di laman facebooknya.

Beberapa pengguna facebook di Aceh sempat menshare foto Ucok. Pada saat bersamaan, keluarga Septi terus mencari informasi keberadaan Arif. Ada yang bilang Arif “masih” di Pulau Banyak. Ada juga informasi dia berada di Nias.

Keyakinan Jamaliah bahwa putranya masih hidup berkat pengakuan Raudha, setelah mereka membawa gadis cilik itu ke Meulaboh untuk tinggal bersama. “Suatu malam, Raudha bilang kepada saya kalau dia sempat tinggal di pulau dengan abangnya, Arif,” jelas Jamaliah.

Donal juga mengirim foto Ucok ke rekannya di Meulaboh untuk diperlihatkan pada keluarga Septi. Melihat wajah gelap Ucok dengan rambut panjang acak-acakan, Jamaliah dan Septi agak sedikit ragu.

Tapi, Jamaliah mulai yakin setelah melihat foto lain: Ucok duduk di samping Donal. Cara duduk berjongkok dengan bagian depan kaki sedikit dibuka sangat mirip dengan Arif kecil. Jamaliah menelpon Lana. “Apakah Ucok ada bekas luka di hidung sebelah kanan?” tanyanya. Lana menjawab, “Iya, ada.”

Menurut Jamaliah, ketika berusia tujuh tahun, Arif sempat terjatuh saat hendak mengambil bola. Hidupnya mengalami luka, yang meninggalkan bekas.

Ketika Ucok pamit, Lana memberikan sejumlah uang. Dia minta Ucok memangkas rambutnya. Keesokan hari, Ucok kembali datang ke rumah Lana. Perempuan itu segera menghubungi keluarga Septi. Begitu mendengar suara Jamaliah, Ucok bilang, “Mak, cepat datang, jemput aku. Aku mau pulang ke Aceh.”

“Andai saya punya sayap, saya akan segera terbang ke sana untuk menjemput Arif,” ujar Jamaliah.

Berkat bantuan sejumlah uang dari familinya, Septi bersama istrinya dan tiga anak mereka serta adik kandung Jamaliah, Samsul, menyewa sebuah mobil. Mereka berangkat dari Meulaboh, sekitar pukul 3:00 dinihari. Selama dalam perjalanan, mereka hanya berhenti tiga kali untuk makan. Rombongan itu tiba di Payakumbuh, Senin dinihari (18 Agustus 2004) setelah menempuh perjalanan lebih dari 24 jam.

Pagi hari, Jamaliah tak sabar menghubungi Lana untuk mengabarkan mereka telah tiba di Payakumbuh. Tetapi, Lana memberikan informasi menyesakkan dada. Ucok “hilang”.

Di pasar yang biasa dijadikan tempat nongkrongnya, ia tak ada. Bersama sejumlah wartawan, Lana sempat meminta bantuan polisi untuk mencari Ucok. Hampir setengah hari mereka mencari ke tempat-tempat anak jalanan mangkal. Ucok tetap tak ditemukan. Baru menjelang zuhur, Ucok ditemukan dekat kuburan. Ternyata, malam itu dia tidur di situ karena ada perselisihan dengan seorang anak jalanan.

“Saya sudah minta Ucok tidur di rumah saya malam itu karena orang tuanya akan datang, tapi dia tak mau,” tutur Lana, mengisahkan upaya pencarian Ucok menjelang pertemuan dengan Septi dan Jamaliah.

Begitu ditemukan, Ucok dibawa ke rumah Lana. Sejumlah tetangga Lana dan para wartawan juga hadir di situ. Ketika mobil yang membawa keluarga Septi berhenti di depan rumah, Ucok segera lari keluar. Dia memeluk Jamaliah dan Septi. Menurut Jamaliah, pertanyaan pertama yang keluar dari mulut Ucok, “bagaimana sepeda saya.” Ternyata sebelum tsunami, Arif punya sepeda saat tinggal di Meulaboh.

“Semua tetangga saya yang melihat momen mengharukan itu menangis. Saya juga menangis,” kata Lana.

Kemudian, mereka semua dijamu makan siang di rumah Lana. Ucok duduk di samping Jamaliah. Mereka memilih duduk di lantai. Ia minta disuap. Setelah makan, Jamaliah dan keempat anaknya – Zahri, Raudha, Jumadil dan Arif alias Ucok – duduk bersama di sebuah kursi tamu. Sedangkan, Septi duduk sendiri di kursi lain. Lalu, tanpa sungkan, Ucok menyulut sebatang rokok.

Sebelum meninggalkan rumah Lana, sore itu, Ucok sempat mengatakan kepada perempuan itu bahwa ia siap pulang ke Aceh. “Dia bilang, ‘Saya sudah menemukan keluarga saya dan saya sekarang sangat senang,” tutur Lana. “Selama tujuh tahun Ucok di Payakumbuh, itulah kalimat paling jelas yang dia ucapkan kepada saya.”

Kemudian, keluarga Septi pergi ke Markas Polisi Resort Payakumbuh, untuk melaporkan bahwa mereka telah menemukan anak mereka yang hilang waktu tsunami melanda Aceh. Tanpa istirahat, malam itu juga mereka memutuskan untuk pulang ke Meulaboh, malam itu juga.

Ucok tidak membawa apa-apa, selain baju di badan. Tetapi, ia punya sesuatu. Namanya kembali dipanggil Arif. Dia juga memperoleh kasih sayang keluarga yang tak pernah dirasakannya selama terpisah hampir 10 tahun.

Begitu tiba di Meulaboh, mereka singgah ke rumah makcik Jamaliah, tempat sementara keluarga itu tinggal setelah membawa pulang Raudha. Tetapi, Arif protes karena ia ingin pulang ke Aceh. Waktu dijelaskan bahwa dia sudah tiba di Aceh, Arif tetap protes.

“Ketika kami tiba di Meulaboh, saya melihat perubahan pada Arif. Sejak saat itu, dia tidak pernah merokok lagi,” kata Septi.

Sejam kemudian, Samsul – adik Jamaliah yang ikut ke Payakumbuh — pamit, pulang ke rumahnya. Arif ingin ikut. Jamaliah dan Septi mengizinkan. Begitu mobil berhenti di belakang rumah Samsul, Arif segera turun dan lari masuk ke rumah.

“Ini baru Aceh. Mana sepeda saya,” ujarnya.

***

SELASA, 11 November 2014. Sekitar pukul 16:00 Wib, mobil yang membawa Septi, Jamaliah, Zahry, Arif, Raudha, dan Jumadil meninggalkan Meulaboh. Dalam mobil itu terdapat seorang wartawan Korea, yang bersedia membiayai kepulangan mereka. Setelah menempuh perjalanan melelahkan, mereka tiba di desa kelahiran Septi, Kamis dinihari.

“Saat bertemu dengan seorang adik saya yang datang ke rumah, Arif langsung bertanya dimana monyet,” jelas Septi kepada acehkita.com yang mengunjungi mereka di Desa Paringgonan, Kecamatan Ulu Barumun, Kabupaten Padang Lawas, Sumatera Utara, awal Desember lalu.

Beberapa bulan sebelum tsunami meluluhlantakkan Aceh, saat Hari Raya Idul Fitri 1425 Hijriah, Septi dan keluarganya pulang kampung. Kala itu, di rumah Edi Azhari Rangkuti – adik ketiga Septi – ada seekor monyet.

“Ternyata Arif masih ingat monyet itu padahal sudah 10 tahun lalu. Monyet itu tentu saja sudah lama mati,” kata Edi.

Setelah seminggu keluarga abangnya di Paringgonan, Edi menangkap seekor anak monyet dari hutan dekat kampung. Arif terlihat bahagia bermain dengan monyet. Saat acehkita.com memintanya, Arif berusaha mempertahankannya.

“Tidak boleh. Ini punya Arif,” ujarnya, sambil mendekap monyet kecil yang diikat di samping rumahnya.

Jamaliah menyatakan bahwa salah satu alasan mereka pulang ke Paringgonan karena anak-anak tak mau bersekolah di Meulaboh. Raudha telah didaftarkan di sebuah SMP. Sedangkan, Arif dimasukkan ke Sekolah Luar Biasa (SLB). Tapi, mereka hanya bersedia sekolah sebulan. Setelah itu, keduanya tak mau lagi sekolah.

“Tapi begitu tiba di sini, keduanya ingin segera sekolah. Mungkin mereka lihat Jumadil setiap pagi pergi sekolah. Makanya, Senin atau empat hari setelah kami tiba di kampung, keduanya kami mendaftarkan ke SD. Raudha diterima di kelas lima, sementara Arif duduk di kelas tiga,” kata Septi.

Siang itu, Rabu (3 Desember 2014) saat acehkita.com sedang mewawancarai Septi dan Jamaliah, Raudha pulang sekolah, yang berjarak sekitar 2 kilometer dari rumah barunya. Gadis cilik itu mengumbar senyum saat melangkah ke pintu. Sebelum masuk, ia memberi salam ke seisi rumah. Usai mencium tangan kedua orangtuanya, ia masuk kamar, mengganti pakaian sekolah: baju putih dipadu rok merah dan jilbab putih.

Raudha kemudian duduk di samping ayah dan ibunya serta Jumadil di ruang keluarga rumah berukuran 6 x 6 meter yang dibangun Septi, dua tahun silam. Hanya ada dua kamar di rumah berdinding papan itu. Lalu, Raudha bercerita pengalamannya di sekolah tentang sulitnya mata pelajaran, gurunya yang baik dan teman-teman barunya.

Rumah itu terletak hanya sepelemparan batu dari lokasi rumah darurat yang dibangun warga Paringgonan ketika keluarga Septi pulang dua bulan setelah tsunami. Hingga kini, bekas pertapakan rumah itu masih tersisa lantai semen yang telah retak dan mulai ditumbuhi semak belukar.

