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Indonesian Christians Protest Over Intimidation
January 29, 2012

An Indonesian priest gestures during a Sunday mass outside the presidential palace in Jakarta. Hundreds of Christian worshipers held a Sunday mass outside the presidential palace in Jakarta calling President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to allow them the right to worship at their church in Bogor which they claimed had been sealed off by local authorities. (AFP Photo/Adek Berry) An Indonesian priest gestures during a Sunday mass outside the presidential palace in Jakarta. Hundreds of Christian worshipers held a Sunday mass outside the presidential palace in Jakarta calling President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to allow them the right to worship at their church in Bogor which they claimed had been sealed off by local authorities. (AFP Photo/Adek Berry)
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justapasserby
3:42pm Jan 31, 2012

This is a purely legal matter. Bogor Mayor have a right under law to revoke any building permit, for reasons like false document or even something vague like "in the interest of keeping the peace" (when faced by opposition). Usually everywhere else both side sit down and talk, try to find a solution that satisfy everyone. But this particular church is so stubborn in not even want to hear other people's opinion. The city have offered them alternative sites where they will be more welcome. They also offered a building as a temporary prayer space until the new church is built at the new location. But of course the church people insist on praying on the sidewalk, thereby angering local people even more due to their disruption of traffic etc. They tried to pit government officials against each other, which they failed to do (everyone from local citi staff, local parliament, governor, up to ministers all back the mayor. I wonder why. Are they all bigot? #sarcasm#).

jchay
10:04am Jan 31, 2012

Agree with @TsimShaTsui, the passive and silence of the so-called majority peace-loving moderate Indonesian Muslims only solidify as the Seal of Approval for all mobs violence (damage, burn, kill) and treason by radical groups such as FPI - who claims to represent the TRUE Islam!

Seriously, if that bold claim is wrong, then FPI must be a Blasphemy against Islam! But as we see now, all Indonesian Muslims, including Mr President, agree that FPI is Islam. And Allah is great!

TsimShaTsui
4:59am Jan 31, 2012

...intimidation by muslim hardliner. Where will the softliner stand? Supporting hardliner in silent? There is no what so called hardliner or softliner. There is only muslim. Islam is the only religion that creates hatred in the heart of so many people, both of its follower and its victim. Allah is great!

billjayman
4:04pm Jan 30, 2012

Interesting that in this Christian "protest" they prayed and sang hymns... Not quite the same during any of the Muslim protests I've read or heard about recently. Such as the torching of churches, physical attacks, intimidation and so forth.

Valkyrie
3:45pm Jan 30, 2012

muffinman....

I have to support your remarks as I too live in Bogor, but have not experienced your unpleasant encounter. However, having said that, I do believe that they are trying really hard to remove all 'fakirs' in this district.

I am surrounded by many very nice folks who apparently do not concern themselves or give a 'hoot' if I am not one of them.

Thus, in my mind, 'they' are definitely organizing and we know what.

It's truly sad.

@ gaungs...

Wake up from your slumber. I have a feeling you are too lazy to think correctly.


Indonesian Christians held a prayer vigil in Jakarta on Sunday urging President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to re-open their church and stop intimidation by Muslim hardliners.

About 200 people, mostly members of the Taman Yasmin Indonesian Christian Church, prayed and sang hymns outside the state palace.

“We hope the president will protect us from harassment by radical groups and re-open the church which is legally ours so we can conduct worship,” the group’s spokeswoman Dwiati Novita Rini told AFP.

The Christians have been forced to hold services on the pavement outside their church in Bogor city, south of Jakarta, after its permit was revoked in 2008, Rini said.

“But the Supreme Court overturned the decision in December 2010 and ordered for the church to be re-opened. The Bogor city administration however refused to comply,” she added.

The congregation has since moved their weekly service to a house near a church but faced intimidation and verbal abuse from Muslim hardliners, Rini said.

“A few dozen would harass us every weekend. But last Sunday, hundreds intimidated us with sticks and rocks and shouted at us to leave,” she added.

Although the constitution explicitly guarantees freedom of religion and the country of some 240 million people, laws make it difficult for faiths other than Islam to establish houses of worship.

Rights groups say religious intolerance is on the rise in Indonesia, which has the world’s biggest Muslim majority, citing the persecution of the minority Muslim Ahmadiyah sect and the torching of churches.

Amnesty International last Wednesday called on the government to guarantee the safety of the congregation and conduct “prompt, independent and impartial” investigations into reports of intimidation.

It also urged the government to ensure the Bogor city authorities immediately comply with the court’s ruling to re-open the church.

Agence France-Presse