Note: According to ABC’s Indonesia correspondent Adam Harvey (@adharves), who spoke to Rais’ family, there was and is no eviction threat against them. We’ll update on the story if and when we receive more information.
The tragedy of last week’s attack on Thamrin, Central Jakarta, extends far beyond those killed or injured at the scene. The family of deceased victim Rais Karna is facing even more hardships following the departure of their beloved husband and father.
Rais, 37, left behind a wife, Laili Herlina, and two children, aged 5 and 2. Instead of receiving sympathy from their landlord, they were allegedly requested to vacate their home in Bogor because the landlord thought Rais was one of the suspects responsible for last week’s terrorist attack.
“Rais was never late in rent payment every month. His wife and two children are living in my house for the time being,” said Rais’ mother, Neneng, as quoted by Kompas yesterday.
Rais’ neighbor, Mujiono, said he was disappointed that the landlord would want to evict Rais’ family.
“I was so shocked when I heard that Rais’ family was going to be kicked out from the house. Rais was a good person, not a terrorist. The landlord should have been more understanding,” he said.
The landlord supposedly gave Rais’ family a 3-day notice to vacate the house. The landlord was not available to be reached for comment, and it’s not known if the eviction still stands despite confirmation from the police that Rais was indeed not one of the suspects in last week’s attack.
Eight people, including all four attackers, died as a result of explosions and gunfire in Thamrin, Central Jakarta last Thursday. Rais was one of the four innocent victims who sadly was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