Sekitar 15 menit berselang, Arif yang memakai baju putih dan celana panjang merah dengan tas ranser masih baru di bahu, bersua di pintu. Tanpa memberi salam, dia langsung masuk dan duduk di antara keluarga yang sedang tertawa lepas, mendengar lelucon Jumadil dan Raudha.

Dengan logat agak gagap, remaja yang seharusnya duduk di bangku Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) bercerita tentang sejumlah anak-anak di sekolahnya yang berkelahi. “Saya leraikan mereka. Saya bilang kepada mereka berkelahi dosa,” ujarnya.

Septi dan Jamaliah hanya tersenyum mendengar cerita Arif. Lalu, Jamaliah menyuruh Arif mengganti baju sekolah. Arif coba berkilah, tapi tatapan mata Septi dengan masih tersenyum membuatnya segera masuk ke kamar. Sejurus kemudian, Arif keluar dan kembali bergabung dengan orangtua dan kedua adiknya.

Mereka semua duduk di tikar yang digelar di lantai semen, tanpa keramik. Tidak ada kursi tamu di ruang keluarga. Sebuah televisi 20 inci terletak dekat dinding. Di sampingnya, berdiri kulkas semeter. Mereka larut pembicaraan santai. Raudha dan Arif seolah saling berlomba menceritakan pengalaman di sekolah. Tiba-tiba putra sulung mereka, Zahry pulang. Ia bergabung, duduk di lantai.

Keceriaan Raudha hari itu sangat berbeda dengan kesaksian Tuti Erlinda yang pernah menjadi gurunya saat duduk di kelas dua MIN Pawoh Padang. Kepada acehkita.com yang menemuinya di sekolah, akhir Oktober lalu, Tuti mengaku sempat beberapa kali menggali informasi latar belakang Weniati.

“Anaknya sangat pendiam. Kalau ditanya, dia lebih banyak tidak memberikan jawaban. Kalaupun ada suara keluar dari mulutnya, suaranya sangat kecil dan

sering tak terdengar,” ujar Tuti.

Perubahan sikap Raudha berbeda jauh dengan saat dia dibawa keluarganya ke Banda Aceh, awal Agustus lalu, setelah mereka menemukan putrinya. Ditanya wartawan tentang pengalaman hidupnya selama 10 tahun terakhir waktu itu, Raudha hanya menjawab satu kata, lalu diam.

“Sekarang Arif dan Raudha bagai raja dan ratu di rumah ini. Keduanya paling banyak ngomong. Saya sangat senang akhirnya kami berkumpul lagi,” tutur Zahry.

Jamaliah bangkit dari duduk, melangkah ke dapur, beralaskan tanah. Tanpa diminta, Raudha ikut ibunya. Ibu dan putrinya sibuk di dapur. Usai memasak, Jamaliah dan Raudha membawa nasi dan telur goreng ke ruang keluarga. Mereka santap siang. Menunya telur mata sapi dan sayur bening.

Bagaimana Septi dan Jamaliah menyikapi klaim Mustamir yang menyebutkan Raudha bukan anak tsunami? Pasangan suami itu terlihat sangat menyayangi keempat anaknya, dengan sepenuh hari. Mereka sangat yakin gadis cilik itu adalah putri mereka yang terpisah saat tsunami meluluhlantakkan Meulaboh.

Sebelum memutuskan pulang ke Paringgonan, mereka lebih dulu melaporkan ke Mapolres Aceh Barat. Dengan begitu kalau ada persoalan di kemudian hari, mereka siap datang ke Meulaboh.

“Waktu pertama kali menemukan Raudha, kami juga lapor ke polisi. Buktinya ini surat dari polisi Aceh Barat. Waktu menemukan Arif, kami juga melapor ke Polres Payakumbuh,” tutur Jamaliah seraya memperlihatkan kedua lembar surat dari kepolisian.

Septi menambahkan, alasan mereka tak melakukan tes DNA saat membawa Raudha dari Sarwani karena tak punya uang. Apalagi polisi menyatakan tes DNA baru bisa dilakukan bila ada komplain dari keluarga lain. Namun hingga mereka pulang ke Paringgonan, tidak ada satupun keluarga di Aceh yang mempersoalkannya.

“Sekarang pun kami siap untuk tes DNA bila yang komplain seperti dikatakan polisi. Kalau tak ada komplain, untuk apa tes DNA karena kami berdua sangat yakin Raudha adalah anak kami yang hilang waktu tsunami,” ujar Jamaliah.

Septi curiga Mustamir tak berani datang menjumpai keluarganya saat mereka tinggal selama tiga bulan lebih di Meulaboh karena mereka telah menemukan Arif, yang diyakini mengalami penyiksaan. Di bagian kepala dan kakinya ada bekas luka. Menurut Arif, luka di kepalanya karena “disiram air panas oleh mami.” Tapi, tak jelas siapa yang melakukannya.

Saat dikonfirmasi, Mustamir mengaku tak pernah kenal Arif. Mustamir tetap bersikeras Weniati, yang kini telah berubah nama menjadi Raudhatul Jannah, anak sepupunya.

“Nenek Weni pernah datang ke rumah orang tua saya. Nenek bilang, ‘tega kali si Mustamir menjual Weni. Seharusnya, kalau dia tak mau merawatnya lagi, diantar kemari’,” ujar Darman. “Sekarang, abang saya tidak berani lagi pulang ke Ujung Sialit.”

Septi dan Jamaliah tampaknya tak terlalu menghiraukan klaim Mustamir dan Darman. Yang mereka lakukan saat ini adalah memberi kasih sayang kepada keempat anaknya, terutama Raudha dan Arif yang membutuhkan perhatian lebih.

Setelah makan siang, Arif bergegas keluar rumah. Bersama beberapa kawan barunya, dia hendak mencari durian jatuh di kebun seputaran desa. “Itulah Arif. Dari dulu tak pernah betah di rumah. Dia juga banyak kawan waktu kami tinggal di Meulaboh sebelum tsunami,” jelas Jamaliah.

Menjelang petang, Septi, Jamaliah dan ketiga anaknya pergi ke air terjun dari pegunungan di ujung desa. Setiba di situ, ternyata Arif telah lebih dulu mandi. Tanpa menunggu persetujuan dari kedua orang tuanya, Raudha dan Jumadil segera turun ke kolam, bergabung dengan Arif. Septi, Jamaliah dan Zahry memperhatikan keceriaan mereka, sambil tersenyum bahagia.[]

“Every Day is Sanger Day”

2014-10-15T08:09:00.000+07:00

OLEH NURDIN HASAN

Banda Aceh (TAG) – Sekitar seratus orang memenuhi kursi bagian belakang sebuah warung kopi pinggiran ibukota Banda Aceh. Sebagian besar mereka berusia di bawah 30 tahun. Di meja, berjejer gelas-gelas mini berisi minuman warna coklat muda, yang siap diseruput.

Petang itu, Minggu (12/10), mereka menggelar #SangerDay di Solong Mini Coffee. Riuhnya dalam warung disesaki pengunjung, yang sedang menonton pertandingan sepakbola antara Indonesia dan Australia, tak memengaruhi perhelatan #SangerDay. Mereka larut dalam kegembiraan dan baru beranjak setelah acara usai, bersamaan terdengar kumandang suara azan Maghrib dari kejauhan.

Perayaan #SangerDay diisi dengan minum sanger bareng, diiringi musik akustik, baca puisi tentang kopi, dan standup komedi. Beberapa kali applaus kala rangkaian acara berganti. Puncak kemeriahan terjadi saat seluruh yang hadir, mengangkat gelas berisi sanger.

Sanger adalah minuman khas Aceh – campuran kopi, susu dan sedikit gula pasir. Karena rasanya khas dan hanya ada di Aceh, komunitas I Love Aceh – tempat kaum muda bernaung yang gencar mengampanyekan hal positif tentang Aceh – menginisiasi event #SangerDay. Temanya, “Every Day is Sanger Day.”

M Antonio Gayo, ketua panitia menyatakan #SangerDay perdana untuk memperkenalkan minuman khas Aceh kepada dunia. Dia mengharapkan lewat perayaan #SangerDay akan banyak wisatawan mengunjungi Aceh untuk menikmati sanger dan berbagai kuliner Aceh lain, sambil menjelajahi keindahan alam dan situs bekas tsunami di provinsi ujung barat Indonesia.

“Ide kegiatan ini berawal dari twit seorang follower @iloveaceh setahun lalu tentang perlunya merayakan #SangerDay karena minuman ini hanya ada di Aceh,” katanya, seraya berharap #SangerDay tetap digelar setiap tahun dengan berbagai kegiatan untuk menarik wisatawan datang ke Aceh.

Ide perayaan #SangerDay mendapat respon positif followers lain. Lalu, relawan @iloveaceh menggerakkan komunitas lain dan para penikmat sanger untuk bersama menggelar acara lewat hastag #SangerDay di Twitter. Hastag itu memenuhi lini massa para pengguna Twitter di Aceh sejak sepekan menjelang acara hingga Senin (13/10) dinihari.

Selain sanger, sore itu juga disajikan timphan – penganan tradisional Aceh yang sangat populer. Timphanterbuat dari tepung ketan dan pisang, dibalut daun pisang. Di dalamnya terdapat sarikaya terbuat dari telur, santan, dan gula. Ada juga warga Aceh membuat timphan berisikan kelapa inti dan gula.

“Sama-sama ngerti”

Awal kemunculan sanger terbilang unik. Fahmi Yunus, seorang pekerja kemanusiaan yang juga dosen Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh, ialah pencetus perlunya merayakan #SangerDay. Fahmi menjelaskan pada tengah malam 11 Oktober 2013, secara tiba-tiba mentwit betapa pentingnya merayakan #SangerDay karena punya sejarah unik.

