President Joko Widodo has urged authorities to act firmly against whosoever violates the freedom of religion.
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Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta
Muslims and members of the National Awakening Party (PKB) stage a peaceful rally at a crosswalk on Jl. Polisi Istimewa in Surabaya on Monday (12/2). They condemned an attack against a pastor and congregation at Santa Lidwina Church in Sleman, Yogyakarta.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – No one has the right to violate others’ freedom of religion, as this is a constitutional right. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has urged authorities to act firmly against whosoever violates the freedom of religion.
The President reaffirmed this after opening the Working Meeting of Indonesian Representatives Abroad on Monday (12/2) at the Foreign Ministry’s Pancasila Building in Jakarta.
“We need to understand that our constitution guarantees the freedom of religion. Therefore, [we] must provide neither space nor support for people committing, fostering or spreading intolerance,” the President said.
President Jokowi said that the Indonesian community, with its diverse beliefs and faiths, had been living in harmony for decades. This harmony must not be undermined by a handful of intolerant individuals.
Therefore, the President urged that the Constitution be upheld consistently. “Once more, there is no place in this country, in Indonesia, for whosoever is incapable of tolerance – let alone those who use violence [to show their intolerance]. You may not even voice intolerant opinions, let alone use violence,” the President said.
A series of attacks on religious leaders have taken place in the last two weeks. Most recently were the assaults on pesantren (Islamic boarding school) figure KH Umar Basri in Cicalengka, Bandung, and on Persatuan Islam (Persis) figure HR Prawoto, also in Bandung, which caused his death.
In South Tangerang, Banten, a Buddhist monk was subjected to intimidation. In Sleman, Yogyakarta, a man attacked a Catholic priest and his congregation during Sunday mass at St Lidwina Church.
These incidents have occurred ahead of the simultaneous elections in 171 regions this June. The campaign period will soon begin. Meanwhile, the first stage of the 2019 legislative and presidential elections will commence later this year.
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto said that the government was committed to ensuring orderly, safe and smooth regional elections. The government and law enforcement will safeguard the electoral process and prevent it from being smeared by improper behavior, black campaigns and hate speeches that abuse ethnic, religious, racial and intergroup sentiments.
In order to prevent further persecution of and attacks on diverse religious people, the Interfaith Communication Forum (FKUB), the Home Ministry and the National Police will intensify their communication and coordination. “All Indonesians have the right to be protected in practicing religion in line with their personal beliefs and faiths,” Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said.
Victims recovering
The victims of the Yogyakarta church attack are recovering. The medical team overseeing their treatment estimated that the victims needed two weeks at the hospital to fully recover.
On Monday, pastor Karl-Edmund Prier and Yohanes Triyanto were still in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Panti Rapih Hospital in Yogyakarta. Another victim, Budijono, who was treated in the ICU, has been transferred to a general inpatient room.
Panti Rapih Hospital president director Teddy Janong said that both Prier and Triyanto were in stable condition. “In one or two days, when the anesthetics observation is over, they can be moved to a regular room,” Teddy said.
In response to the attack on St Lidwina Church, many social groups in Yogyakarta gathered together to fight interreligious intolerance. At least 32 community groups based in and around Yogyakarta are demanding law enforcement to be strict in resolving cases of intolerance.
The gathering’s initiator and House of Representatives Commission X member, Esti Wijayanti, said that persecuting religious leaders was a crime against humanity and a national tragedy.
In Surabaya, members of the local branch of the National Awakening Party (PKB) gathered on Monday in a rally in a show of solidarity in response to the recent attacks on religious leaders.
They put up posters saying “Indonesia Tidak Takut” (“Indonesia is Not Afraid”), “Bukan Orang Beragama jika Tidak Menghargai Sesama” (“You Are Not Religious if You Don’t Value Others”) and a number of other messages.
