J

an. 18, Online

Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali has denied allegations that the government was not taking the GKI Yasmin Church issue seriously after a joint meeting on the issue was canceled on Wednesday.

“If a meeting on the issue is cancelled, you cannot say that the government lacks good intentions
toward resolving the issue,” Suryadharma told reporters at the Presidential Office prior to a Cabinet meeting.

“Today’s meeting [with the House of Representatives] was postponed because some relevant ministers had to attend a Cabinet meeting.”

Your comments:

For a culture that generally cares so much about not losing face, it is interesting that actions like this make the entire government look like a complete joke to foreigners in the country and outside observers.

I truly hope that lawmakers in this country feel the embarrassment for their actions, or lack of action, which a normal person would feel with such ongoing pathetic failures.

Kevin

It seems pretty clear how law and order work in Indonesia. Despite the Supreme Court’s decision on the issue, the government is still attempting to negotiate its response.

If the President is indecisive about what to do on this important issue, it is no wonder his Cabinet and administration are doing the same thing. As the executive of the government, he should stop this nonsense once for all.

Act like a man, Mr. President, do what is just, and what you are mandated for! What are you afraid of?

Anto

Testriono wrote on the Post on Jan. 18 that research demonstrated that there are at least three important factors, called “unwritten rules”, which impact the successful construction of churches. The first is the support of the local government and police. The second is the successful negotiation with religious elites in the surrounding area.

And the last is the successful dialogue with the Muslim community in the area to avoid conflict by emphasizing that the church’s establishment does not hide an agenda pushing religious conversion.

In the case of GKI Yasmin church, all the three factors are absent or inadequate. The “unwritten rules”
are certainly only to be used by Muslim hardliners to oppose any Christian activity.

In the civilized world, Muslims and Christians are working side by side for the welfare and betterment of the communities where they live and to which they belong. We can safely say that those people behave as civilized human beings, Muslims as Christians alike.

However, the agenda of Indonesian Islamic extremists is not to be civilized. They are followers of false teachings. Islam has been shown millions of times to be tolerant and religion of peace.

It is very sad that it is the third time that such an important meeting has been cancelled, while the responsible person continues to say he is focused on solving the problem.

It is remarkable that Indonesian Christians remain calm and make the best out of it in regards to their worship.

History has shown that many Christians were cruel to “infidels” in North America and Africa, but that happened hundreds years ago. Now, Christian followers have become civilized, in-step with the times.

Widya Utama

There is no point of having a religious affairs minister if the role only exists to win over majority religions.

Obi Wan Kenobi

I surrender to God on the outcome of this incident and I choose to believe his promise in Roman: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Solomon