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Issue of the day: President SBY accepts statesman award
The high-profile awardee: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (center) gives remarks after being presented with a World Statesman Award by former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger (left) and Appeal of Conscience Foundation (ACF) president Rabbi Arthur Schneier on May 30 in New York
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span class="inline inline-center">The high-profile awardee: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (center) gives remarks after being presented with a World Statesman Award by former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger (left) and Appeal of Conscience Foundation (ACF) president Rabbi Arthur Schneier on May 30 in New York. AP/Jason DeCrow
May 31, Online/AP
The President has accepted a statesmanship award from a US interfaith foundation that encouraged him to promote freedom of worship and tolerance in the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation.
Human rights groups and religious organizations were appalled by Thursday's award, saying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has done too little to suppress a rising tide of violence against minority faiths.
Rabbi Arthur Schneier with the Appeal of Conscience Foundation (ACF) implicitly noted the controversy, saying, 'You fully understand that the work is not complete. This is just a step in the right direction.'
Yudhoyono, who did not mention religious rights, accepted the award in the name of all of Indonesia, saying 'statesmanship can be collective'. He said he hoped for 'a harmonious society founded in peace and prosperity.'
Your comments:
The foundation that granted the award is an international organization, which should have set the criteria for awardees. We do not know the criteria.
As we know that President Yudhoyono has successfully made peace in Aceh even though most Acehnese feel that they have been cheated again. However, Yudhoyono deserves the award.
Syarwan Ahmad
I am speechless. SBY is not a leader. He only cares about his image and is so out of touch with the suffering of his people.
Tobat
SBY acceptance of the award seems to already be showing benefits. Perhaps the ACF award is only for not demolishing synagogues. But then there are not too many of these in Indonesia.
Henry Manoe
Shalom Pak SBY, how nice of you to accept an award from a Jewish foundation. I just don't see the relevance. I mean how many Jews live in Indonesia?
Diederik Zwager
Congratulations Mr. President!!! You deserve it.
Nuniek S.
I congratulate the Indonesian leader, a true friend of the Jews (see the picture if you don't believe what I am saying my friend).
I have scientifically asked the Indonesian Jews and they are excited about the award, millions of them. It is under the Indonesian leader that Judaism becomes the seventh official religion of Indonesia.
Mario Rustan
