| 2023 Bitung clashes |
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| Date | 25 November 2023 |
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| Location | |
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| Caused by | Provocative actions and attacks by Manguni Makasiouw Army on pro-Palestinian crowd[1] |
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| Methods | Attack |
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| Resulted in | Peace agreement between the two parties[2] |
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Pro-Palestinian crowd  Islamic Brotherhood Front [3] |
Pro-Israel crowd
File:Pasukan Manguni Makasiouw.png Manguni Makasiouw Army |
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1 in critical condition [1] |
unknown |
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On 25 November 2023, in East Bitung Sub-district, Maesa District, Bitung City a clash incident occurred involving two camps of community organization. Allegedly, this clash was suspected to have been caused by an attack carried out by members of the Manguni Makasiouw Army against a pro-Palestinian crowd who were carrying out a peaceful demonstration for Palestine in Bitung City.[4]
Background
Before the clash occurred, there is a notification letter from the Manguni Makasiouw Army to Bitung City Resort Police signed by Michael Rempowatu as chairman. In the notification letter, three demands were attached. One of them is for the police not to issue permits for the Palestine Solidarity Action in Bitung City on the grounds that it could cause security disturbances.[5]
This clash was also suspected to be caused by provocative actions carried out by the Manguni Makasiouw Army and pro-Israel crowd who carried Israeli flags during the peaceful demonstration. Until finally there was a clash in the afternoon between the pro-Palestinian crowd and Manguni Makasiouw Army and the pro-Israel crowd in Bitung City.[6]
Chronologies
The clashes began during the peaceful demonstration for Palestine at around 13.00 EIT, calls for Palestinian independence and protests against Israel over mass killings in the Gaza Strip. Then a group of people dressed in traditional clothes and armed with sharp weapons in the form of swords attacked the peaceful protesters.[1]
The peaceful demonstration then turned unconducive. There was a victim from the pro-Palestinian crowd, namely Anto, who suffered abuse and was seriously and critically injured by Manguni Makasiouw Army. One ambulance car was also damaged. The windows were smashed and the vehicle was overturned. Then the Flag of Tawheed and Flag of Palestine were also torn and burned by the attackers.[1]
In the evening, representatives of the two mass groups stated that a peace agreement was made in the Duasudara Stadium area. This agreement was initiated by the Bitung City Religious Harmony Forum and the Bitung City Inter-Religious Cooperation Agency. Before signing the peace agreement, the two representatives of these mass groups held a dialogue moderated by the Mayor of Bitung, Maurits Mantiri and the Bitung City Regional Leadership Coordination Forum as well as local religious leaders.[2]
Responses
Deputy Chairman of the Advisory Council of Indonesian Ulema Council, K.H. Muhyiddin Junaidi urge the police officials to investigate and take firm action against the perpetrators of violence in Bitung City, North Sulawesi. According to him, the perpetrators of the attacks who committed violence in Bitung must not be allowed to pass. Muhyiddin said, "Allowing anti-Pancasila behavior by Zionist agents in Indonesian territory violates the national constitution and is very dangerous".[4]
Mayor of Bitung City, Maurits Mantiri appealed to the residents of Bitung City to maintain conduciveness together and not be provoked by individuals who want division in Bitung City.[7]
Lampung Ulema and Activist Defense Team, strongly condemns the attack carried out by a group of people acting in the name of Manguni Makasiouw Army against peaceful protesters for Palestine. According to the chairman of TPUA Lampung, Gunawan Pharrikesit, "This cannot be allowed in a democracy. The perpetrators can be included in the security disturbance movement group".[1]
Islamic Brotherhood Front released a statement through its general chairman, Muhammad Al-Atthas. In this position statement, FPI fully supports the peaceful demonstration for Palestine held in Bitung City because it is in line with Indonesia's foreign policy as well as legal and constitutional. FPI condemns the actions of the Manguni Makasiouw Army in flying the Flag of Israel because it is considered a form of betrayal against the constitutional mandate and violates Minister of Foreign Affairs Regulation no. 3 of 2019 which prohibits the flying of the Israeli Zionist flag. FPI also called for jihad against supporters of Zionism because they considered it contrary to Pancasila and had betrayed the mandate of Constitution of Indonesia.[3]
