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Jakarta Post

West Java fails to improve tolerance

Moses Ompusunggu (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Wed, January 11, 2017

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West Java fails to improve tolerance No tolerance: Supporters of Muslim organizations rally against the holding of a Mass at Sasana Budaya Ganesha Park in Bandung, West Java, on Tuesday. The Mass had been scheduled for Tuesday night before being canceled due to the protests. (JP/Arya Dipa)

T

he National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) revealed Tuesday that West Java remained the most intolerant province, blaming some regional heads for neglecting the need to uphold human rights in their respective areas.

Komnas HAM wrote in its annual report that most of the cases related to violation of freedom of religion in 2016 were reported in West Java, in which a string of massive demonstrations by Muslim groups took place to demand the prosecution of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama for alleged blasphemy.

Some 21 cases related to religious freedom violations were reported in West Java last year, Komnas HAM revealed in its findings, which found some regional administrations had “little comprehension toward and lack of commitment to upholding human rights”.

West Java, which is also the province with the largest population of 43 million, came out on top for being the most intolerant province in Indonesia in 2014 and 2015, during which reported religious freedom violation cases amounted to 34 and 20 cases, respectively.

Komnas HAM chairman Imdadun Rahmat said that the commission had tried to approach regional heads in West Java in response to the rights violation reports but said that “some of them are resisting to respond with firm action”.

“The process [to approach leaders in West Java] is still ongoing. Some of our efforts have been fruitful and some of the leaders have been cooperative. However, there are also leaders who think that human rights are not important and that our efforts are hampering development [in their respective regions],” Imdadun told a press briefing at Komnas HAM headquarters in Menteng, Central Jakarta.

Cases reported in West Java last year include: vigilantism carried out by the Ahlussunnah Defenders (PAS), a hard-line Muslim group that shut down a Christmas service at Sasana Budaya Ganesha (Sabuga) in Bandung in December; Muslim minority faith followers, Ahmadiyah, being prohibited from conducting religious activities in Subang in March; and extortion of churches for permits in Bandung in June.

Imdadun, who serves as the commission’s special rapporteur on freedom of religion, said that Komnas HAM was focusing on approaching regencies and municipal administrations, as it believed that through the regional autonomy system, they could “uphold human rights” through rights-friendly policies.

Imdadun cited the immediate response by Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil, one of numerous social media savvy regional leaders in Indonesia, in the wake of PAS’ intolerant act in December. Ridwan announced his commitment to ensure the rights of Bandung citizens to freely exercise their religious beliefs.

Komnas HAM’s religion and faith freedom division coordinator Jayadi Damanik, who was also present at the briefing, revealed that the commission had found indication of police officers allegedly supporting PAS in the Bandung incident.

“We have presented these findings to the National Police,” Jayadi said.

National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian decided to appoint new West Java and Bandung Police chiefs in December, following the incident in Bandung.

New West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Anton Charliyan said he would prioritize efforts to prevent intolerant acts from taking place in the province, stressing the need to cooperate with other parties, namely the country’s two biggest Muslim organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah.

Leaders resist action against vigilante groups Komnas HAM said police have aided hard-line groups

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