“Kenapa harus tanggal 12 Oktober? Karena idenya muncul tengah malam, jadi nggak asyik kalau harus merayakan malam-malam. Makanya lebih baik dirayakan besok, tanggal 12 Oktober,” jelasnya, sambil menyeruput sanger yang tinggal setengah gelas.

Ternyata, ide tengah malam itu mendapat respon admin akun @iloveaceh. Lewat diskusi dunia maya di twitter land disepakati merayakan pada 12 Oktober 2014. Banyak folllowers @iloveaceh yang mencapai 50.000 orang lebih setuju dengan ide perayaan #SangerDay.

Menurut Fahmi, sanger pertama kali muncul pada 1997 di warung kopi Atalanta, kawasan Ulee Kareng, pinggiran Banda Aceh. Waktu itu, Indonesia sedang diterjang krisis moneter dahsyat sehingga harga-harga melonjak. Kedai kopi itu menjadi tempat nongkrong aktifis mahasiswa, sambil menikmati kopi.

“Mahasiswa yang tak kuat minum kopi hitam coba negosiasi dengan pemilik warung. Mau pesan kopi susu, nggak sanggup bayar karena mahal. Lalu, mereka memesan kopi dengan mengurangi susu, tapi ditambah sedikit gula pasir,” katanya.

“Kesepakatan atas dasar saling pengertian atau sama-sama ngerti antara pemilik warung dan mahasiswa. Lama kelamaan ungkapan 'sama-sama ngerti' disingkat menjadi sanger. Setiap mahasiswa pesan sanger, pemilik warung sudah ngerti dan tak perlu bertanya lagi.”

Wisata kuliner

Bagi Devi Pratiwi, Duta Wisata Aceh 2014, #SangerDay punya makna tersendiri. Mahasiswi Universitas Syiah Kuala itu berjanji akan mempromosi sanger sebagai bagian wisata kuliner Aceh. Apalagi “saya suka minum sanger karena rasanya enak,” ujarnya.

General Manager Hermes Hotel, Octowandi yang ikut nimbrung pada acara #SangerDay, berkomentar soal perlunya sanger dipatenkan karena “ini produk asli Aceh”. Dia berharap ada standar sanger di setiap warung kopi. “Kalau rasa mungkin berbeda antara satu warung dan warung lain, tapi minimal ada standar minimumnya,” katanya.

Warung kopi yang bertebaran di hampir setiap sudut kota Banda Aceh menjadikan sanger – selain juga kopi tentunya – sebagai sajian khas sehingga warga dari berbagai kalangan dan profesi betah nongkrong berjam-jam. Apalagi, sebagian besar warung kopi menyediakan fasilitas wifi internet gratis pasca-rekonstruksi tsunami yang melanda Aceh, 26 Desember 2004.

Kalangan aktifis masyarakat sipil dan politisi sering bertukar pikiran dan menggelar diskusi di warung kopi sambil menikmati sanger atau kopi. Banyak deal dan lobi-lobi proyek juga berlangsung di warung kopi. Hal sama dilakukan kaum muda dan mahasiswa hingga larut malam dengan ditemani sanger atau kopi, sambil menjelajahi dunia maya, sekadar chatting atau mencari bahan kuliah.

Sanger bisa disaji panas maupun dingin, tergantung selera. Harganya bervariasi antara Rp 5.000 hingga 8.000 untuk kopi Robusta. Sedangkan sanger kopi Arabika, sedikit mahal. Dalam beberapa tahun terakhir, mulai muncul warung kopi luwak di Banda Aceh. Tentu, harga secangkir sanger kopi luwak lebih mahal lagi.

“Sanger rasanya unik, tak terlalu manis dan tidak pahit. Menurut saya, sanger aman untuk lambung,” kata Danurfan, penikmat kopi yang ikut merayakan #SangerDay. Dia mengaku, hari Minggu itu, menghabiskan sembilan cangkir kopi dan dua gelas sanger.

Selain sanger, masih banyak kuliner Aceh lain yang tak boleh dilewatkan. Sebut saja ayam tangkap – ayam kampung muda yang digoreng dengan bumbu dan rempah-rempah khas. Ada juga kari kambing kuah beulangong, yang dimasak dalam belanga besar. Di beberapa warung nasi pinggir jalan, kari kambing ditambah ganja sebagai bumbu penyedap sehingga daging lebih empuk dan nikmat rasanya.[]

Miracles of Aceh Tsunami Family

2014-09-02T10:04:00.002+07:00

By Nurdin Hasan [Rappler.com]

Banda Aceh, TAG – The devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami may have forced them apart, but familial bonds appear to remain strong in an Acehnese family celebrating a miraculous reunion with their children almost 10 years after the disaster.

“They easily bonded,” Jamaliah, 42, said in an interview. She was referring to her youngest and eldest children, as well as their two siblings, Raudatul Jannah, 14, and Arif Pratama Rangkuti, 17, who were both swept away by the destructive waves that killed more than 170,000 people in Indonesia’s westernmost province of Aceh on December 26, 2004.

For the next 10 years, Raudatul and Arif were both thought to be dead, until an incredible turn of events over the past two months brought the family together again.

“Perhaps because there is an emotional bond that connects us, it’s not difficult for us to unite them,” Jamaliah added. “They are joking with each other. I see them sharing stories of what they’ve been through. Now our home is more alive.”

When the waves came on that fateful December day, Jamaliah grabbed their eldest child, Zahri, then aged 8, while her husband Septi Rangkuti, 52, took care of the two younger children, Arif and Raudatul, then aged 7 and 4, respectively.

“As we were being carried by the waves, I saw a drift board and I put Raudatul and Arif on it. Then I was swept away by a second wave, and I lost hold of the drift board,” Septi recalled.

Septi said he got lodged in a tree, and from there he saw waters engulf Meulaboh, the capital of West Aceh district. But he couldn’t see the drift board where his two lovely children were in anymore. Eventually, he managed to reach the second floor of a store standing near the tree.

"When the waters receded, I saw my wife and our oldest son walking among the debris. I called out to them, and we held each other close, and I told them of how I lost Raudatul and Arif,” he said.

The three of them combed the debris trying to find Raudatul and Arif. They opened body bags lined on the streets. They visited refugee camps. For months they searched to no avail, until they accepted the fact that their children had perished.

Then, the family decided to move to Septi’s hometown of Padang Sidempuan in the neighboring province of North Sumatra. There they rebuilt their lives, gave birth to a new son, Zumadil, 7 years ago, and tried to move on, until another fateful day in mid-June.

First miracle

Jamaliah got a call from her brother, Zainuddin, who told her an incredible tale: He saw a girl in Blang Pidie of Southwest Aceh district’s capital who looked a lot like Raudatul. Locals told him the girl was Weniati, an orphan because of the tsunami.

"I initially didn’t believe the story of my brother-in-law. I turned off the phone because I believed we lost our two children in the tsunami. In fact, when he called again, I refused to talk to him, and he just talked to my wife,” Septi said.

A few days later, Zainuddin sent over photos of the girl through his mobile phone. Septi also refused to look at them, but then his wife shouted: "Yes, this is our child, Raudatul!”

With his heart pounding, Septi recalled, he looked at the photos and saw the face of their daughter.

On June 27, they traveled to Blang Pidie to the house of a 62-year-old woman named Sarwani, who had been caring for Raudatul.

"When I saw her, I cried and hugged her. My husband also embraced her. We tried not to cry because so many villagers were watching, but we couldn’t fight the tears,” Jamaliah said.

"My husband and I were both very happy. God gave us a miracle and returned our child after nearly 10 years. “

But the miracles weren’t over.

Second miracle

In the town of Payakumbuh in West Sumatra, Lana Bestari was watching a news clip on TVOne about a family who was reunited with their long lost daughter and who was looking for their missing son, when she noticed they had similar facial features with a boy who had been hanging outside their Internet shop for years.

She took a photo of the mother shown on TV and showed it to the teenage boy known as Ucok.

“He immediately said, ‘that’s my mother,’” Lana said.

Lana told a TVOne reporter in West Sumatra, who took a photo of the boy and sent it to his colleagues in Aceh to show to Septi and Jamaliah.

“When I saw the photo, I was immediately convinced that he is our son, Arif,” Jamaliah said.

“A few days before we met him, I spoke with Arif over the phone. He said, 'Mom, this is Arif. Come quickly. I miss my mother and father and siblings,’”

Arif and Raudatul were apparently rescued by fishermen after the tsunami. A year later, Sarwani’s son-in-law, also a fisherman, saw them in Banyak Islands off the coast of Aceh and told his wife there were two children who needed to be cared for better. But as they already had 3 sons, Sarwani said they could only take the girl, thus separating Arif and Raudatul.

Arif later found his way to Payakumbuh, where he had been living on the streets since 2006. “I was jobless and homeless. Sometimes I helped people and got food in return," he said.

"When we met, he immediately called me ‘mamak’,” Jamaliah said, referring to the word for mother in the West Sumatran dialect. “We hugged each other and we were so sure he is our son.”

Jamaliah said they were ready to go through DNA tests if people doubted the children are the same ones they lost 10 years ago, but she said it wasn’t necessary.

She said the boy who grew up as Ucok has the same scar on his nose that Arif got when he was a small boy. “I also checked the mole on his head, and it was there,” she said.

“I am very happy. I am very happy,” she repeatedly said. “God's grace has brought back both of our children.”

Jamaliah said they will eventually return to settle in Padang Sidempuan, but for now their priority is to take care of Arif, who hasn’t been to school since the tsunami struck.

