Saturday, September 8, 1984, two Village Development Guards (Babinsa) from the Koramil came to Musala As-Sa'adah in Gang IV Koja, Tanjung Priok. They moved the area of the place of worship without removing shoes with the intention of removing the pamphlet which was supposed to give an expression of hatred towards the government.
The behavior of these two Babinsa soon became whispering among the congregation and local residents although they still refrained from responding head-on. However, there has never been any real effort from the government or the authorities to immediately resolve this issue peacefully before a bigger polemic occurs.
Two days later, a fight broke out between several congregants and the soldiers who polluted the house of worship. The debate was stopped after the two Babinsa were invited into the office of the Baitul Makmur Mosque management which was located not far from the mushala. However, news had already circulated so that people began to arrive at the mosque.
The situation suddenly became chaotic because one of the crowd set fire to an army motorcycle. Officers who have also been brought in immediately act to secure those suspected of being provocateurs. Four people were arrested, including a motorcycle arsonist. The detention inevitably made the masses angerier with the authorities.
After that, the community is still looking for ways that this problem does not have to involve large numbers of masses.
The next day, September 11, 1984, the congregation asked Amir Biki for help to resolve this problem. Amir Biki is a community leader who is considered capable of mediating between the masses and the army at the Kodim and Koramil.
Amir Biki immediately responded to the congregation's request by approaching the Kodim to deliver the demand to release 4 people who were detained. However, he did not get a definitive answer, even impressed by the officers at the Kodim
Feeling cheated, Amir Biki then initiated a meeting in the evening to discuss this serious issue. The scholars and religious leaders are requested to come, invitations are also distributed to Muslims throughout Jakarta and beyond. The Muslim forum began at 8 pm and lasted for approximately 3 hours.
Amir Biki is actually not a lecturer. However, by the congregation present, he was urged to deliver a speech at the forum. Amir Biki went up to the pulpit and exclaimed:
"We ask our friends who are detained at the Kodim. They are innocent. We protest the work of irresponsible ABRI elements. We have the right to defend the truth even though we risk it. If they are not released then we must protest! "
"We can't damage anything! If there is something destructive in the middle of the journey, it means that it is not our group, "continued Amir Biki reminded the congregation, as said by Abdul Qadir Djaelani in the trial.
Because the request for release of the four detainees remained ignored until the turn of the day, the morning of September 12, 1984, around 1,500 people moved, some to Tanjung Priok Police Station, others to the Kodim which was not too far away, only around 200 meters.
The masses headed for the police station had apparently been blocked by military forces with complete weapons. In fact, not only weapons are prepared, but also heavy equipment including armored vehicles. The warning of the apparatus was answered by takbir who continued to surrender. The soldiers immediately greeted him with a barrage of shots from automatic rifles.
Victims began to lie. Thousands of people panicked and ran in the rain of bullets. The apparatus continued to strafe the masses blindly. One witness even heard a curse from one of the soldiers who ran out of ammunition. “Son of a bitch! The bullet's gone. There are still many of brats!”
From the direction of the port, two large trucks carrying additional troops came at high speed. Not only spewing bullets, the two heavy vehicles also lunged and crushed the masses who were lying on the streets. The sound of screaming in pain combined with the sound of the bones crunching crushed. Djaelani's statement in court agreed that the brutal actions of the authorities had indeed taken place.
A similar incident was experienced by the group led by Amir Biki who headed for the Kodim. The authorities asked 3 representatives to come forward, while the others had to wait. When the 3 mass representatives approached, the army actually greeted them with gunfire that triggered a mass panic. Dozens of people died in this fragment, including Amir Biki.
It is not known exactly how many victims, whether killed, injured or disappeared, in the tragedy in Tanjung Priok because the New Order government covered up the facts. ABRI commander at the time, L.B. Moerdani, said that 18 people were killed and 53 people were injured in the incident.
However, the statement of the Armed Forces Commander was very different from the data from the Solidarity for the Tanjung Priok Event (Sontak) which was also supported by Djaelani's testimony. This institution states that no less than 400 people were killed in the bloody tragedy, not including those injured and missing.
Reference
Raditya, I. N. (2017, September 12). About us: Tirto.id. Retrieved from Tirto.id Web site: https://tirto.id/sejarah-tragedi-tanjung-priok-kala-orde-baru-menghabisi-umat-islam-cwpi
Very well written. Keep up the good work :)
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