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Government Still Unsure How to Resolve Ahmadiyah Issue
Camelia Pasandaran | April 7, 2011
The Indonesian government has admitted that it still does not know what to do about the Ahmadiyah Islamic sect.
The government was expected to announce the results of a national dialogue on the fate of the Ahmadi on Tuesday, but Coordinating Minister of People’s Welfare Agung Laksono said he was not able to comment.
“We accepted input from many sides, but we have not taken a stance: Whether to ban the organization, disband it or guide them,” Agung at the Vice Presidential Palace on Thursday.
“We haven’t decided anything,” he reiterated, “but to listen to input from various sides.”
Bowing to international criticisms that it was not doing enough to protect the persecuted minority, the government last month held four days of discussions with various government ministries and organizations.
Representatives of the Ahmadiyah were not present, arguing that the invitation was received late and that the Ministry of Religious Affairs was not a neutral venue to hold talks.
Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali has previously called for the sect to be banned, drawing condemnation from human rights organizations and calls for him to resign.
The government was expected to announce the results of a national dialogue on the fate of the Ahmadi on Tuesday, but Coordinating Minister of People’s Welfare Agung Laksono said he was not able to comment.
“We accepted input from many sides, but we have not taken a stance: Whether to ban the organization, disband it or guide them,” Agung at the Vice Presidential Palace on Thursday.
“We haven’t decided anything,” he reiterated, “but to listen to input from various sides.”
Bowing to international criticisms that it was not doing enough to protect the persecuted minority, the government last month held four days of discussions with various government ministries and organizations.
Representatives of the Ahmadiyah were not present, arguing that the invitation was received late and that the Ministry of Religious Affairs was not a neutral venue to hold talks.
Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali has previously called for the sect to be banned, drawing condemnation from human rights organizations and calls for him to resign.
Copyright 2010 The Jakarta Globe
URL: www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/government.../434072
URL: www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/government.../434072
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