ID :
27787
Fri, 10/31/2008 - 18:28
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http://m.oananews.org//node/27787
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RELIGION FORBIDS HUNGER STRIKES : MUI CLERIC
Mataram, Oct 31 (ANTARA) - Going on a hunger strike or refusing to take food and drink to nourish the body is forbidden by religion as it amounts to an attempt to commit suicide, a local cleric said in connection with former West Nusa Tenggara governor Lalu Serinata's hunger strike in prison.
"The intention to go on hunger strike until death is strongly prohibited by religion," Syaiful Muslim, chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI)'s West Nusa Tenggara chapter, said here Friday.
He said a person who refuses to eat or drink over a long period of time in protest against something was not thankful for God's mercy.
According to Muslim , all people embracing a religious faith, , especially Muslims, must always do their best remain in a good state of health because it was one of the most valuable things in life.
"Therefore we don't need to support hunger strikes until death. We are sorry about what has happened to former West Nusa Tenggara governor Lalu Serinata but we do not support his hunger strike," Syaiful Muslim said.
He added that the former NTB governor should not torture himself because of resentment about the legal process against him. Serinata should not fight back by torturing himself but by also pursuing legal avenues.
Meanwhile, a legal practitioner, Lalu Martayadi, said former governor Seritnata's decision to go on a hunger strike was his own personal affair that had nothing to do with the legal aspects of his case.
The former governor was sent to Mataram Correctional Institution (LP Mataram) last Monday, October 27, 2008 on charges of having embezzled funds from NTB's 2001-2003 regional budget.
Since his detantion, he had refused to eat, drink, and even smoke in protest against what he described as "unfair treatment" by the provincial high public prosecutor's office.
Due to his hunger strike to date, Serinata's physical condition had weakened and therefore LP Mataram's doctor was continuously monitoring his health condition.
Serinata, who was Provincial Legislative Assembly chairman in the 1999-2004 period, was detained by the NTB high prosecutor's office in the Kasturi Room Block III of LP Mataram with 17 other detainees in relation with alleged corruption and misuse of the Assembly's funds from the regional budget in 2001-2002 and unexpected funds of Rp9 billion in 2003.
"The intention to go on hunger strike until death is strongly prohibited by religion," Syaiful Muslim, chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI)'s West Nusa Tenggara chapter, said here Friday.
He said a person who refuses to eat or drink over a long period of time in protest against something was not thankful for God's mercy.
According to Muslim , all people embracing a religious faith, , especially Muslims, must always do their best remain in a good state of health because it was one of the most valuable things in life.
"Therefore we don't need to support hunger strikes until death. We are sorry about what has happened to former West Nusa Tenggara governor Lalu Serinata but we do not support his hunger strike," Syaiful Muslim said.
He added that the former NTB governor should not torture himself because of resentment about the legal process against him. Serinata should not fight back by torturing himself but by also pursuing legal avenues.
Meanwhile, a legal practitioner, Lalu Martayadi, said former governor Seritnata's decision to go on a hunger strike was his own personal affair that had nothing to do with the legal aspects of his case.
The former governor was sent to Mataram Correctional Institution (LP Mataram) last Monday, October 27, 2008 on charges of having embezzled funds from NTB's 2001-2003 regional budget.
Since his detantion, he had refused to eat, drink, and even smoke in protest against what he described as "unfair treatment" by the provincial high public prosecutor's office.
Due to his hunger strike to date, Serinata's physical condition had weakened and therefore LP Mataram's doctor was continuously monitoring his health condition.
Serinata, who was Provincial Legislative Assembly chairman in the 1999-2004 period, was detained by the NTB high prosecutor's office in the Kasturi Room Block III of LP Mataram with 17 other detainees in relation with alleged corruption and misuse of the Assembly's funds from the regional budget in 2001-2002 and unexpected funds of Rp9 billion in 2003.