"Our extended family in Meulaboh still wants us to stay here to let Arif recover," she said.[]

Syariat untuk Non-Muslim

2014-08-10T08:11:00.000+07:00

OLEH NURDIN HASAN
Tulisan ini adalah pemenang "Fellowship Liputan Keberagaman 2014" yang dilaksanakan oleh Serikat Jurnalis untuk Keberagaman (Sejuk) dan dipublikasi di acehkita.co

Banda Aceh, TAG – Puluhan pria berseragam hijau tua, lengkap baret bersiaga di Simpang Mesra, Banda Aceh. Sejumlah perempuan, juga berpakaian seragam, terlihat di situ. Setiap sepeda motor yang dikendarai perempuan berpakaian ketat atau lelaki bercelana pendek dihentikan.

Merekalah polisi Wilayatul Hisbah (WH) Aceh atau polisi syariah yang sedang menggelar razia. Razia itu lazim dilancarkan polisi WH, dengan alasan untuk menegakkan Qanun Nomor 11 Tahun 2002 tentang Pelaksanaan Syariat Islam Bidang Akidah, Ibadah dan Syiar Islam. Ada pasal dalam qanun itu mengatur setiap muslim wajib menutup aurat.

Para pengendara sepeda motor yang terjaring diarahkan ke tempat yang telah ditentukan, berbaris.Biasanya, puluhan perempuan terjaring. Di sini, mereka dinasihati dan diminta berjanji tak mengulangi lagi berpakaian ketat. Setelah diceramahi, mereka dilepas. Tak sedikit dari perempuan yang terjaring protes, karena pelaksanaan syariat Islam di Aceh, sejak 2001, seperti terjebak pada masalah pakaian dan korbannya, kaum hawa.

Hari itu, 5 Februari lalu, dua perempuan yang tidak menutup kepala terjaring. Mereka mengaku beragama Kristen. Usai diperiksa dan dinasihati, keduanya dilepas. Biasanya, bila ada perempuan tak mengenakan jilbab terjaring razia, ia dibawa ke kantor WH untuk mendapatkan pembinaan lebih, seperti terjadi pertengahan Juni lalu.

Kepala Seksi Penegakan Pelanggaran WH Aceh, Samsuddin mengatakan non-muslim diharapkan menghormati Aceh yang melaksanakan syariat Islam. Dia mengimbau perempuan non-muslim juga menutup aurat. “Non-muslim yang tinggal di Aceh diminta memakai jilbab untuk menghormati muslim di Aceh,” katanya kepada wartawan usai razia, 5 Februari silam.

Dia juga menyatakan, ke depan qanun tentang syariah akan diberlakukan bagi non-muslim di Aceh. Setelah pernyataan itu diberitakan media massa, pejabat Aceh berusaha mengklarifikasikan bahwa syariat Islam hanya berlaku untuk muslim.

Malah, Gubernur Aceh Zaini Abdullah menggelar coffee morning dengan para jurnalis pada 21 Februari lalu. Dalam pernyataan, Zaini menegaskan pihaknya menjamin kebebasan beragama di Aceh dan tidak ada diskriminasi bagi kaum minoritas. Pelaksanaan syariat Islam di Aceh, tambahnya, sangat menjunjung tinggi dan menghormati hak asasi manusia.

“Informasi yang berkembang seolah syariat Islam di Aceh diberlakukan untuk non-Muslim, tidak benar. Kondisi itu tentunya sangat merugikan Aceh karena tak sesuai fakta,” ujarnya. “Syariat Islam di Aceh mengedepankan pendekatan pendidikan, adat istiadat dan budaya.”

Pernyataan Samsuddin tak keliru. Sebab, ada aturan hukum yang bisa dipakai untuk menjerat warga non-muslim bila melakukan pelanggaran syariat Islam di Aceh. Aturan itu ialah Qanun Hukum Acara Jinayat yang disahkan Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Aceh (DPRA) pada 13 Desember 2013.

Pasal lima Qanun Nomor 7 Tahun 2013, yang ditandatangani Gubernur Zaini, berbunyi, “Qanun Aceh ini berlaku untuk lembaga penegak hukum dan setiap orang yang berada di Aceh.” Itu bermakna qanun itu dilaksanakan bagi semua orang di Aceh, tanpa memandang agama atau kewarganegaraan.

Qanun Hukum Acara Jinayat merupakan peraturan daerah Aceh tentang tata cara penyelidikan, penyidikan, penuntutan hingga persidangan di mahkamah syariah. Qanun memberi kewenangan kepada penyidik WH dan polisi untuk menggeledah, menangkap, dan menahan pelaku pelanggar syariat. Lamanya 20 hari, yang dapat diperpanjang hingga 30 hari.

Itu pula yang menjadi dasar bagi polisi WH Aceh menyiapkan kamar tahanan di komplek kantor tersebut. Dua kamar ukuran 5 x 5 meter terletak di bagian belakang kantor. Sejauh ini, sudah ada beberapa pelanggar syariat Islam yang ditahan di situ.

Selama ini, aparat penyidik hanya boleh menggeledah dan menangkap pelaku pelanggaran syariat. Setelah dilakukan pembinaan, pelanggar syariat biasanya dibebaskan karena tak ada kewenangan bagi penyidik melakukan penahanan. Itu pula yang dijadikan sebagai salah satu alasan pelaksanaan syariat Islam di Aceh dianggap belum maksimal.

Dalam Qanun Hukum Acara Jinayat juga disebutkan bahwa non-muslim yang melakukan pelanggaran bersama orang Islam dapat memilih apakah diproses hukum di Mahkamah Syar’iyah atau Pengadilan Negeri. Tapi bila pelanggaran tersebut tak diatur dalam Kitab Undang-undang Hukum Pidana (KUHP) atau undang-undang lain di Indonesia, maka pelaku non-muslim itu tetap diadili di Mahkamah Syar’iyah.

Ketua Dewan Pimpinan Wilayah Nahdhatul Ulama (DPW NU) Aceh, Teungku Faisal Ali, menilai masuknya pasal kontroversial yang mengatur non-muslim terkesan sebagai upaya terselubung agar qanun itu tak dapat dilaksanakan.

“Selama ini berbagai cara dilakukan oleh sebagian kalangan agar syariat Islam tidak jalan di Aceh. Salah satunya dengan memasukkan pasal yang mengatur warga non-muslim padahal itu tidak perlu. Jadi, itu upaya penghambatan dan kesengajaan sehingga syariat Islam tak maksimal dijalankan,” katanya.

Menurut Faisal, DPRA dan Pemerintah Aceh terkesan tak serius mendukung pelaksanaan syariat Islam, karena terus mengulur waktu pengesahan Qanun Jinayat. “Padahal, qanun itu sangat dibutuhkan untuk tegaknya syariat Islam secara kaffah,” katanya yang menambahkan bahwa sebelumnya DPRA pernah berjanji mengesahkannya pada 2013.

Qanun Jinayat merupakan penyempurnaan aturan pelaksanaan syariat Islam di Aceh, karena empat qanun yang ada selama ini banyak kelemahan sehingga implementasi syariat tak maksimal. Empat qanun yang digunakan selama 13 tahun terakhir hanya mengatur masalah-masalah syiar Islam, khamar, maisir (perjudian), dan khalwat (mesum). Itulah hukum materil pelaksanaan syariat Islam di Aceh.

Terhadap para pelaku khamar diancam hukuman maksimal 40 kali cambuk di depan umum. Hukuman bagi pelaku mesum antara tiga hingga sembilan kali cambuk. Sedangkan, penjudi diancam hukuman cambuk antara enam hingga 12 kali.

Dalam Rancangan Qanun Jinayat yang sedang dibahas DPRA dan Pemerintah Aceh, ada penambahan beberapa persoalan lain seperti zina, pemerkosaan, pelecehan seksual, homoseksual dan lesbian. Ancaman hukuman bagi pelaku pelanggaran syariat Islam dalam qanun itu lebih keras, yakni puluhan hingga ratusan kali cambuk atau puluhan sampai ratusan bulan hukuman penjara.

Faisal menyebutkan, akibat masuknya pasal dapat menjerat non-muslim telah membuat pelaksanaan syariat Islam di Aceh dipersoalkan sejumlah kalangan di luar negeri, karena seolah-olah Aceh tak menghormati toleransi beragama. Faktanya, mayoritas muslim Aceh sejak dulu sangat menghormati kebebasan beragama dan toleran bagi non-muslim.

“Tak pernah terjadi konflik agama di Aceh. Kita bisa hidup dengan warga non-muslim secara damai. Malah saat konflik bersenjata hampir 30 tahun, tak ada non-muslim dan kaum minoritas jadi korban,” ungkap Faisal, yang juga Wakil Ketua Majelis Permusyawaratan Ulama (MPU) Aceh. “Mayoritas muslim Aceh sangat menghormati kelompok minoritas dan kita bisa hidup berdampingan.”

Kepala Biro Hukum Pemerintah Aceh, Edrian menjelaskan, masuknya pasal yang mengatur masalah non-muslim sebagai bentuk antisipasi, supaya jangan sampai pelaku pelanggaran pidana syariat bebas dari jeratan hukum.

“Pasal itu untuk menghindari kevakuman kalau terjadi tindak pidana yang tak diatur dalam KUHP sehingga pelaku tindak pidana bebas dari sanksi hukum,” katanya. “Tetapi menurut saya, tidak ada pelanggaran pidana yang tak diatur dalam KUHP atau aturan lain di Indonesia.”

Pendapat senada diungkapkan Abdullah Saleh, mantan Ketua Panitia Khusus Qanun Hukum Acara Jinayat DPRA. Menurut dia, pasal yang dapat menjerat non-muslim untuk memberi rasa keadilan hukum kepada pelaku pelanggaran syariat Islam di Aceh.

