Friction between residents in South Tangerang is not a racial issue

All parties, including religious and community leaders, agreed to make peace and avoid conflict.

KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

The police and village official communicated with the occupants of a boarding house in RT 007 RW 002, Poncol Village, Babakan Sub-district, Setu, South Tangerang City, on Monday, May 6th, 2024 afternoon.

TANGERANG, KOMPAS — The friction between local residents and a group of youths in South Tangerang is not a problem triggered by issues of ethnicity, religion, race and inter-group or SARA as widely circulated on social media. The mediation process is taken so that disputes between communities do not spill over into sensitive issues.

A number of police officers are still stationed around a boarding house in RT 007 RW 002, Poncol Village, Babakan Subdistrict, Setu, South Tangerang City, on Monday (6/5/2024) evening. Poncol Village is located not far from the Pamulang University complex, so it is not surprising that there are many boarding house businesses for students there.

The activities of residents on Monday afternoon were normal and conducive despite police guarding the area following a brawl between local residents and a group of students on Sunday (5/5/2024) night.

Cisauk Police Chief Adjunct Commissioner Dhady Arsya has confirmed that the incident on Sunday night was only a communication issue, not a problem that touches on specific ethnicity or religion.

“No, not like that. Not like what is circulating. "We work together to maintain security and peace," said Dhady, Monday.

KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

Head of Cisauk Police, Adjunct Commissioner Dhady Arsya.

Dhady stated that there were indeed students who were praying in one of the boarding houses. However, it was not because they were worshiping that the residents protested.

Earlier, residents have already given warnings due to the commotion caused by students who often gather until late at night. This activity disturbs the surrounding residents. However, these warnings are often ignored by a number of students.

At its peak, on Sunday night, residents felt the need to once again remind the students not to engage in activities until late at night. Unfortunately, the reminder led to a dispute and altercation between the residents and the group of students.

The head of RW 002 Marat stated that residents do not have a problem with religious activities. However, in some instances, groups of at least 10-20 students frequently gather.

"Because they had been warned once or twice before this incident but did not comply. We are not dismissing (worship), but it's already nighttime. (One of the residents and student groups) They both have a short fuse," said Marat.

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KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

The Chairman of RW 002 Marat (left) communicated with the police and dormitory residents in RT 007 RW 002, Poncol Village, Babakan Sub-district, Setu District, South Tangerang City, on Monday (6/5/2024) afternoon. The communication went smoothly and the atmosphere was conducive.

At the time of the incident, said Marat, an angry resident brought a knife from his house.

Dhady continued, one of the boarding house residents was a victim, suffering from minor scratches as a result of the dispute on Sunday night.

“There was a woman (victim) who had scratches. Everything is still being investigated by the police (South Tangerang). "The investigation is the authority of the police," he said.

The Chief of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the South Tangerang Police, Assistant Commissioner Alvino, explained that the unit has received a report of alleged criminal acts of assault and/or battery.

"Until now, we are still investigating the facts on the ground," he said.

Worship is good. All that remains is to be considerate in arranging worship activities so as not to disturb the peace of the residents.

KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

Police, residents, and tenants of boarding houses in RT 007 RW 002, Kampung Poncol, Babakan Village, Setu Subdistrict, South Tangerang City, on the afternoon of Monday (5/6/2024) seemed to be mingling.

Farhan Rizky (22), one of the boarding house residents who was injured by a knife. According to him, he took the initiative to mediate and break up the fight. "I tried to break up the beatings, misahin. I was neutral and didn't know right or left. Because I felt sorry (seeing boarding house residents being beaten by residents)," said Farhan, Monday (6/5/2024).

His efforts to break up and reconcile the fight resulted in Farhan being accused of being part of a group of boarding students. He was then attacked by residents carrying knives.

"I thought the problem was over. It turned out there was a red-shirted brother carrying a knife. I shouted why he was carrying a knife. I was even pointed at in the stomach but I managed to hold it in, suddenly from another direction there was someone with a knife pointed at my head and suddenly the head was leaking," said Farhan.

Frederikus Legianto (25), one of the boarding house residents, said that that evening he and 15 of his friends gathered to pray the Rosary as a routine commemoration of the Month of Mary. When the prayer was almost finished, a local community leader came to inform them to conclude the activity immediately.

KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

Farhan Rizky (22), a resident of one of the boarding houses in Kampung Poncol, Babakan, Setu, South Tangerang, who tried to break up the conflict between the boarding house residents and local residents that ended in injuries on Monday (6/5/2024).

One resident also requested to put an end to the activity. Tension began to occur when one group of youths from the boarding house and the local youths started debating, which ended up in a fight.

"We also don't want such incident to happen. We do regularly pray. We don't want any disturbances as it wouldn't be pleasant," said the man known as Legi.

One of the other boarding house residents, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the Sunday night incident would not have happened if both parties could have spoken calmly.

"Hopefully the future will be good. We learn here. So the atmosphere can be good," he said.

The Head of the South Tangerang Police Resort, Adjunct Commissioner Ibnu Bagus Santosa, said that his team had arrested suspects involved in a case of assault and battery in a conflict between residents in Kampung Poncol.

"We are still investigating this involvement. Tomorrow (Tuesday) we will release the press," said Ibnu.

Social ethics

A representative from the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion in South Tangerang, Asep Aziz Nasser, explained that the conflict in the Babakan Village is not related to religious issues, but rather to social ethics.

"Actually, worship is good. "We just need to be considerate in arranging worship activities so as not to disturb the peace of the residents," he said.

He explained that what the students did was a form of worship to commemorate the month of Mother Mary. This worship is like a religious study session and can be held anywhere. There is no prohibition.

However, its implementation must pay attention to social ethics. It happened that the religious activity was held in one of the boarding houses located near residential areas.

KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

A number of police officers were guarding around a boarding house in RT 007 RW 002, Poncol Village, Babakan Sub-district, Setu, South Tangerang City, on Monday afternoon (6/5/2024).

Regarding the outbreak of the dispute, Asep believes that it happened because the parties involved were both young people who haven't learned to control their emotions yet.

To address this issue, all involved parties, such as religious leaders, community figures, including forums for interfaith harmony, gathered to discuss solutions.

"And we have one voice for peace," he said. Students are also allowed to hold religious services, but they are not allowed to make noise.

Asep reminded that Tangerang Selatan was not built by only one religion, but by various religions. Therefore, residents must live side by side as a form of harmony.

"I hope this is the last conflict to occur in South Tangerang," he said.

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