UN tells RI to review laws restricting religious freedom

NATIONALWed, 05/18/2011 8:15 PM

UN tells RI to review laws restricting religious freedom

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay has urged Indonesia to review its laws restricting religious expression and practice.

In a letter sent to Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, a copy of which was obtained by The Jakarta Post on Wednesday, Pillay expressed his concern over reports of violence against members of religious minorities in Indonesia.

“I have been particularly disturbed by the widespread violence and discrimination reported against the Ahmadiyya community which has included the state-sanctioned closing of Ahmadi mosques, the burning of homes and places of worship, and even physical violence and murder,” Pillay wrote in his letter dated April 26.

Three Ahmadis were killed when Islamic hard-liners attacked a small Ahmadiyah community in Cikeusik, West Java, on Feb. 6 this year. Several local and provincial administrations have since issued decrees banning Ahmadiyah activities in their respective regions.

Pillay said reports had said that since the new regulations were issued, “further acts of harassment and violence have taken place”.

He pointed out that Indonesia had ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees the right to freedom of religion.

“Government at both national and provincial levels should comply with the guarantees contained in the Indonesian Constitution and in the international treaties in which Indonesia is a party. All laws, particularly those restricting religious expression and practice, should be reviewed to ensure they comply with these standards,” he said.

He also urged the Indonesian government to ensure the legal accountability of all perpetrators, including the imposition of penalties.

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved
URL: www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/05/18/un-tells...freedom.html

UN ‘Disturbed’ by Indonesia’s Religious Violence

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UN ‘Disturbed’ by Indonesia’s Religious Violence

Camelia Pasandaran & Cameron Bates | May 17, 2011

The United Nations has written to the Indonesian government expressing “concern” about the increasing number of reports about violence committed against religious minorities.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, says it is yet to receive a copy of the letter, dated April 26, 2011, from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay. The letter was also copied to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and a number of other Indonesia institutions.

Pillay also reveals a proposed visit by the UN’s special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief to visit Indonesia this year to investigate the allegations.

In the letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Jakarta Globe on Sunday, Pillay says she is writing to the Indonesian government to “express my concern over the large number of letters and reports I have received in recent months concerning violence against members of religious minorities in Indonesia.”

“I have been particularly disturbed by the widespread violence and discrimination reported against the [Ahmadiyah] community, which has included the state-sanctioned closing of Ahmadi mosques, the burning of homes and places of worship, and even physical violence and murder.”

Pillay said that since the violent attack that left three Ahmadi dead in Cikeusik, West Java, on Feb. 6, several government authorities had responded by issuing new regulations and decrees that allowed “further acts of harassment and violence” to occur.

Pillay also noted a number of other reported incidences of religious intolerance, including the ongoing stand-off between the Bogor government and the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Yasmin.

“Christian groups have reportedly been attacked and Christian churches have reportedly been burned in Gebyog, Klaten and Tegal in Central Java. In North Sumatra, a Buddhist community was ordered to dismantle a Buddha statue at a temple that was considered by some to be a challenge to Islam in that area.”

The commissioner said the incidents put at risk the human rights guaranteed in the Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Indonesia is a signatory.

“The General Assembly and Human Rights Council have repeatedly urges States to take all necessary and appropriate actions, in conformity with international human rights standards, to combat hatred, discrimination, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by intolerance based on religion or belief, as well as incitement to hostility and violence, with particular regard to members of religious minorities.”

Pillay said she understood that discussions were ongoing between the government, Komnas HAM, civil society and religious groups concerning the issue.

“I encourage the government of Indonesia to take this opportunity to support reflection and action at various levels to address the broader issues behind religious intolerance and discrimination.”

She said that laws that restricted religious expression and practise “must be reviewed to ensure they comply with these standards” and well as ensuring that justice was upheld against those found to have committed wrongdoing.

Pillay also “strongly encouraged” the government to accept a proposed visit by the United Nation’s special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief to visit Indonesia this year.

Rev. Ujang Tanusaputra of GKI Yasmin said the letter was “a bad assessment of Indonesia in the context of religious freedom.”

“As a nation that is based on [the state ideology] Pancasila with its motto Unity in Diversity, the government should uphold and implement the pillars of Indonesia.”

Copyright 2010 The Jakarta Globe
URL: www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/united-nations.../441540

US, Australia warn RI about growing intolerance

WORLD Thu, 02/24/2011 12:13 PM

US, Australia warn RI about growing intolerance

Zamzam Aden, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A United States congressman and Australian envoy as well as local and international experts expressed concerns over recent attacks on minority groups in Indonesia, warning that the attacks were a threat to freedom of expression.

US Congressman David Dreier, who met President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday to hold talks on bilateral issues, told a press conference on Tuesday that he was willing to discuss the recent attacks on Ahmadis if the issue came up.

“The burning of churches is something I believe is anathema to the idea of allowing freedom of expression, which I know the Indonesian government supports,” said Dreier.

“We’re not here to intervene in internal affairs, but I know there is a great concern about the whole situation of any kind of religious intolerance.”

Recent attacks on the minority Ahmadiyah Muslim sect involved the killing of three men in Cikeusik village, Banten province, and attacks on three churches in Temanggung, Central Java.

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty said he was appalled by the killings “but similarly many Indonesians were appalled by those killings and violence” and that he believed President Yudhoyono was committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice.

“We have to take the President’s words at face value,” said Moriarty

Yudhoyono should not wait too long to act said political expert Nasir Tamara.

“The state should not be absent. Indonesia is a democratic country and the state should protect its citizens, including religious minorities,” said Nasir.

On Monday, Ahmadiyah spokesman Zafrullah Pontoh rejected a government proposal to deem the sect a new religion.

Nasir said the government should not attempt to corner Ahmadiyah with the proposal, which in effect would forcefully eject Ahmadis from Islam.

“This is nothing new; everyone knew it would happen,” said Nasir.

A visiting Australian professor of the Australia-Indonesia Institute Board, David Hill, said that like other communities, Indonesia’s acceptance of different religious views had not been as successful as many would have hoped.

“Indonesia certainly faces considerable challenges in that regard, but what is clear to me is the forces of tolerance far outweigh the voice of intolerance.”

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved
URL: www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/02/24/us...intolerance.html