“Kalau terjadi tindak pidana yang di dalamnya terdapat non-muslim, tapi tak diatur dalam KUHP atau aturan lain di Indonesia, pelaku pelanggaran hukum beragama Islam diproses hukum, sementara non-muslim harus bebas karena tidak ada dasar hukum menjeratnya. Dimana rasa keadilan hukum,” katanya. “Sangat tersinggung rasa keadilan jika yang satu diadili, satu lagi bebas.”

Ia memberikan contoh pelanggaran yang tak diatur dalam KUHP atau aturan hukum lain di Indonesia, tetapi terdapat dalam qanun tentang syariat Islam di Aceh, yaitu khalwat dan khamar. “Berdua-duaan laki-laki dan perempuan atas dasar suka sama suka yang dilakukan orang dewasa tanpa ikatan perkawinan tidak bisa ditindak karena mesum tak ada deliknya dalam KUHP,” katanya.

Politisi senior Partai Aceh ini mengaku bahwa pasal yang tercantum pada Bab Koneksitas Qanun Hukum Acara Jinayat seakan-akan ada pemaksaan ajaran Islam kepada non-muslim di Aceh. “Sebenarnya, tak ada itu. Ini semata-mata untuk memberi rasa keadilan hukum dan bukan hendak menerapkan ajaran Islam untuk non-muslim,” jelasnya.

Abdullah memastikan bahwa tak ada penolakan dari warga non-muslim atas masuknya pasal kontroversial tersebut. Ia juga menyatakan, saat pembahasan Qanun Hukum Acara Jinayat, pihaknya tidak melaksanakan dengar pendapat dengan kalangan non-muslim di Aceh.

Alasannya “tidak ada kolerasi langsung karena penerapan syariat Islam hanya untuk orang Islam. Sedangkan, pasal yang mengatur masalah non-muslim itu hanya satu segmen kecil di bagian koneksitas,” ujarnya.

Kho Khie Siong, Ketua Komunitas Hakka Aceh, menyebutkan bahwa toleransi antarumat beragama terjalin sangat baik di Aceh. Interaksi sosial juga cukup baik terbina antara orang Islam dan non-muslim. “Kami sangat menghormati pelaksanaan syariat Islam di Aceh,” katanya.

Saat ditanya tanggapannya soal pasal dalam Qanun Acara Jinayat yang dapat menjerat non-muslim, Kho menyatakan tak bisa berkomentar banyak, karena belum mempelajari secara detil ketentuan tersebut.

"Tetapi, ini terkesan agak aneh karena yang saya tahu syariat Islam di Aceh hanya berlaku untuk Muslim saja. Jadi kenapa harus diberlakukan juga untuk non-Muslim," ujarnya.

Pernyataan senada juga diutarakan Baron Ferryson Pandiangan, Pembimbing Masyarakat Katolik di Kementerian Agama Provinsi Aceh. Menurut dia, umat Katolik yang berjumlah 5.300 lebih di Aceh sangat menghormati pelaksanaan syariat Islam karena ini bentuk kearifan lokal dan kekhususan Aceh.

“Toleransi orang Aceh terhadap warga non-muslim sangat tinggi. Saya pribadi merasa lebih menjadi Katolik sejati sejak bertugas di Aceh. Saya merasa lebih taat,” kata Baron, yang telah tiga tahun lebih menetap di Banda Aceh.

Soal menjerat warga non-muslim bila melakukan pelanggaran bersama orang Islam, Baron menyatakan, Pemerintah Aceh belum pernah mensosialisasikan masalah tersebut kepada umat Katolik. “Patut dipertanyakan juga apa motif di balik masuknya pasal itu karena syariat Islam hanya untuk muslim,” katanya.

Direktur Eksekutif Koalisi NGO HAM Aceh, Zulfikar Muhammad menyatakan kekhawatirannya saat pasal kontroversial itu diimplementasikan, karena bisa jadi polisi syariah bakal bertindak di luar kewenangan seperti diatur dalam Qanun Hukum Acara Jinayat.

“Ini bentuk diskriminasi terhadap warga non-muslim oleh DPRA karena tetap memaksakan pasal itu masuk dalam qanun,” katanya. “Siapa bisa jamin kalau WH tak akan bertindak di luar batas kewenangan mereka, seperti yang sering terjadi selama ini ketika pasal itu dilaksanakan.”

Sementara itu, Saifuddin Bantasyah, pengamat hukum dari Universitas Syiah Kuala, memastikan bahwa pasal kontroversial itu tak bisa diimplementasikan karena tak ada hukum materil. Empat qanun yang jadi dasar hukum materil pelaksanaan syariat Islam di Aceh berlaku bagi muslim.

“Ketika hukum acara menambah klausul yang juga berlaku bagi non-muslim, dasar hukum penuntutan apa? Jadi, Qanun Hukum Acara Jinayat tak dapat dilaksanakan untuk non-muslim,” katanya.

Saifuddin menambahkan satu aturan hukum tidak boleh dibuat kalau tak bisa dilaksanakan. Non-muslim di Aceh bisa dijerat dengan aturan hukum pidana Indonesia kalau melanggar syariat bersama muslim. “Bisa saja non-Muslim dijerat pasal mengganggu ketertiban umum. Bukan memasukkan pasal diadili di Mahkamah Syar’iyah karena tak dapat dilaksanakan,” ujarnya.

Saifuddin yang merupakan seorang dosen Fakultas Hukum, Universitas Syiah Kuala, menyatakan pernah terjadi tahun 2006, tiga orang Kristen dan seorang Islam terlibat perjudian hendak diadili di Mahkamah Syar’iyah Banda Aceh.

“Di persidangan, hakim bertanya pada tiga orang Kristen itu apakah mereka tahu fungsi Mahkamah Syar’iyah. Mereka menjawab tidak tahu. Lalu, hakim menjelaskan bahwa Mahkamah Syar’iyah hanya mengadili orang Islam,” tutur Saifuddin.

Kemudian hakim bertanya kepada mereka apakah mau masuk Islam sehingga bisa diproses di Mahkamah Syar’iyah. Hakim juga menjelaskan syarat-syarat bagi seseorang pindah agama. Tetapi, ketiganya sepakat tidak mau pindah ke agama Islam. “Akhirnya, hakim memutuskan Mahkamah Syar’iyah tak punya kompetensi dan tak berwenang mengadili perkara itu,” katanya.

Wakil Ketua Mahkamah Syar’iyah Aceh, Jamil Ibrahim, sependapat dengan Saifuddin. Menurut Jamil, non-muslim yang melakukan pelanggaran bersama Muslim tak dapat diproses dengan qanun syariat Islam karena empat hukum materil yang ada hanya berlaku untuk orang Islam.

“Tetapi, non-muslim di Aceh boleh menundukkan diri diproses di Mahkamah Syar’iyah jika melakukan pelanggaran bersama muslim. Caranya dia memilih apakah diadili di Mahkamah Syar’iyah atau Pengadilan Negeri atas kesadaran sendiri, tanpa paksaan dari pihak manapun,” katanya.

Ditambahkan, masuknya pasal kontroversial yang tetap mengadili warga non-Muslim kalau tak ada aturan hukum pidana Indonesia akan membingungkan hakim Mahkamah Syar’iyah karena tidak dapat dilaksanakan. “Mungkin nanti akan dibuatkan qanun khusus yang mengatur masalah itu,” ujarnya.

Sondang Marbun, Pembimbing Masyarakat Kristen pada Kantor Departemen Agama Aceh, menyatakan pasal kontroversial itu dalam Qanun Hukum Acara Jinayat tidak begitu berpengaruh, karena yang terpenting adalah setiap umat beragama jangan melanggar aturan, sehingga tak perlu diproses hukum.

Sebagai bentuk penghormatan pelaksanaan syariat Islam di Aceh, perempuan yang telah 35 menetap di Aceh memilih tampil mengenakan jilbab saat berada di luar rumah. Anak-anak perempuannya dan perempuan Kristen dianjurkan memakai jilbab, tapi tidak ada paksaan dan mereka bebas berpakaian asalkan sopan.

“Saya selalu pesan pada umat Kristen untuk menyesuaikan diri karena Aceh memberlakukan syariat Islam. Saya dan anak-anak selalu memakai jilbab bila keluar rumah. Begitu juga sebagian perempuan Kristen lain. Mereka nyaman saja meski tak ada kewajiban harus pakai jilbab,” katanya.[]

Aceh Couple Hope to Find Son Lost in Tsunami After Reunion with Daughter

2014-08-09T08:07:00.000+07:00

BY NURDIN HASAN [AFP]

Banda Aceh, TAG – An Acehnese couple reunited with their daughter a decade after she was swept away by the 2004 tsunami said Friday they were now hopeful of finding their son, who also went missing in the disaster.

Raudhatul Jannah, then aged four, and her seven-year-old brother were carried away clinging to wooden planks when huge waves struck their home in Aceh province on December 26, 2004.

The children's mother, Jamaliah, and her husband survived the quake-triggered tsunami that killed more than 170,000 in Aceh, on western Sumatra island, and had long ago given up hope of finding their children alive.

But in June, Jamaliah's brother spotted a girl in an Aceh village walking home from school who bore a striking resemblance to Jannah.

He made inquiries and found out that the girl had been caught up in the tsunami, and was swept from Aceh to remote islands southwest of the province. She was taken back to the mainland by a fisherman, whose elderly mother raised the youngster.

Jannah's parents, who moved to the neighbouring province of North Sumatra following the tsunami, travelled to Aceh soon afterwards to meet the girl, and firmly believe it is their missing daughter, now aged 14.

Jamaliah on Thursday said it was a "miracle" her daughter had been found and described how she could not stop the "tears from flowing" during an emotional reunion.

Jannah this week moved to North Sumatra to live with her birth parents, and the couple say they are now hopeful they can find their son.

