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SBY vows to address religious intolerance upon receiving international award
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono: (AP/Jason DeCrow)Strident protests did not deter President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono from accepting the World Statesmen Award from New York-based interfaith organization the Appeal of Conscience Foundation (ACF) as he vowed to maintain harmony in society and address incidents of religious intolerance
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Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono: (AP/Jason DeCrow) (AP/Jason DeCrow)
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono: (AP/Jason DeCrow)
Strident protests did not deter President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono from accepting the World Statesmen Award from New York-based interfaith organization the Appeal of Conscience Foundation (ACF) as he vowed to maintain harmony in society and address incidents of religious intolerance.
In his speech on Thursday night New York time, he admitted that Indonesia still faced problems including 'intolerance, communal conflicts and radicalism'.
'As we move forward, we will not tolerate any act of senseless violence committed by any group in the name of religion,' he said. 'We will not allow any desecration of places of worship of any religion for whatever reason. We will always protect our minorities and ensure that no one suffers from discrimination.'
Yudhoyono, who has frequently been criticized for failing to uphold the law in such cases, also promised that he would 'make sure that those who violate the rights of others will face the arms of justice.'
He added that law enforcement alone was not enough. 'Hearts and minds have to be won. A culture of tolerance and an inclusive approach have to be constantly promoted.'
Yudhoyono said that people might be surprised to learn that there were actually 61,000 churches in Indonesia ' which he said was probably more than the number of churches in Great Britain and Germany ' and more than 255,000 mosques, 13,000 Hindu temples, 2,000 Buddhist temples, and over 1,300 Confucian temples.
Yet, incidents of religious intolerance in the country have increased steadily in the last four years, as reported by the Wahid Institute, which promotes pluralism and peaceful Islam. The report showed the number of religious intolerance cases in 2012 stood at 274, up from 267 in 2011. In 2010, the institute recorded 184 cases and 121 cases in 2009.
In its February report, New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Yudhoyono had been inconsistent in defending religious freedom. The report also said the government had been complicit in the persecution of religious minorities by failing to enforce laws and issuing regulations that breached minority rights.
Earlier in the evening, Yudhoyono said that 'statesmanship can be collective' and that he hoped for
'a harmonious society bonded in peace and prosperity'.
The Associated Press reported that Rabbi Arthur Schneier of the ACF implicitly noted the controversy, saying, 'You fully understand that the work is not complete. This is just a step in the right direction.'
The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) organized a peaceful protest outside The Pierre hotel where the event took place.
In Jakarta, Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) deputy chairman M. Choirul Anam discussed the President's failure to resolve injustices suffered by members of religious minorities in Indonesia.
'Yudhoyono didn't emphasize his firm commitment to upholding freedom of religion for all Indonesians regardless of their faiths,' he said. 'It's time for him to take real action to prove that he deserves such an award by amending all regulations discriminating against religious minorities.'
Bona Sigalingging of the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Yasmin in Bogor, West Java, demanded Yudhoyono return the award should he fail to order the Bogor administration to unseal her congregation's church building.
