Joint Letter to Minister Rudd on Promoting Respect for Human Rights in Papua

The Hon Kevin Rudd MP

Foreign Minister

Parliament House

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

 Published: http://www.hrw.org/news/

Dear Minister Rudd,

Re: Promoting respect for human rights in Papua

We are writing because 1 December 2011 marks the 50^th anniversary of the first raising of the West Papuan ‘Morning Star’ flag. This date is considered by many Papuans as their unofficial ‘Independence Day’ and it is almost certain that protests and flag raising ceremonies will be held throughout Papua on this day.

As you are aware, tensions have been heightened in Papua following the recent use of unnecessary or excessive force, including lethal force, by Indonesian police and military forces on a peaceful assembly of the Third Papuan People’s Congress. The attacks on 19 October resulted in at least three protesters being killed, at least 90 persons being injured, and approximately 300 arrested. While we understand the majority of those arrested have now been released, at least five prominent protesters are still being detained for peacefully expressing their views and should be immediately released. Moreover, the authorities should take action to ensure against the use of unnecessary or excessive use of force by the security forces during any protests on and around 1 December.

While Human Rights Watch and the Human Rights Law Centre do not take any position on claims to self-determination in Papua, we do support the rights of all persons to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Indonesia has ratified. All persons, including independence supporters, should be allowed to express their political views peacefully without fear of arrest or reprisal. Further, consistent with international law, any use of force by police or military forces must be strictly necessary, proportionate and exercised for a legitimate purpose in accordance with the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms.

In light of Australia’s close relationship with Indonesia, together with the Australian government’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law, we call on you to take the following steps to reduce the likelihood of violence, the use of excessive force, and the suppression of peaceful protest:

1. Urge the Indonesian government to ensure full and free access of journalists to Papua; because of such restrictions, deploy Australian embassy staff to Papua to monitor and observe events on 1 December.
2. Reiterate your government’s support, both publicly and privately with relevant Indonesian officials, for the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association and your unequivocal condemnation of excessive use of force and the suppression of peaceful protest. We note that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently confirmed that the US has “very directly raised concerns about the violence and the abuse of human rights” in Papua. In our view, a clear and firm public statement on Australia’s position on human rights in the area is critical, especially since there is a real risk that Australian Ambassador Greg Moriarty’s recent reference to the actions of Papuan People’s Congress leaders as “illegal, provocative and counterproductive” may otherwise be interpreted as supporting a government crackdown on the Congress. While the Lombok Treaty between Indonesia and Australia affirms the “sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of both Parties” it also requires respect for obligations under international law and the UN Charter.
3. Call for an immediate, full and impartial investigation into the deaths and injuries, and allegations of excessive use of force by the authorities, arising from the demonstration on 19 October. Accountability for Indonesian police and military personnel implicated in human rights abuses is critical, especially given the increasing military and security cooperation between Australia and Indonesia. Respect for human rights and the rule of law should be essential pillars of Australia’s engagement in Indonesia.
4. There is clear evidence that a number of peaceful activists, politicians and religious clergy in Papua have been subject to arbitrary arrest, imprisonment, harassment and violence. The Australian government should urge Indonesia to release all persons detained in Papua for the peaceful expression of their political views, and not conflate the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and dissent with criminal activity. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued a legal opinion on Filep Karma, a prominent Papuan political prisoner, asking the Indonesian government to “immediately release” him.

Australia plays a critical leadership role on human rights in Asia and the Pacific and should take a principled and proactive stand on human rights with a key partner like Indonesia. The above-mentioned steps we urge you to undertake are both desirable and necessary to reduce the likelihood of violence, use of excessive force or the suppression of peaceful protest in Papua.

We would be pleased to meet with you to further discuss our concerns.