"We are very hopeful we can find her brother," Jannah's father, Septi Rangkuti, told reporters. "We have reported our son missing to the police so they can help us find out his whereabouts."

Rangkuti, 52, believes his son Arif Pratama Rangkuti may still be on the Banyak Islands, an archipelago some 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the Aceh coast where the children ended up after being swept away.

Sarwani (left), Raudhatul Jannah and Septi Rangkuti

For around a year, they lived with fishermen and their families on the islands. A fisherman wanted to adopt both of them, but ended up taking just Jannah as he did not think his family could provide for two more children.

His mother, Sarwani (not Maryam), was the one who mainly cared for Jannah when she was growing up.

Rangkuti admitted he did not believe his daughter could be alive when his brother-in-law first spotted Jannah.

"There's no way that's my daughter, I thought, because it had already been 10 years," he said, speaking in the capital of Aceh province, Banda Aceh, where the family had travelled to meet journalists.

But he went on: "When we saw her, we knew, we felt the bond right away."

"If we need to do a DNA test, then we are prepared to, if people don't believe us. But we are sure she is our daughter," he added.

Jannah, who appeared shy and overwhelmed by the media attention, told reporters: "I am very happy I can be with my mother and father again."

She also said she was happy to meet her younger brother, who was born after the tsunami, for the first time.

Sarwani, who goes by one name, said Jannah's adoptive family were delighted the teenager had found her birth parents.

"We are very happy they have reunited. She will always be part of our family, and actually, we now all feel like one big family," she said.

The tsunami killed more than 170,000 people in Aceh, which was the worst-hit area, and tens of thousands more in other countries around the Indian Ocean.[]

Aceh Couple Find Missing Tsunami Child

2014-08-09T01:39:00.001+07:00

BY NURDIN HASAN [THE JAKARTA GLOBE]

Banda Aceh, TAG – A couple believes a girl to be their daughter, whom they say was lost in the tsunami that struck Aceh province 10 years ago.

Jamaliah, 42, and Septi Rangkuti, 52, lost their daughter during the tsunami disaster in December 2004. Raudhatul Jannah, the daughter — who now goes by the name Wenni — was swept away by waves when the tsunami hit their village in West Aceh’s Johan Pahlawan subdistrict.

“My husband and I are very happy. It’s a miracle from God. We are grateful that God has reunited me with my daughter after 10 years,” Jamaliah said.

Jamaliah said she ran with her oldest son while her husband ran with their other two children. “The waves swept in and my husband put Raudhatul Jannah and her big brother Arif Pratama Rangkuti — who were 4 and 7 respectively — on a big wooden board,” she told the Jakarta Globe.

After the waves receded, the couple tried to seek their two youngest children, but failed to find any trace of them. After a month of searching, the couple and their oldest son decided to move to Padang Sidempuan, North Sumatra. Jamaliah and Septi’s other son is still missing.

Jamaliah said the children were swept away to Banyak Island in Singkil district, where Bustamil, a fisherman in Southwest Aceh, found Raudhatul. He then took her to his home where he and his mother raised her and changed her name to Wenni.

“Based on Raudhatul’s testimony, her brother also survived the waves and was stranded in Banyak Island, but they were separated when another man took him away,” Jamaliah said.

She plans to go to the island to seek out her son.

“We’ll go there soon to find Arif Pratama. My instinct tells me he’s still alive, especially after his sister said that they both survived,” Jamaliah said.

Four days before the start of Ramadan, Jamaliah received a phone call from her brother, Zainuddin, who claimed to have seen a girl resembling her. Zainuddin lives in Blang Pidie, Southwest Aceh.

“The girl’s face resembles mine. My brother was curious and investigated. Then, according to the woman who raised Wenni, she was an orphan from the tsunami,” Jamaliah said.

Zainuddin was sure that the girl was Jamaliah’s daughter who was lost during the tsunami and called Jamaliah to come to the island.

On June 28, the couple went to visit the woman, who has raised Wenni for the past 10 years, in Pulo Kayu village in Southwest Aceh’s Susoh district.

“When I saw her, my heart was beating really fast. At that moment, I believed the girl was Raudhatul, my long-lost daughter,” she said. “Maybe because there was a strong connection, when I hugged her, she hugged me back and felt very comfortable in my embrace. We couldn’t hold back our tears.”

The Jakarta Globe asked Jamaliah whether she had concrete evidence of Wenni being her daughter, but she said that the “connection” was the only thing that stood as evidence for now. She added that Wenni remembered the name of her still missing youngest son.

Jamaliah claimed that they are ready to go to the police and conduct a DNA test if needed.

Jamaliah initially wanted to bring her daughter back immediately but Maryam, the woman who raised Wenni, declined and asked that the girl should stay with her during the fasting month of Ramadan.

“They could not say no, but they asked for her to only be taken after Idul Fitri. They are happy that Raudhatul found her supposed birth family. We are now like family with Raudhatul’s foster family,” Jamaliah said.

Raudhatul’s father fetched her on Wednesday to join reunite her with her birth family in West Aceh.[]

EU Envoys Question Sharia in Aceh

2014-06-18T18:56:00.001+07:00

BY NURDIN HASAN [THE JAKARTA GLOBE]

European Union's Ambassor to Indonesia Olof Skoog, left, accompanied by some EU envoys talking to the press in Aceh Tsunami Museum in Banda Aceh on Tuesday, June 17 2014.

Banda Aceh, TAG – In a visit to Sumatra’s northernmost province, the European Union’s ambassador to Indonesia expressed concern over human rights abuses, against women in particular, that have been documented under the semi-autonomous province’s enforcement of shariah law.

“There have been a few cases during the implementation of sharia law in Aceh that have shed a negative light abroad,” Ambassador Olof Skoog told the press on Tuesday, during his two-day visit to Aceh.

Over the course of his visit, Skoog — accompanied by the ambassadors from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Italy, and Sweden — met and talked with local human rights activists, with Aceh Governor Zaini Abdullah and with members of the Aceh Legislative Council (DPRA).

Skoog said that in every meeting he had expressed the EU’s concern over the human rights impact of shariah in the province.

“Our concern is respect for women’s rights in the Islamic shariah implementation,” he said. “During the meeting with the governor we were convinced that Aceh is very tolerant for non-Muslims and that sharia law is implemented with a soft approach.”

Muslims in Aceh face public caning for certain crimes, including adultery, under the local legal system implemented since 2001.

A woman and her married lover faced to be caned for adultery even after she had been gang-raped by vigilante enforcers of shariah in May, sparking domestic and international outrage. As of today, the couple are not brought to trial yet.

Skoog said he expressed concern to Zaini over a measure passed in December 2013 that would expand the application of shariah to include non-Muslims.

“We have a concern over the implementation of these codes for non-muslims but we don’t want to intervene too much, the most important thing is the respect for the human rights and tolerance within the shariah,” he said.[]

Aceh Police Confiscate Protected Wildlife

2014-06-05T08:51:00.000+07:00

BY PRESS RELEASE

Banda Aceh, TAG —Police in Indonesia’s Aceh province have confiscated a number of illegally held live animals and wildlife parts from the homes of suspected wildlife traffickers, Wildlife Conservation Society said.

The Aceh police—led by Second Police Officer Afrinal and Chief Police Officer Brigadier Roni Asmui—conducted the raid on May 27-28th, working with WCS’s Wildlife Crimes Unit (WCU), the SOCP (Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme), and the Natural Resources Conservancy Agency (BKSDA).

According to a press statement obtained by The Aceh Globe on Thursday (June 5 2014), the raid was prompted by an investigation of two suspects, one of whom—named Lbt—allegedly served as a middleman by purchasing animals from hunters and selling to collectors and other suppliers.

"He is purportedly well known in the region for dealing in orangutans and other threatened primates," the statement said.

Police officers, forest rangers, WCU agents, and SOCP veterinarians confiscated a number of protected species in the operation, including two saltwater (or estuarine) crocodiles, a siamang gibbon, giant squirrel, porcupine, four slow loris, two eagles and a lesser adjutant stork from the residence of Lbt.

“This is an important step forward in dealing with illegally captured and traded wildlife in northern Sumatra,” SOCP’s Director Dr Ian Singleton said.

“The numbers of animals such as orangutans and other protected species still being killed and captured, and ending up as illegal pets is still as high as ever, since people still consider the chances of any legal consequences to be close to zero.

This simply has to change and the number of cases prosecuted in the courts has to go up dramatically. This case is also an excellent example of cooperation between NGO’s, police and government agencies. Indeed we must all continue to work together to achieve this goal.”

The team also confiscated a stuffed Sumatran tiger skin from the residence of Mns, the second suspect.

“Aceh police will continue to protect wildlife through the confiscation of illegally captured and smuggled animals and wildlife products and the arrests of those who violate Indonesia’s laws,” said Police Senior Commissioner Joko Irwanto.

“We ask the people to support our efforts in conserving Indonesia’s wildlife and continue to collaborate with national and international NGOs for law enforcement efforts.”

Dr. Noviar Andayani, Country Director WCS-Indonesia Program added, “We appreciate the efforts of the Aceh police to uncover illegal wildlife syndicates operating in the country’s protected areas. This strong commitment from the police will hopefully serve as a model for wildlife enforcement in other regions.”[]

Beware, The Sharia Police are Watching

2014-06-02T09:49:00.002+07:00

BY MARIE DHUMIERES [THE INDEPENDENT]

Banda Aceh, TAG – It's almost sunset in Banda Aceh and the locals rush towards Ulee Lheue beach before the barrier goes down. The authorities close access to this popular spot after 6pm, to prevent promiscuity between unmarried couples.

Many families, couples, and groups of friends have arrived early, and enjoy a drink or corn on the cob at one of the food stalls lining the seaside. On the pier by the port, several couples brave the law by sitting closely together, sometimes holding hands. Luckily for them, the sharia police don't seem to be coming this evening.

