UIN Jakarta alumni demand end to alleged intimidation in land dispute

A group of alumni from UIN Jakarta has issued a strong statement urging the university to abandon alleged intimidation and thuggery tactics in its ongoing land dispute with the TK Islam Pembangunan (TKIP) and SD Islam Pembangunan (SDIP) Pamulang educational complex.

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We reject all forms of violence, intimidation, and thuggery from any party, for any reason.

The alumni, who are under the purview of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, called for an immediate halt to what they describe as "thuggish actions." They argue that such behavior disrupts the educational environment and compromises the safety of children. "We reject all forms of violence, intimidation, and thuggery from any party, for any reason," the official statement reads, signed by over 30 alumni, including prominent figures like political observer Ray Rangkuti and Burhanuddin Muhtadi.

The alumni group is advocating for the land dispute to be settled through the legal system. They implore UIN Jakarta to refrain from executing any claims until a legally binding decision is reached. "Do not execute claims before there is a legally binding decision," they stated. The situation escalated on Saturday, August 22, when dozens of individuals, allegedly thugs, reportedly forced their way into the Sekolah Islam Pamulang (SIP) premises in the early morning hours.

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Do not execute claims before there is a legally binding decision.

Ilham Aufa, the head of the Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta Foundation (YSH) in Pamulang, condemned the incident as an act of thuggery. He pointed out that similar actions had occurred previously at Madrasah Pembangunan (MP) and Sekolah Triguna. Aufa asserted that UIN Jakarta's seizure of SIP and other schools lacks legal basis, especially following a Jakarta Administrative Court ruling that annulled Ministerial Decree No. 1543 concerning the integration of UIN with three foundations. "There is no legal basis for UIN Jakarta to take any action related to schools managed by the foundation, including SIP. Because the legal basis in the form of the Ministerial Decree has been annulled by the Jakarta Administrative Court," he stated.

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There is no legal basis for UIN Jakarta to take any action related to schools managed by the foundation, including SIP. Because the legal basis in the form of the Ministerial Decree has been annulled by the Jakarta Administrative Court.

In response, Zaenal Muttaqin, Head of Information and Public Relations at UIN Jakarta, denied the allegations of deploying thugs. He clarified that the individuals involved were security personnel tasked with safeguarding the school premises and state assets. "We need to clarify, they are not thugs. They are UIN Jakarta security personnel carrying out security duties. Their presence is part of UIN Jakarta's responsibility to maintain the security of state assets," Muttaqin said.

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We need to clarify, they are not thugs. They are UIN Jakarta security personnel carrying out security duties. Their presence is part of UIN Jakarta's responsibility to maintain the security of state assets.