Jakarta, Sept 26 (Antara) - In its capacity as the largest predominantly Muslim country, Indonesia is calling on the Saudi government to continue to improve management of the hajj following the September 24 stampede at Mina that killed over 700 pilgrims.
Indonesia will advise or present a proposal to the Saudi government with suggestions to improve the management of the pilgrimage
"In the current situation, there are still a lot of people mourning, so President Joko Widodo does not want to apportion blame for the accident," the Chief of Presidential Staff, Teten Masduki, said on Friday.
However, after an investigation is conducted, the President will certainly advise or present a proposal to the Saudi government with regards to improving the management of the pilgrimage, he said.
President Joko Widodo has offered condolences for the dead and said he hoped that a similar incident can be avoided in the future.
Masduki pointed out that the Indonesian government certainly has an interest in discussing the matter with the Saudi government, in context of ensuring the security of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims.
"Yes, I think security, safety and comfort of our Hajj pilgrims will be a part of the discussion with the Saudi government, as they are mostly dependent on the facilities provided by the Saudi government," he said.
Reports said 717 pilgrims were killed in the stampede, including three Indonesians, and 816 others were injured, while millions of pilgrims were performing a stoning ritual at Mina.
The incident took place only two weeks after the collapse on September 11 of a construction crane at Mecca's Grand Mosque, which claimed the lives of 111 pilgrims, including 11 Indonesians.
According to Al Arabiya News report, the Mina stampede incident occurred because the pilgrims who were on their way to perform the hurling ritual at Jamarah Aqabah at 07.40 local time, suddenly stopped in the Arab 204 lane, causing pilgrims behind them to push those ahead. This led to the stampede.
A stampede during the jamrah hurling ritual in Mina occurred before, in 1990, when 1,426 pilgrims trapped in Mina's Muissem Tunnel were killed.
As the country with the largest hajj quota, Indonesia hopes the hajj management will be improved to prevent future stampedes.
"With regards to the government, it is not only about its administration, but also counseling our pilgrims while they are there," Teten Masduki, said.
He added that the Saudi government should improve facilities in Mina, in view of several incidents that have taken place.
In the meantime, the Indonesian Parliament has also called for an investigation into the causes of the Mina stampede, urging the Saudi government to announce the identities, countries of origin and gender of the dead victims.
Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Hidayat Nurwahid said the Saudi government should join with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to investigate the deadly incident in Mina.
Nurwahid noted that the involvement of OIC member countries in the investigation could create greater transparency in unearthing the causes of the incident. He said he hoped an open investigation could improve future services during Hajj Pilgrimages in Mecca and other areas.
"According to the report, the deadly incident occurred due to the pilgrims jostling in the area. There were several people who returned to the line, and others were headed in the opposite direction. We leave it to the investigation team," Nurwahid said.
Lawmaker Saleh Partaonan Daulay of Commission VIII on Religious Affairs of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR), meanwhile, called on the Saudi government to officially announce the number and identities of those killed in the stampede.
"The number of victims is still confusing. Reports only mention death counts, without clarifying the victims' country of origin or their gender," Daulay said in an e-mail from Saudi Arabia on Friday.
Daulay, who is a politician from the National Mandate Party (PAN), said information on the number and countries of origin of the victims is very important, particularly for the families and relatives of the victims in their respective countries.
"Eight hours after the incident, information on the countries of origin of the victims should have been made public. If their countries have not yet been announced, there will be an impression that something is being covered up," the legislator stated.
He added that the DPR's Hajj Supervisory Team had become aware of the absence of an official announcement from the Saudi government after it visited the spot where the stampede took place.
"We met with hajj pilgrims from various countries. Almost all said they had yet to find out the exact number of victims from their respective countries. The available information is unofficial, because it only came from the Hajj missions sent to the respective countries," he stated.
Another lawmaker, Said Abdullah of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI), even urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to take over the management of Mecca and Medina from the Saudi government.
He made the demand, alleging that the Saudi government has failed to protect the dignity of the holy sites of Islam. "We hope that the face of Mecca as a symbol of loftiness and the image of the Kaabah cubical shrine can be returned under the management of the OIC," Said Abdullah stated.
Abdullah, who is the Deputy Chairman of the Budgetary Body of the House of Representatives (DPR), said Mecca has been transformed into a metropolitan city, which has diluted its holiness and the Islamic culture.
He said the Kaabah and the Haram Grand Mosque had been diminished by the Mecca Royal Watch, which had become a symbol of pride of the Saudi government.
"The face of Mecca has been changed into a stone face and is no longer sacred for Allah's guests (hajj pilgrims). Therefore, the holiness of the two cities should be regained and returned to their previous conditions.
The lawmaker added that if the management of the two cities is returned to the OIC, it is expected that the Islamic sites, which are the legacy of the Prophet Muhammad and his associates, would be returned to their former glory.***4***
(T.A014/INE/o001)(T.A014/A/BESSR/O. Tamindael) 26-09-2015 13:39:5
Notes: up to oct 8, 2015, the number of deaths was recorded at 1,800, including 120 Indonesians. Indonesians reported missing until oct 8, 2015 totalled 8 pilgrims. |
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