Islamic sharia law was adopted in 2001, a “gift” from Jakarta to quell separatist ambitions in this very religious part of Indonesia. A series of bylaws passed since impose Islamic dress code and forbid gambling, alcohol consumption and “seclusion” between unmarried couples.

Twenty-year old Leonie, chatting with two male friends while watching the sun go down on the sea, is one of the few women around not wearing a headscarf. She has been stopped by the sharia police before, at one of the checkpoints they regularly set up to “advise” people who do not abide by the dress code.

Headscarves are mandatory, and wearing tight trousers or shirts, or for men, shorts, are a no-go. Leonie remembers the embarrassment of being reprimanded in public while having to wait with sharia police officers for her parents to come and pick her up. She hasn't learned her lesson though, and still refuses to cover her head. “I sometimes get comments on the street but I don't care, it's my problem.” What will she do if the sharia police come now? “Run,” she laughs.

At the North-Western tip of the Indonesian archipelago, Aceh - Banda Aceh is the capital - is the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia allowed to partly enforce sharia law, as part of a special autonomy status agreement that put an end to a 30 year conflict between Aceh separatists and the central government in Jakarta.

The sharia police have registered 13,000 offences between 2009 and 2013, the head of the unit, Zulkarnain, tells The Independent. He says “minor violations” of sharia law don't usually end up in the sharia court, even though the law states that three violations to the Islamic dress code requirements are punishable by caning. “This has never been enforced,” he says.

Serious violations, such as adultery and non-marital sex, are handled more severely. At the sharia police headquarters in Banda Aceh, a man and woman in their thirties are being questioned. The unmarried couple were caught having sex at a barber's shop. A suspicious neighbour had alerted the sharia police, a sign, says chief investigator Mazuki Ali, that the people support the sharia law enforcement. The investigation is ongoing, but Mazuki Ali says they face between six and nine strokes of the cane.

Although rarely enforced in Banda Aceh - the last public caning took place in 2007 - the punishment is common in other parts of the province. In the Eastern Aceh town of Langsa, the case of a 25-year-old widow caught last week with a married man by eight men, who raped her as a punishment, has outraged human right activists, especially after local authorities said she will still be caned for adultery. “She can't get caned, she's a victim, what she needs is support,” says Suraiya Kamaruzzaman, director of the women's group Flower Aceh. In the same town in 2010, three sharia police officers raped a 20 year old girl who they had arrested for riding a motorcycle with her boyfriend.

Activists monitoring the implementation of sharia law say abuses are on the rise, especially those committed by self-declared guardians of the law. Destika Gilang Lestari, director of the local human rights NGO, Kontras, says her organisation has recorded many cases of vigilante raids, in which young men often take it on themselves to punish offenders as it pleases them.

“A couple was pushed into the river in Banda Aceh just a couple of weeks ago. People get beaten up, doused with sewage water, and they're often too scared to report it,” says Destika Gilang Lestari, who called the Langsa case a “barbaric act” and asked for the heaviest possible punishment. She says perpetrators too often remain unpunished, leading to a “misinterpretation” by vigilantes of what they're allowed to do.

While cases such as the Langsa one undoubtedly tarnish the image of the province, officials insist Islam is practiced in a “tolerant” and “moderate” manner in Aceh. “This is not Afghanistan,” says the head of the sharia police. In 2009, the local parliament added stoning to death as a punishment for adultery in a draft Islamic criminal code, but the then governor of the province rejected it.

Noting 2009 was an electoral year, the head of Aceh's Islamic sharia agency Syarizal Abbas suggests sharia is used as a political tool in parliament. “There seems to be a misinterpretation of what Islamic law is among Parliament members,” he says. “Islam in Acehnese society is very moderate. Implementation of sharia law in Aceh has to be done the soft way, it's more about education than punishment,” he adds.

Several media have reported that the recent adoption of a new Islamic criminal code was taking sharia law to a stricter level by imposing it on everyone, including non-Muslims, but officials strongly deny the claims. “This is absolutely not true,” says Syarizal Abbass. He insists the criminal code is only procedural, meaning it only defines proceedings and not the substance of the law. In any case he says, Aceh's Special autonomy law clearly specifies that the sharia only applies to Muslims.

For Muslims, who make up for 98 per cent of Acehnese, Islamic law enforcement is getting tougher. The Islamic criminal code adopted last February allows the sharia police to set up detention centres for suspected sharia offenders, and hold them for up to 20 days while their case is being investigated.

Activists also say that sharia police raids on hotels and cafes, led by Banda Aceh's acting mayor - a woman - have intensified. Mazuki Ali says patrols do routine checks. “Patrols come at night, they check the hotel registry and if they suspect unmarried couples might be staying there, they check their rooms and IDs,” he says. If couples prove to be unmarried, they're taken to the police station.

Sitting at a cafe in central Banda Aceh, Davi, and two of his female friends, Rita and Ayu, share stories about friends arrested for wearing tight clothes or walking around with someone of the opposite sex. A sharia police truck carrying a dozen officers drives by. “They raided this cafe two weeks ago,” comments 23-year-old Davi. “It's a bit too much. We just hang out, we do nothing wrong.”[]

Original link:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/young-and-in-love-in-indonesia-beware-the-sharia-police-are-watching-9405776.html

Bylaw on Non-Muslims in Aceh Not Enforceable

2014-05-17T11:14:00.002+07:00

BY NURDIN HASAN [KHABAR SOUTEAST ASIA]

Banda Aceh, TAG – A clause in Aceh's new Islamic criminal procedural codes that could see non-Muslims tried in Sharia Court cannot be enforced, some legal experts in the province say.

Aceh's Regional House of Representatives (DPRA) approved the criminal codes – the Qanun Hukum Acara Jinayat (QHAJ) – in December, and they are currently undergoing review by the Interior Ministry in Jakarta, which has asked the local government for several clarifications.

One clause in the QHAJ says non-Muslims could be prosecuted under Sharia law in Aceh if they participate with Muslims in offences not regulated by Indonesian criminal law. But Saifuddin Bantasyah, a law professor at Syiah Kuala University in Banda Aceh, doesn't see how.

Criminal codes lay out procedures by which police, prosecutors and judges implement material law – in this case, four bylaws (Qanun Jinayat) regarding dress code, gambling, adultery and alcohol consumption. But these, in place in Aceh for ten years, apply only to Muslims, he said.

"When procedural law adds a clause that applies to non-Muslims, what is the legal basis for prosecution?" he told Khabar Southeast Asia.

Saifuddin cited a 2006 case in which three Christians and a Muslim involved in a gambling incident were brought to Sharia Court in Banda Aceh.

"During the trial, the judge asked the three Christians if they were aware of the function of the Sharia Court. They said no. Then, the judge explained that Sharia Court is only for prosecuting Muslims," Saifuddin said.

They were given the option of converting to Islam but declined. "The judge ruled that Sharia Court had no jurisdiction or authority to proceed with the case," Saifuddin said.

In such a case, non-Muslims could be prosecuted under Indonesian criminal law for disturbing public order, he added.

Aceh Sharia Court Vice Chairman Jamil Ibrahim said the four Qanuns apply only to Muslims, although a non-Muslim may choose to be tried in Sharia Court.

He said the controversial article in the QHAJ will confuse Sharia Court judges because non-Muslims, absent their consent, are outside the Court's jurisdiction.

"Maybe later another Qanun will be made specifically to address these issues," he said.

Zulfikar Muhammad, executive director of the Aceh Human Rights Nongovernmental Organization Coalition (Koalisi NGO HAM), expressed regret that local legislators included the controversial clause in the QHAJ after civil society activists campaigned against it.

"This is a form of discrimination against non-Muslims by the Aceh parliament,” he said, urging the Interior Ministry to cancel the clause.

Activists have already sent a letter advocating just that; if it is not heeded, they will request a judicial review by the Supreme Court, he said. []

Aceh’s Sharia Law to Apply to Non-Muslims

2014-05-13T09:43:00.001+07:00

BY NURDIN HASAN [KHABAR SOUTHEAST ASIA]

Banda Aceh, TAG – Non-Muslims can be prosecuted under Sharia law in Aceh if they participate with Muslims in offenses not regulated by Indonesian criminal law, under a new bylaw passed in the province late last year.

The controversial clause is contained in the Qanun Hukum Acara Jinayat (QHAJ), Islamic criminal procedure codes, passed by the regional House of Representatives (DPRA) on December 13th, 2013.

The clause pertains to "a violation committed jointly by two or more people, among them non-Muslims", according to a copy of the bylaw obtained by Khabar Southeast Asia.

It also states that non-Muslims who are arrested can choose to be prosecuted in a Sharia court or a state court. But if the violation is not regulated by Indonesian criminal law, the non-Muslim will be prosecuted in Sharia court.

The new bylaws authorise Sharia police, prosecutors and judges to detain violators for 15 to 60 days if an investigation, trial or sentence warrants it. Until now, Sharia enforcement officials have only been permitted to arrest and briefly detain violators for counselling on Sharia norms. They have not had authority to put them in jail.

The QHAJ were sent to the Department of the Interior in Jakarta on February 3rd for final approval, Edrian, head of legal affairs for the Aceh government, told Khabar. If the Minister of the Interior does not respond in 60 days, the new laws will automatically go into force.

The clause pertaining to non-Muslims is to prevent offenders from escaping legal consequences "in the event a criminal offense is not regulated under the Indonesian Criminal Justice Act (ICJA)" Edrian said.

"But in my opinion, there are no criminal offenses that are not regulated by the ICJA and other laws in Indonesia. So the article pertaining to non-Muslims is just anticipatory."