Yours sincerely,

Philip Lynch                                                              Phil Robertson

Executive Director                                                 Deputy Director, Asia Division
Human Rights Law Centre                                     Human Rights Watch
                                        

CC:

The Hon Stephen Smith MP

Minister for Defence

The Hon David Feeney

Parliamentary Secretary for Defence

Mr Denis Richardson

Secretary

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Tom Connor

Indonesia, Regional Issues and East Timor Branch

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Hon Julie Bishop MP

Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Foreign Minister

PGI Minta Pemerintah Undang PBB ke Papua

JAKARTA--MICOM: Persekutuan Gereja-Gereja di Indonesia menyambut baik inisiatif pemerintah untuk membentuk Upaya Percepatan Pembangunan Papua dan Papua Barat (UP4B) agar bisa segera menyelenggarakan dialog Jakarta-Papua.

Selain itu, PGI juga meminta Pemerintah Indonesia agar memberikan kesempatan bagi Amnesty Internasional untuk berkunjung ke Papua dan mengundang Pelapor Khusus Perserikatan Bangsa-bangsa.

"PGI mendesak agar dialog Papua-Jakarta segera dilaksanakan,"kata Sekretaris umum PGI Pdt Gomar Gultom, di Jakarta, Senin (28/11).

Selanjutnya, menurut Gomar, sambil mempersiapkan pelaksanaan dialog, semua aksi kekerasan di Papua dan penyisiran oleh aparat keamanan harus dihentikan.

"Kami minta pemerintah untuk segera menarik seluruh pasukan non-organik dari Papua, dan menempatkan aparat secara proporsional dan profesional."

Selain itu, lanjut dia, segala bentuk kekerasan dan pelanggaran HAM yang terjadi di Papua harus diusut tuntas dan diselesaikan sesuai hukum yang berlaku.

Dalam hal ini PGI sangat berharap ketegasan pemerintah dalam mengakhiri praktek impunitas yang begitu sistematis dalam berbagai insiden yang terjadi di Papua.

Sumber: http://www.mediaindonesia.com/read/ 

A Man of Peace in West Papua

Rev Herman Awom

On Sunday I received an SMS from West Papua. It read  “The days are coming declares the Lord when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and will do what is just and right in the land.”

This text is from the Hebrew Bible and it speaks out of the experience of an ancient people living in exile who longed for justice and peace in their homeland.

The SMS was accompanied with the words “Selamat memasuki Adven” or “welcome to the entering of Advent”.

Advent is the period we celebrate before Christmas and it marks a time of waiting and expectation as the “Prince of Peace” is born among us.

My friend, the Rev Herman Awom, sent me this SMS. Herman is a minister with the Evangelical Christian Church in the Land of Papua. He is a passionate man committed to justice and peace for his people. Herman has been instrumental in setting up a clinic on his home island of Numfor to care for his people.  He has spoken out, often at risk, to raise concerns about human rights abuses in West Papua and he has been an active mediator in the community to ensure peaceful outcomes to very tense and often explosive issues.

Thursday December 1^st will be a critical day in West Papua as many Papuans gather to mark the first declaration of independence some 50 years ago in 1961. People are anxious about the future while Indonesian security forces are ready to act. History indicates their responses could be violent and brutal.

My friend, Herman Awom, is deeply committed to a peaceful resolution to the emerging crisis. Justice and peace will come at a cost. Hermon knows this.

Pray for our sisters and brothers in West Papua this week as they, like the ancient people of Israel, cry of for justice and peace. Remember our friends in West Papua as they wait with hope and with expectation for their true liberation.

More published: http://unitingworld.org.au/blogs/

Aparat Jangan Main Tembak

Ketua PGGP Jelang 1 Desember:

Ketua PGGP, Lipius Biniluk

JAYAPURA – Momen 1 Desember terus mengundang perhatian berbagai  pihak.  Ini tidak lain karena banyaknya isu-isu meresahkan  menjelang 1 Desember yang oleh pihak tertentu diklaim sebagai hari kemerdekaan bangsa Papua. 
Kali ini datang  dari Ketua Persekutuan Gereja- Gereja Papua (PGGP) Pdt Lipius Biniluk,S.Th. Ia  berharao kepada aparat keamanan,  baik TNI maupun Polri agar lebih mengedepankan   pendekatan persuasif ketimbang kekerasan dalam menangani setiap kegiatan masyakat, termasuk jika memang ada pengibaran Bintang Kejora (BK).   “Kalau ada orang Papua yang mengibarkan bendera Bintang Kejora, kami sangat berharap kepada aparat baik TNI maupun Polri untuk tidak langsung bereaksi dengan menembaknya. Baiknya datangi dan turunkan saja benderanya. Pengibarnya hendaknya ditangkap saja dan diproses hukum,” jelas Pdt Lipius Biniluk,S.Th selaku Ketua Persekutuan Gereja- Gereja Papua (PGGP) saat menggelar jumpa pers, di Rumah Makan Maranli, Abepura, Sabtu (26/11).
Pernyataan ini  menyikapi situasi Politik, Keamanan, dan Ketertiban Masyarakat (Polkamtibmas) di Papua dan Papua Barat yang diwarnai berbagai gejolak akhir-akhir ini, terutama terkait berbagai isu maupun antisipasi pelaksanaan peringatan 1 Desember yang diyakini sejumlah komponen orang Papua sebagai hari Kemerdekaan Bangsa Papua.
Tentang bendera Bintang Kejora sendiri kenapa terus berupaya dikibarkan oleh orang Papua, diceritakan bahwa hal itu adalah dilatarbelakangi sejarah yang mencatat bahwa bendera tersebut pernah dikibarkan sebagai bendera Bangsa Papua. “Demikian juga lagu kebangsaan Papua maupun susunan pemerintahan,” ungkap Lipius Biniluk didampingi Rudya H Kare (GSJKI), Pdt. Paulus Philip (GPHI), Pdt Isai Doom,S.Th (GPT) dan Pdt. Oyang Seseray (GSDI).
Tentang berbagai isu yang beredar melalui Short Massage Service (SMS) di masyarakat yang isinys terkait 1 Desember, seperti ‘Setelah 1 Desember masyarakat pendatang harus kembali ke daerahnya masing-masing’ maupun berbagai SMS serupa, PGGP menyatakan menolak issu-issu tersebut.
Dan terkait hal tersebut, termasuk berbagai kasus lain seperti pasca Konggres Rakyat Papua (KRP) III yang menelan korban jiwa, hingga kasus di sekitar area PT Freeport Indonesia, PGGP mengeluarkan tujuh butir himbauan, yaitu :
1.    Seluruh lapisan masyarakat/umat Tuhan agar tidak terprofokasi dengan issu-issu yang menyesatkan, yang bertujuan memecah belah kehidupan kerukunan di antara umat beragama, yang berdampak pada konflik suku, RAS dan agama.
2.    Pihak-pihak yang tidak bertanggung jawab,agar menghentikan segala bentuk teror dan provokasi terhadap seluruh umat   Tuhan, di atas tanah Papua.
3.    Aparat keamanan agar terlibat menjaga keamanan dan tidak melakukan terror terhadap umat Tuhan , secara khusus mahasiswa.
4.    Kepada Pemerintah, agar menghentikan penambahan pasukan, yang meningkatkan keresahan terhadap masyarakat di seluruh tanah Papua.
5.    Kepada seluruh komponenmasyarakat (Legilatif, Eksekutif, institusi keamanan – TNI/polri, lembaga masyarakat sipil ) baik di Jakarta dan Papua, agar terlibat menjaga perdamaian serta mendorong/mendukung proses dialog damai, antara Papua dan Jakarta, guna penyelesaian masalah–masalah di Tanah Papua.
6.    Kepada seluruh komponen masyarakat (Legilatif, Eksekutif, institusi keamanan-TNI/polri lembaga masyarakat sipil )di Papua dan seluruh wilayah Republik Indonesia, agar tidak melakukan/menghentikan segala bentuk kegiatan, dalam bentuk apapun, yang cenderung mengambil keuntungan serta mengeliminir upaya-upaya dialog damai, yang diprakarsai oleh Jaringan Damai Papua.
7.    Sebagaimana bulan Desember adalah bulan kelahiran Yesus Kristus, yang dirayakan umat Nasrani di seluruh Dunia, maka dengan ini atas nama seluruh umat Tuhan di atas Tanah Papua, Persekutuan Gereja-Gereja papua, meminta dan  mengharapkan kepada semua pihak agar mengendalikan diri guna menjaga keamanan, ketertiban dan ketentraman, terhadap sesame agar Tanah Papua terhindar dari konflik Ras, Suku dan Agama, serta tidak menggunakan kekerasan bersenjata, dalam menyikapi berbagai kebebasan berekspresi rakyat Papua. Tetapi lebih menggunakan pendekatan kemanusiaan/persuasif.

