The Jakarta Globe: Michael Victor Sianipar |
Efforts by the government to insert itself more prominently into religious matters, coupled with its unclear stance on the role of religion in the state, will only exacerbate interreligious tensions in the country, leading rights activists warn.
Veteran human rights activist Todung Mulya Lubis, speaking at a discussion on religious freedom last week, said the state’s constitutional mandate to protect religious freedom lacks executive implementation, as highlighted in the case of the GKI Yasmin church in Bogor, West Java, that remains sealed off in direct violation of a Supreme Court ruling to reopen it.
“The conclusion is very simple — that sometimes the state exists and sometimes it doesn’t,” he said. “In some cases, the state’s presence can be strongly felt, and in other cases it’s non-existent.” Read more
We agree with the statement that in some cases, the state’s presence can be strongly felt, and in other cases its non-existent.
During last week there were many positive statements regarding Ahmadiyyah Community from various government and non government officials including the Deputy Religious Affairs minister and high officials of NU as well as Moahammadiyyah organizations.
The very next day the Ahmadiyyah Mosque in Banjar was sealed by the municipal govt. And no one uttered a word.
It is important that high level officials do have courage and consistency in their words and actions if they are really sincere in maintaining peace and harmony in Indonesia.