Other legal experts suggested that non-Muslims could be prosecuted under the QHAJ for drinking or intimacy among people not married to one another (mesum).

Muslims and non-Muslims alike suggested the new provision is unnecessary.

The Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) in Aceh, Tengku Faisal Ali, said the article on non-Muslims was "not really needed" and had been introduced in an attempt to prevent full implementation of Sharia law in Aceh.

"For all this time, various methods have been used by certain parties to prevent Sharia Islam in Aceh," he told Khabar. "One of them is to introduce this article regulating non-Muslims, because it is not really needed. It's a purposeful effort to prevent the application of Sharia law."

Local legislators and the Aceh government do not seriously support Sharia Islam and are dawdling in ratifying the latest Qanun Jinayat the DPRA promised to pass in 2013, he charged.

Aki, a respected local Buddhist, said the new bylaw "gives a very strange impression because as far as I know, Sharia Islam in Aceh applies to Muslims only. So why should it apply to non-Muslims?"

Non-Muslims "respect implementation of Islamic law in Aceh. Interfaith relations and tolerance are good. Social interaction is also quite good between Muslims and non-Muslims," he said.

Aki said he and other Buddhists in Aceh were anxiously awaiting the central government's response to the bylaws.

"If the interior minister does not cancel this controversial clause, I will consult with friends who are civil society activists in Aceh, to advocate for judicial review of the article in the Supreme Court," he told Khabar.[]

Reaction From Activists Over Verdict on PT Kalista Alam

2014-01-09T18:42:00.000+07:00

PRESS RELEASE
Banda Aceh, TAG – Some environmental organizations on Thursday welcomed a landmark new precedent as Meulaboh court in west Aceh capital found palm oil company PT Kalista Alam guilty of illegally burning forests within Tripa peat swamps.

“This is a clear message to companies working in Aceh who think they can destroy protected forests and get away with it” said Muhammad Nur, the Chairman of WALHI Aceh, in a joint statement obtained by The Aceh Globe in Banda Aceh.

According to chief judge, Rahmawati, PT Kalista Alam was found in breach of National Law No 32/2009 on Environmental Protection and Management, for illegal use of fire to clear forests, and ordered to pay IDR 114.3 billion (approx. USD 9.5 million) as compensation and IDR 251.7 billion (almost 21 USD million) for restoration of the affected forests.

Kamaruddin, a lawyer working with communities in Tripa region reiterated that the decision should serve as a wake up call to any company thinking of investing within the Leuser Ecosystem, a National Strategic Area, that they could suffer the same fate as PT Kalista Alam.

“It should also be a reminder to others who deliberately burn forests or allow forest burning within their concessions, regardless of whether or not they are working inside Ecosystem’s boundaries, that they could also be prosecuted,” he said.

“The Judge’s decision in this case clearly illustrates a move towards improved law enforcement against environmental offenders in the region.”

PT Kalista Alam, first came to international attention in August 2011, when former Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf, issued a new 1,605 hectares oil palm concession permit within the legally protected Leuser Ecosystem, an area renowned for hosting the highest densities of orangutans found anywhere on earth, sparking an international outcry.

Subsequently, over 1.5 million people signed online petitions calling for greater protection of Aceh’s Forests, currently under enormous threat due to a controversial new spatial planning law issued by Aceh’s Parliament on December 27th.

These petitions are further supported by some of the world’s leading scientists and conservation experts, who have written to Aceh’s present Governor, Zaini Abdullah, urging him to nominate the Leuser Ecosystem as a World Heritage Site, due to its unique and irreplaceable biodiversity.

The Leuser Ecosystem is the only place on earth where tigers, elephants, rhinos and orangutans can be found living together in the wild and was listed by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) as one of the ‘World’s Most Irreplaceable Protected Areas’ in an article in journal Science, in November 2013.

Dr Ian Singleton, Director of the Sumatran Orangutran Conservation Programme, highlighted the critical importance of the area. “Tripa is one of only 3 remaining peat swamp forests left containing orangutans in Sumatra and its impossible to overstate the importance of protecting every last hectare of each of them,’ he said.

Orangutan densities can reach as high as 8 per square kilometer in these areas, compared to an average of around only 1 or 2 per square kilometer in dryland forests. These peat swamps have justifiably been referred to as the ‘orangutan capital of the world’.

The Leuser Ecosystem too, offers the only real hope of survival for Sumatra’s other key iconic megafauna, the Sumatran tiger, rhino and elephant, as well as its orangutans.

“Yesterday’s ruling is of course extremely welcome, but the level of interest in Tripa and the Leuser Ecosystem worldwide shows clearly just how seriously concerned the international community is right now about the fate of these forests and their globally important biodiversity”, he said.

“The Leuser Ecosystem provides countless locally and globally important environmental services too”, said Graham Usher, Landscape Protection Specialist with the Swiss based PanEco Foundation.

“For Aceh alone these have been valued in excess of 400 million dollars per year, and the region’s contribution to mitigating climate change, through its carbon sequestration function probably stretches into billions of dollars.”

“It is very encouraging that companies and decision makers destroying these services in Indonesia are finally being held accountable for the economic damage their illegal activities cause, and all credit is due to the Ministry of the Environment for their efforts in prosecuting this case.”

The court’s decision is indeed a huge victory, and represents one significant step in the right direction. But I think many more such steps are needed before we will really see a change in the behaviour of companies and officials,” added Usher.

“Aceh’s Parliament is right now pushing a new spatial land use plan which they recently legalised with a new Provincial Government Regulation, known locally as the Qanun RTRW Aceh,” explained Muhammad Nur.

“The Qanun completely ignores the protected status of the Leuser Ecosystem, simply so they can open up large areas of protected forests for road building, mining, palm oil and timber concessions.”

“This will in effect end Aceh’s chances for long-term sustainable development, as it will cause further destruction of critical watersheds, leading to ever more frequent flash floods, landslides, and other environmental disasters,” he said.

The companies lobbying for this new plan, and the Aceh Government themselves, should be held accountable for all the damage that will ensue. We hope yesterday’s result will serve as a strong warning that if you destroy our forests, we are not afraid to fight back” he stressed.

“We thank the judge for delivering a just and fair verdict in this case, and all the people around the world who have been calling for enforcement of National Laws protecting the Leuser Ecosystem. This will be a long battle, but it is one we simply cannot afford to lose, no matter what the cost.” he said.

Yesterday’s groundbreaking verdict is the result of just one of several civil and criminal prosecutions underway against PT Kallista Alam and four other oil palm companies with concessions in Tripa, namely PT. Surya Panen Subur II, PT. Dua Perkasa Lestari, PT. Gelora Sawita Makmur and PT. Cemerlang Abadi.

Each faces the possibility of serious financial consequences as a result of their illegal clearance, burning and drainage of Tripa’s unique peat swamp ecosystem. Some of company directors and senior management also face the prospect of prison terms in cases against them for their actions on the ground, the statement said.[]

Aceh Court Orders Palm Oil Firm To Pay For Environmental Damage

2014-01-09T18:29:00.002+07:00

BY NURDIN HASAN [THE JAKARTA GLOBE]

A view of burning peatland in Rawa Tripa in Nagan Raya district in 2011. INTERNET PHOTO

Banda Aceh, TAG – A court in the West Aceh district capital of Meulaboh has declared palm oil company Kalista Alam guilty of clearing Rawa Tripa peat forests in neighboring Nagan Raya district of Aceh province by burning land.

“Based on trial evidence, we declare PT Kalista Alam guilty of having burned peatlands in Rawa Trip forest, which has caused environmental damages,” chief judge Rahmawati said, during a seven-hour reading of the verdict that ended on Wednesday night.

The Meulaboh Court also ordered for the confiscation of 5,769-hectare land run by Kalista Alam in Aceh, and for the company to pay fines and restoration fees.

“We order PT Kalista Alam to compensate material losses worth Rp 114.3 billion ($9.45 million) and pay environment restoration fees totaling Rp 251.7 billion.”

The ruling also sets a Rp 5 million daily fine for each day the company delays paying the compensation and restoration costs.

The panel of judges at the court rejected all the company’s defense arguments. They said Kalista Alam’s activities in Rawa Tripa destroyed as many as 1,000 hectares of land in the peat forest, more specifically the sections situated in Darul Makmur subdistrict in the Aceh district of Nagan Raya.

The civic lawsuit was filed by Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment in 2012, following intense protests from environmental activists against the company’s activities in the peatland forest.

The ministry originally demanded that Kalista Alam pay Rp 300 billion in compensation.

The Banda Aceh Administrative Court in May last year ruled in favor of Kalista Alam in its lawsuit against the Aceh governor’s revocation of its permit to clear and operate on a 1,605-hectare land in Rawa Tripa, a forest and peatland region in the province’s Nagan Raya district.

Kalista Alam obtained the permit to open the plantation from then-Governor Irwandi Yusuf in August, 2011. But the governor’s decision was met with protests by environmental activists who said that the area was the habitat of critically endangered Sumatran orangutans and other rare animals.

The Aceh chapter of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) attempted to drag the governor to the Aceh state administrative court, but the court rejected Walhi’s suit on April 3, 2012. Walhi then appealed the ruling to the Medan High Court. On Aug. 30, 2012, the Medan High Court ordered the governor, now Zainal Abdullah, who was elected in April 2012, to revoke the permit.

Kalista Alam’s lawyer, Alfian C. Sarumaha, told journalists after the hearing that his client would appeal the case.

“The judges [based the verdict] merely on several samples, and didn’t examine all the 1,000-hectare land allegedly [destroyed],” he said.

Kalista earlier argued that its burning of land in Rawa Tripa was already in line with existing regulations.

A director of Kalista Alam, identified only as S. R., and a subordinate are standing a separate trial in the same court in Meulaboh over a criminal lawsuit concerning the same case.[]