Hendrik  Y  Udam: Aparat Keamanan Segera Tangkap Oknum Penyebar SMS  Provokatif    
Sementara itu di tempat terpisah,  Wakil  Ketua  Bidang  Politik  dan Keamanan  DPD  KNPI  Kota Jayapura  Hendrik  Y Udam  dan Ketua DPC  KNPI Distrik  Abepura  Charles  Awi mensinyalir, ada pihak- pihak  yang ingin  mengganggu  dengan mengusik  kesatuan  dan persatuan Negara Kesatuan  Republik  Indonesia (NKRI) dengan  memanfaatkan  momentum   1 Desember.
Karena itu, kata dia,  pihaknya  mendesak aparat  keamanan untuk segera manangkap  dan menindak tegas oknum oknum yang membuat suasana menjadi   tak  kondusif  dengan sengaja menyebarkan  isu  isu bernada  SARA  tersebut.   
Menurut  dia,  pihaknya  menghimbau  agar  pemuda,  mahasiswa,  pelajar  serta seluruh warga  kota Jayapura dan  Papua  tak usah  terprovokasi  dengan  isu isu yang  sengaja  disebarluaskan  pihak pihak  yang tak bertanggungjawab tersebut.  
Ketua DPC  KNPI Distrik  Abepura  Charles  Awi menegaskan pihaknya menghimbau kepada seluruh pemuda, mahasiswa  dan  pelajar   tak terprovokasi  terkait  adanya  isu  dari  oknum oknum  yang bertanggungjawab  bahwa pada  1  Desember mendatang   akan  terjadi  pengibaran   bendera  Bintang Kejora  dan lain   lain  untuk   mengancam  kedaulatan Negara Kesatuan  Republik  Indonesia.  Pasalnya, kemerdekaan rakyat  bangsa  Papua  Barat bukan sesuatu yang gampang.
“Kemerdekaan itu  sudah Tuhan  berikan kepada kita semua sehingga kita tak perlu  terkooptasi dengan isu munculnya  kemerdekaan    rakyat  bangsa  Papua  Papua Barat,”  tukasnya usai  Musyawarah  KNPI  Distrik  Abepura,  di Aula Kantor  Distrik  Abepura, Kota Jayapura, Sabtu  (26/11) petang. 
Karena  itu, lanjutnya,  tugas  pemuda,  mahasiswa, pelajar  adalah  bergerak pada bidang masing masing  seperti pendidikan, ekonomi  dan lain  lain.

Read source:http://bintangpapua.com/headline/

Exodus in Papua amid fears of crackdown

Karlis Salna, AAP South-East Asia Correspondent

Human rights groups have called for Australian monitors to be allowed into Papua amid reports people are fleeing parts of the Indonesian province due to fears of another violent crackdown on pro-independence rallies planned for next week.
This source: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news
In a joint letter to Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, Human Rights Watch and the Melbourne-based Human Rights Law Centre have called for Australian embassy staff to be deployed to the restive Indonesian province to monitor events on December 1.

Large numbers of people are expected to gather in cities and other areas in Papua on Thursday for rallies to mark an unofficial independence day and the 50th anniversary of the first raising of the Morning Star flag.

The flag has been adopted by the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) and is regarded as a symbol of independence in the province which has been racked by a surge in violence over the past six months.

However, the Indonesian government considers the raising of the flag an act of treason.

