Feb. 3, p. 7
After reading several issues of The Jakarta Post these last few days, I have been feeling very disturbed. There have been reports on churches and a pastor’s home being burned allegedly by Muslim mobs. Yet the police were unable to arrest anybody on the pretext that it was done by a mob of people. The mobs had an excuse for burning the churches, on the pretext that the Christians did not have any permits to build the churches (Jan. 25, 2010 issue).
Amazingly, we have heard nothing of this news in the local papers. It is no surprise then that Indonesia wins praise from the United States for religious tolerance. Not only that, some local institutions believe that ethnic and religious issues are no longer the main conflict (Jan. 27, 2010 issue).
They say that the main issues are now politics, natural resources and corruption. That is why the government still thinks that there is no urgency to deal with issues of religious tolerance. However, what is being overlooked and undermined is that religious conflicts and radicalism are potential weapons to be used to obtain political and economic gain. We have seen this happening in Pakistan and Somalia.
(By Maya Safira Muchtar, Jakarta)
Your comments:
Rule of law should be upheld: no anarchy, no violence.
Darmadi
Surakarta
I simply don’t know what to say. It is sad, but it is the truth. I do hope that people soon realize the urgency of this matter and speak out loud. The media should give fair coverage to broadcasting such an important issue.
Stop risking our very country, since it is our responsibility to our founding fathers and our descendants. And simply remember that serving our nation is part of serving God. We have to serve God instead of serving “religion” or hungry religious leaders.
Zee
Medan
Love the people around you as you love your family at home. Stop destroying their places of worship, and stop the violence.
Lisinchia
Jakarta
Indeed, most of the general public still clings to the materialist ideology. Where number of masses, number of houses of worship, how often we do the rituals are being highlighted, rather than the essentials of religion which are to bring peace, love, and harmony to all human beings.
If the government doesn’t take swift action to stop such atrocities by the mob then Indonesia will probably fall prey to radicalism, as pointed out by the writer.
Fery
Jakarta
Yes, this is an urgent situation. Better to realize it and do something about it.
Gilang
Semarang
I am amazed how the US agency involved in the interfaith event here could make the kind of statement they made. The event, as reported by the Post, was attended by our friends from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah: religions for peace? It does not make sense at all. This is the news that the US delegation carries back to the White House, Hillary Clinton and President Obama. I hope the US Embassy here makes some notes and sends them to Washington.
Anand Krishna
Jakarta
I am still waiting for the outcry from the tolerant, educated Muslims of Indonesia. Why do they prefer to say nothing?
Edi Rey
Switzerland
If we (the government, the law enforcement and the people) had been learning and then, applying the values of Pancasila, the Constitution and state slogan of Unity in Diversity (Bhinneka Tunggal Ika) consistently, the situation today would never have happened.
Joehanesb
Jakarta
The government and authorities in Indonesia cannot even differentiate between the right to worship and a building permit for houses of worship. The right to worship is a basic human right, whereas if the building permit for a house of worship can’t be obtained for whatever reason, the right to worship isn’t automatically “revoked”.
Everybody, according to the Constitution and many laws ratifying international covenants on civil and political rights, has a right to worship according to his/her beliefs, and the government is obligated to guarantee the safety of people to pray and worship.
Johan
Jakarta
“It is no surprise then that Indonesia wins praise from the United States for religious tolerance.” In my very humble opinion, Madam, our government should verify that statement ... or even return the prize (if there is one!) for we are definitely not eligible for that title. Unfortunately, you are speaking the truth here, may our government stop pretending what is and what is not.
Icha
Townsville, Australia
The government is supposed to be aware of the threat of radicalism. Basically, these religious issues come from a misguided education. To avoid this problem, let’s begin to improve the education system from the very basic level. Do not teach any students that one religion is better than another.
Hento W
Jakarta
We do lack a sense of urgency. It is time to wake up!
Triwidodo
Semarang
What we need is to resolve the religious tolerance problems, not cover them up with praise from other countries. And what’s up with the local media? It is a business, I understand that, but, for God’s sake, these problems can happen to your family too.
What would you do if it happened to your family? Would you be still counting money for not publishing the news? We are still facing religious tolerance problems and now is the time to seek a resolution!
Face it! Don’t run away!
Aisanya
Jakarta
| 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|