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mid criticism of the city authorities’ friendly gestures towards Muslim hard-line groups, Governor Fauzi Bowo guaranteed Thursday the freedom to worship in Jakarta as part of his commitment to pluralism.

“The city administration is fully committed to pluralism and religious harmony and will not take even a step back from this commitment. Jakarta was built on diversi-ty,” Fauzi said at the City Hall following a meeting with members of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI).

He said he was satisfied with the state of religious harmony in the city in the last five years.

PGI Jakarta secretary Manuel E. Raintung echoed the governor’s statement, saying that the Interfaith Communication Forum (FKUB) in the city always held a weekly meeting involving religious figures from the six religions officially recognized by the government: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism.

“The communication between religious leaders is good and the FKUB members also have good relations with the city administration,” Manuel said.

However, he said, FKUB still faced problems communicating with the grass roots.

“We try to reach the people to inform them about religious harmony once a month,” Manuel said.

He said that at its upcoming plenary meeting, held once every five years, the PGI would discuss, among others, the creation of a democratic, fair and peaceful community.

The issue of religious intolerance has become a key topic for public discussion following several attacks on religious minorities by members of some Islamic mass organizations.

In the latest attack, hundreds of local residents and members of the Islamic Community Forum (FUI), an affiliate of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), assaulted the congregation of the HKBP church in Pondok Timur Indah housing complex at Mustika Jaya subdistrict, Bekasi, eastern Jakarta, last Sunday.

A day earlier, Fauzi and Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Timur Pradopo attended the FPI’s 12th anniversary celebrations.

Last Monday, city police invited several hard-line groups to a ceremony where evidence that had been confiscated during a recent operation against vice, piracy and narcotics crimes was destroyed.

Public Order Agency head Effendi Anas clarified Thursday that no mass organizations would be involved in city security issues including in raiding entertainment establishments during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

“There are only three institutions with the authority to monitor entertainment venue: the Public Order Agency, the Jakarta Tourism Agency and the Jakarta Police,” Effendi said, adding that the administration would not allow mass organizations to take part in raids.

Public order officers will monitor entertainment centers in the city from 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. every day. (not)