At least three protesters were killed and another 90 people injured last month when Indonesian police and military stormed a pro-independence rally in Abepura after the raising of the Morning Star flag.

Video of the aftermath of the rally, broadcast on Australian television, also showed police beating unarmed protesters, including children.

As many as 300 people were arrested.

A spokesman for the pro-independence group, the National Committee for West Papua (KNPB), has told AAP that large numbers of people have begun leaving Jayapura and Manokwari in Papua, fearing a backlash from security forces at rallies planned for Thursday.

As Indonesia remains off limits to foreign journalists, the report could not be confirmed.

In the letter to Mr Rudd, Human Rights Watch and the Human Rights Law Centre raise concerns about the likelihood of a repeat of last month's violence as well as the use of excessive force by the police and military.

The letter calls on Mr Rudd to urge the Indonesian government to allow full and free access of journalists to Papua and to deploy Australian embassy staff to monitor and observe events on December 1.

The human rights organisations say there should also be a full and impartial investigation into the deaths and injuries, and allegations of excessive use of force by the authorities, arising from the demonstration in Abepura on October 19.

But the letter also criticises the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty who had described the actions of the protesters at the rally as provocative.

"In our view, a clear and firm public statement on Australia's position on human rights in the area is critical, especially since there is a real risk that Australian Ambassador Greg Moriarty's recent reference to the actions of Papuan People's Congress leaders as illegal, provocative and counterproductive may otherwise be interpreted as supporting a government crackdown on the congress," the letter said.

Mr Moriarty, however, had also pointed to the response by Indonesian security forces as being disproportionate.

The letter to Mr Rudd also questions Australia's funding and training of Indonesia's elite anti-terrorism squad Densus 88, members of which were among the security forces present at the rally on October 19.

"Australia plays a critical leadership role on human rights in Asia and the Pacific and should take a principled and proactive stand on human rights with a key partner like Indonesia," the two human rights organisations said.

Indonesia has been battling a long-running but low-level insurgency since its takeover of Papua in 1969.

However, the security situation has deteriorated in recent months with the province experiencing its worst violence in years.

Figures from Indonesia's Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence show at least 40 people have been killed as a result of the violence since the beginning of July.

Australia must act to protect human rights in Papua: Joint letter from HRLC and Human Rights Watch

The Australian Government should take a leadership role in promoting and protecting human rights in the troubled Indonesian province of West Papua say two leading human rights organizations in a Joint Letter to the Foreign Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP.

Ahead of the 50th anniversary this Friday of the first raising of the West Papuan ‘Morning Star’ flag, the Human Rights Law Centre and Human Rights Watch have called on Minister Rudd to publically and unequivocally condemn the excessive use of force and suppression of peaceful protest and also deploy Australian embassy staff to Papua to monitor and observe anticipated events to mark the anniversary.

“Australia must unequivocally support the human rights of all persons to freedom of expression, association and assembly,” said Tom Clarke from the Human Rights Law Centre. “It is not in Australia’s strategic interest to have a festering human rights problem on our doorstep.”

“The default policy of successive Australian Governments has seemingly been to politely look the other way while human rights abuses occurred on our doorstep. This approach desperately needs rethinking. The problem of violence and repression in West Papua needs to be acknowledged and addressed,” Mr Clarke said.

This published, http://www.hrlc.org.au/content/australia/

The ‘Morning Star’ flag was first raised in 1961 when West Papua was moving towards independence with assistance from its colonial Dutch Government and the Australian Government. By this time, Papua already had its own government officials. However, in 1962 a chain of events eventually led to Indonesia taking control of Papua and well documented military violence and human rights abuses have plagued the province since. Today Papuans face imprisonment for simply raising the ‘Morning Star’ flag.

The letter urges Minister Rudd to call for a full and impartial investigation into recent use of force, including fatal force, by Indonesian police and military forces on a peaceful assembly on 19 October. The attacks on the Third Papuan People’s Congress resulted in at least three protesters being killed, at least 90 being injured and approximately 300 arrested.

