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Children playing at the Transito Dormitory, Mataram, Lombok, Saturday (23/7/2022) (Suara.com/Toni Hermawan)
SuaraBali.id – The sun began to set on the western horizon, children began to arrive to enliven the small field at the Transito Dormitory , Mataram , Lombok . The ball that was quite old began to be thrown, the laughter and applause became one on a dusty field.
Milati Istiqomah Fajarini, a teenager who is currently in junior high school in the city of Mataram, has a story that she will remember as an adult. This is about his daily life when the afternoon picks up the night, in the hostel field where he and his family feel the ups and downs as refugees.
A net began to be stretched to divide the team in playing volleyball. The players are quite diverse, ranging from the category of children to adults so that they become one on the field.
“Every afternoon, sometimes they play volleyball with the dormitory children, sometimes they come from outside the complex,” said Milati to Suara.com, Saturday (23/7/2022).
Becoming a refugee from the Ahmadiyya congregation , may not be his desire. However, he admitted that he was happy to be able to gather and play with his friends outside the Transito Dormitory complex.
“Almost every day playing,” he said.
Milati also admitted that she was comfortable studying at her school. Because in the school environment accepted by teachers and other students.
“No one is mocking at school, my mother’s message is that if someone is teasing , do n’t ignore it,” said this brown-skinned woman.
If homesickness strikes, Milati will ask to be delivered to her relatives’ homes in East Lombok. Although in a relatively short time, the longing can be cured.
“Sometimes when I’m done with Eid, I go there or take a semester break,” admits, who has lived in Transito Dormitory since he was a child.
Homesick
For almost 20 years, Ahmadiyah refugees have lived in Transito Dormitory, Mataram, Lombok. It took quite a long time, the refugees also longed to gather and meet their families in their homeland.
One of the refugees, Munawaroh admitted that he missed his homeland in Sawing Village, Majidi Village, Selong District, East Lombok (Lotim).
However, in 2002, Munawarah still remembers the expulsion carried out by the anti-Ahmadiyya community. In order to save his life and continue living, he had to leave his homeland and take refuge in the Lotim Police Station for some time.
Not quite there, he had to move and contract before moving to Transito refugees.
“Previously we rented here and there and just moved to Transito, if we calculate that we have been here for 20 years,” Munawaroh admitted when met at the refugee camp , Saturday (23/7/2022).
Munawaroh shared his deep longing, because in Lotim he had to leave a house measuring 11×10 meters with a land area of six acres. Not only the house, he had to leave his mother for decades.
“The house is now rented out,” he said.
But now he feels quite relieved because if there is a celebration and family needs in Lotim, he and his two children can visit his hometown.
However, if the celebrations and necessities have been completed, he must return to the refuge which resembles a row of boarding houses. Each room measures 3×3 square meters.
“If you say I miss you, I miss (my hometown) the name is also that the placenta is there”, he complained.
He dreams of having a desire to own a private house such as a BTN (subsidized house). Because if you go back to your hometown, you have to start from scratch.
“Hoping to get out of here when the kids grow up”, he dreamed.
In line with that, Nur Aini also admitted that she missed her homeland in Selong, Selong District, Lotim.
This mother of four has to raise her baby in the refugee camp. Why not, before going to Transito you also have to live in a rented house.
“I’m here since 2006,” he said.
Even though she lives in a refugee camp, Aini is grateful that her first child can continue her education up to college.
“They all go to school,” he said.
Aini also admits that she often visits her hometown. Although in a fairly short time. Over time, some of the refugees assisted by their families lived outside the city.
These refugees also hope that one day their lives will change for the better, experience a society without prejudice and the realization of a dream to return to their friends in their hometown.
Contributor: Toni Hermawan
Categories: Ahmadi Muslim Women (Lajna Imaillah), Ahmadis, Ahmadiyyat: True Islam, Asia, Indonesia