Christian Solidarity Worldwide has expressed renewed concern about
continuing violations of religious freedom in Indonesia following the
sentencing of the perpetrators of violence against the Ahmadiyah
community, new threats to Christians and developing tensions in West
Papua.
CSW, in a news release, says it “regards these sentences
as astonishingly lenient, and believes it calls into question the
integrity of Indonesia’s judicial system.”
The organization met with survivors of the violence
that claimed three lives in may.
One man told CSW, “When the
attackers caught me, they stripped me naked on the road, dragged me
through a river, beat me with sticks and machetes and tried to cut off
my penis. They bashed stones on my head, and dragged me around the
village. One man used a bamboo spear to hit my eye. They shouted that I
was an ‘infidel’ and should be killed. I lost consciousness.”
In
addition, the World Evangelical Alliance’s Religious Liberty Commission
on Friday warned that the GKI Yasmin Church in Bogor, West Java, may
face mass violence if continuing tensions are not addressed.
In a
separate development, the Chairman of the Fellowship of Baptist
Churches of Papua, Rev. Socratez Sofyan Yoman, has issued an “urgent
report” claiming that churches in West Papua are coming under increasing
threat from the Indonesian Military (TNI), the statement said.
On
April 30, 2011 the Regional Military Commander, Maj. Gen.Erfi
Triassunu, accused the Church of Papua Gospel Tent (KINGMI) of
supporting the Free Papua movement, the statement continues.
“The
churches claim that since 2004, military operations in Puncak Jaya have
resulted in the destruction of churches and homes, and killing of
civilians, including at least one pastor.”
Rev. Socratez
describes these as “humanitarian crimes” making Puncak Jaya “the most
cruel and inhuman place.”
He made an appeal to the international
community to encourage the Indonesian government to stop the violence.
“We
call and plead with governments, members of Parliament, … churches,
non-governmental organizations … to support peaceful unconditional
dialogue between the government of Indonesia and the Papuans, mediated
by a neutral third party.”
CSW’s Advocacy Director Andrew
Johnston says he was concerned by the developments in Indonesia, which
has a proud tradition of pluralism, tolerance, and religious freedom and
harmony.
“The shockingly lenient sentences imposed on the
perpetrators of some of the worst anti-minority violence in recent years
raises serious questions about the integrity of Indonesia’s justice
system, and gives the extremists a green light to continue their
campaign of hatred. It leaves religious minorities throughout Indonesia,
not only in West Java, and not only the Ahmadiyah community, vulnerable
and defenseless,” he said.
“Indonesia’s President, Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, and his government must now take meaningful action to
uphold the rule of law, strengthen the independence of the judiciary,
provide protection to religious minorities, enter into dialogue with the
Papuan people, and ensure that justice and human rights are protected
for all.”
Comments
I am moving my company out of the country. Sorry well paid Indonesian staff, hope you like what radicalism offers you. Best of luck with the Sharia Law, sounds like one big fantastic party!
Well, it's not just me who's thinking about picking up his junk and moving somewhere that is not Indonesia. A quick little informal poll under my foreigner buddies (9 of them, all told) got me:
2 "I am moving, it's being worked on"
1 "Huh?"
3 "I'm making some backup plans yes"
3 "I'm waiting and seeing"
Personally, I like Indonesia, but at the rate things are going, there's a meltdown coming, and I'm not planning for my wife, kid, or me, to be part of it.
Gentlemen + Ladies!
Let us ALL acknowledge the fact that this is a country where majority are Muslims, Please show me a nation in this world with similar conditions where Justice for ALL prevails.
There will be morons on this board who will not like what I said above simply because the TRUTH hurts!
We can all write as much as our hearts want us to until our faces turn blue/black but the "BROTHERHOOD' will always win..........the MAJORITY!
This is why they are "pumping" into the minds of students as early as during their time during kindergarten.
Why was relocation promoted?
Why was family planning not promoted?
Why is it so hard for other religious building to be built?
There mare many more "whys."
For me, Indonesia is a love and hate situation.
can we say Indonesia is the US deep South of the 1950s? lynch mobs, beatings - light sentences for crimes against minorities. but why don't indonesians take their country back from idiots?
"Proving once again, this country's justice is a joke.
I'm in love with the system, always all alone.
I'm in love with the system, never going home. "
Padt, my hat is off to you. You managed to nail my feelings eloquently. More power to your typing elbows!
I agree we are de facto now an Islamic state - sooner or later the world will realise this and investments will dwindle except in our resourses Sooner or later we will see escalations of violence seen in all other Islamic states - Not a pround time to be Indonesian I am told - the silent moderate majority???.... Really? Where?
If I may add one other point to my comment below. What this court outcome, which has upset and frightened a lot of people, illustrates is clearly this - Indonesian hasn't declared itself. Indonesia does not have a clear identity. Indonesia doesn't know who Indonesia is, or Indonesia is being manipulated by forces which seeks to trade on ambiguity, confusion and religious and political agendas - and as a result, some people use this confusion to seek advantages for Muslims. Is Indonesia a secular democratic country with humane laws in place to protect people, especially those who need the most protection, or is Indonesia, ipso facto, because of the majority of Muslims in the place, a theocratic state governed by the Koran and not really governed by a legal code which is separate from religious views and religious legalism?
Clearly - it is apparent to anyone that the answer is the second view.
Indonesia is, ipso facto, a theocratic state guaranteeing the rights and pre-eminence of the Muslim majority and, by violence, intimidation, stealth, or political cynicism, increasingly forcing a Muslim mentality and legalism on the entire population.
Religious beliefs were on trial here - not men accused of murder.
The limits of intolerance were on trial here - not a human being's right to life and liberty, including religious freedom.
Human decency as opposed to religious omnipotence, the will for power and internalised religious obsessive behaviour were on trial here.
These things are not on trial in democracies which clearly have separation of 'church'(including 'mosque') and State.
Indonesia despite all the rhetoric, is clearly not such a democratic country. Everyone in the country is under at least the mindset of Sharia Law.
I was unaware that that was or is the intention and spirit of the Constitution and the Founding Fathers of this country.
I am wondering why people are appalled that these people who killed other people in the name of Islam received light sentences. I am surprised that they received any sentences at all. Why? Because what they did - according to the Koran and Islamic belief and practice - is permissible and the will of Allah. They went and did what the Koran told them to do. It's as simple as that. People can state that Islam is ONLY a religion of peace until they are blue in the face. The fact is, Islam is ALSO a religion of violence.
Some Muslims live their lives peacefully because that approach can be found in the Koran. At the same time, some Muslims take up the sword and live their lives and practice their faith with violence, intolerance, oppression and the destruction of property - and that is also a valid way of living out the teachings of Islam. 'Valid' that is - according to the Muslim mindset.
The question any rational person will ask is - But is the Muslim mindset valid, reasonable and humane?
Simply asking that question in some parts of the Muslim world would be enough to have you killed.
No matter how appalled I am at these events and the behaviour and mindset of the people connected with them - the people who did the killing, the prosecutors, the judges, the police, the government of Indonesia, the Muslim religious leaders, the people outside the courts, and every Muslim in this country and elsewhere in the world - it is a fact that there is Muslim justification for them because Muslim belief not only allow such deeds to be done - but demands it.
That's ultimately what appalls me - such a violent, degrading understanding of God claimed by people who say they and they alone know who God is and what God wants.
Do they?