“The West Papuan people do not enjoy the types of basic rights that we take for granted here in Australia. The right to meet to discuss ideas and express political beliefs are severely curtailed in West Papua. The international media is heavily restricted in travelling to Papua and reporting on events there. We are concerned that without international attention being focused on West Papua, human rights abuses are likely to continue,” Mr Clarke said.

The letter also requests that Minister Rudd urge the Indonesian Government to release all persons detained in Papua for the peaceful expression of their political views, including Filep Karma who the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention advises should be immediately released.

“Minister Rudd should follow US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton’s lead and directly raise concerns with Indonesia about the violence and abuse of human rights in West Papua. If he has a ‘special relationship’ with Indonesia, now is the time to make the most of it and, as a friend, help Indonesia meet the commitments that it’s signed up to under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” Mr Clarke said.

The Human Rights Law Centre will be hosting a public seminar in Melbourne with Human Rights Watch’s Elaine Pearson looking at this and other human rights issues in Asia on Wednesday 7 December. Further details can be found online here.

For further comments from HRLC: contact Tom Clarke on tom.clarke@hrlc.org.au or 0422 545 763

For comments from HRW: contact Phil Robertson on RobertP@hrw.org or +66 85 060 8406

Dia Mencium Bau Surga

Di dalam sebuah hadits yang bersumber dari Abu Hurairah rhodiyallaahu ‘anhu, Rasululllah shollallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam pernah bersabda, " Ada tujuh golongan orang yang mendapat naungan Allah pada hari tiada naungan selain dari naunganNya... diantaranya, seorang pemuda yang tumbuh dalam melakukan ketaatan kepada Allah."

Dan di dalam sebuah hadits shohih yang berasal dari Anas bin an-Nadhr rhodiyallaahu ‘anhu, ketika perang Uhud ia berkata,"Wah .... angin surga, sunguh aku telah mencium wangi surga yang berasal dari balik gunung Uhud."

Seorang Doktor bercerita kepadaku, " Pihak rumah sakit menghubungiku dan memberitahukan bahwa ada seorang pasien dalam keadaaan kritis sedang dirawat. Ketika aku sampai, ternyata pasien tersebut adalah seorang pemuda yang sudah meninggal - semoga Allah merahmatinya -. Lantas bagaimana detail kisah wafatnya. Setiap hari puluhan bahkan ribuan orang meninggal. Namun bagaimana keadaan mereka ketika wafat? Dan bagaimana pula dengan akhir hidupnya?

Pemuda ini terkena peluru nyasar, dengan segera kedua orang tuanya -semoga Allah membalas segala kebaikan mereka- melarikannya ke rumah sakit militer di Riyadh. Di tengah perjalanan, pemuda itu menoleh kepada ibu bapaknya dan sempat berbicara. Tetapi apa yang ia katakan? Apakah ia menjerit dan mengerang sakit? Atau menyuruh agar segera sampai ke rumah sakit? Ataukah ia marah dan jengkel ? Atau apa?

Orang tuanya mengisahkan bahwa anaknya tersebut mengatakan kepada mereka, ‘Jangan khawatir! Saya akan meninggal ... tenanglah ... sesungguhnya aku mencium wangi surga.!' Tidak hanya sampai di sini saja, bahkan ia mengulang-ulang kalimat tersebut di hadapan para dokter yang sedang merawat. Meskipun mereka berusaha berulang-ulang untuk menyelamatkannya, ia berkata kepada mereka, ‘Wahai saudara-saudara, aku akan mati, maka janganlah kalian menyusahkan diri sendiri... karena sekarang aku mencium wangi surga.'

Kemudian ia meminta kedua orang tuanya agar mendekat lalu mencium keduanya dan meminta maaf atas segala kesalahannya. Kemudian ia mengucapkan salam kepada saudara-saudaranya dan mengucapkan dua kalimat syahadat, ‘Asyhadu alla ilaha illallah wa asyhadu anna Muhammadar rasulullah' Ruhnya melayang kepada Sang Pencipta subhanahu wa ta'ala.

Allahu Akbar ... apa yang harus aku katakan dan apa yang harus aku komentari...Semua kalimat tidak mampu terucap ... dan pena telah kering di tangan... Aku tidak kuasa kecuali hanya mengulang dan mengingat Firman Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, " Allah meneguhkan (iman) orang-orang yang beriman dengan ucapan yang teguh itu dalam kehidupan di dunia dan akhirat." (Ibrahim : 27)
Tidak ada yang perlu dikomentari lagi.

Ia melanjutkan kisahnya,
"Mereka membawa jenazah pemuda tersebut untuk dimandikan. Maka ia dimandikan oleh saudara Dhiya' di tempat pemandian mayat yang ada di rumah sakit tersebut. Petugas itu melihat beberapa keanehan yang terakhir. Sebagaimana yang telah ia ceritakan sesudah shalat Magrib pada hari yang sama.

1. Ia melihat dahinya berkeringat. Dalam sebuah hadits shahih Rasulullaah Shallallaahu ‘alahi wasallam bersabda, "Sesungguhnya seorang mukmin meninggal dengan dahi berkeringat". Ini merupakan tanda-tanda khusnul khatimah.
2. Ia katakan tangan jenazahnya lunak demikian juga pada persendiannya seakan-akan dia belum mati. Masih mempunyai panas badan yang belum pernah ia jumpai sebelumnya semenjak ia bertugas memandikan mayat. Pada tubuh orang yang sudah meninggal itu (biasanya-red) dingin, kering dan kaku.
3. Telapak tangan kanannya seperti seorang yang membaca tasyahud yang mengacungkan jari telunjuknya mengisyaratkan ketauhidan dan persaksiannya, sementara jari-jari yang lain ia genggam.

Subhanalllah ... Sungguh indah kematian seperti itu. Kita memohon semoga Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala menganugrahkan kita khusnul khatimah.
Saudara-saudara tercinta ... kisah belum selesai...

Saudara Dhiya' bertanya kepada salah seorang pamannya, apa yang ia lakukan semasa hidupnya? Tahukah anda apa jawabnya?

Apakah anda kira ia menghabiskan malamnya dengan berjalan-jalan di jalan raya?
Atau duduk di depan televisi untuk menyaksikan hal-hal yang terlarang? Atau ia tidur pulas hingga terluput mengerjakan shalat? Atau sedang meneguk khamr, narkoba dan rokok? Menurut anda apa yang telah ia kerjakan? Mengapa ia dapatkan husnul khatimah (insyaAllah -red) yang aku yakin bahwa saudara pembaca pun mengidam-ngidamkann ya; meninggal dengan mencium wangi surga.

Ayahnya berkata, "Ia selalu bangun dan melaksanakan shalat malam sesanggupnya. Ia juga membangunkan keluarga dan seisi rumah agar dapat melaksanakan shalat Shubuh berjama'ah. Ia gemar menghafal al-Qur'an dan termasuk salah seorang siswa yang berprestasi di SMU."

Aku katakan, "Maha benar Allah" yang berfirman (yang artinya-red)

"Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang mengatakan: ‘Rabb kami ialah Allah' kemudian mereka meneguhkan pendirian mereka, maka malaikat akan turun kepada mereka (dengan mengatakan): ‘Janganlah kamu takut dan janganlah kamu merasa sedih; dan bergembiralah kamu dengan (memperoleh) surga yang telah dijanjikan Allah kepadamu.' Kamilah pelindungmu dalam kehidupan dunia dan di akhirat; di dalamnya kamu memperoleh apa yang kamu inginkan dan memperoleh (pula) di dalamnya apa yang kamu minta. Sebagai hidangan (bagimu) dari (Rabb) Yang Maha Pengampun lagi Maha Penyayang." (Fhushilat:30- 32)

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Diambil dari : Serial Kisah Teladan Karya Muhammad bin Shalih Al-Qahthani, sebagaimana yang dinukil dari Qishash wa ‘Ibar karya Doktor Khalid al-Jabir.

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