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strong>May 18, p4

A presidential spokesman said on Friday that howls of protest against a plan by the US-based Appeal of Conscience Foundation (ACF) to honor President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for upholding religious freedom would not change the fact that the President deserved the award.

'The ACF is a credible organization. Thus, the statements from certain people claiming themselves to be representatives of certain communities, suggesting or even pushing to annul the granting of the award, actually hold narrow-minded opinions that are based on a political philosophy without ethics,' Julian said.

'The protests will not bring about any changes, other than letting the world know that people with narrow-minded criticism against their President still exist in Indonesia. I hope the award givers understand and do not feel offended,' the spokesman added.

Your comments:

The ACF and SBY dance on the plight of the oppressed minorities.

Yossy

''Actually hold narrow-minded opinions that are based on a political philosophy without ethics,' Julian said.'

The guy doesn't even know the definition of the word 'ethics'. Here they are: Moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior and the moral correctness of specified conduct.

Could it be that he was referring to his own boss when he mentioned 'without ethics'? I believe so!

Jaytee

'The ACF is a credible organization'. Not after this award.

Sheldon Archer

SBY does not care about minorities. He just cares about his international image.

Filippo

Julian Pasha's statement, in which he wildly and irrationally lashes out at those who justifiably oppose the granting of the ACF award to SBY, gives us a true insight into the current situation that President SBY and his toadying sycophants now exist.

Either they are uninformed about the human-rights abuses and persecution that the Ahmadiyah people, the Shiites, and the Christians have been suffering from for years, or they are cowardly, self-seeking hypocrites who really don't care a damn about upholding and defending the human rights of the Indonesian people.

They obviously prefer to turn a blind eye to the actual ferocious harassment that these oppressed minority groups have been and are still subjected to. It is evident that they also fear the voices that speak the truth, and wildly lash out at them.

Palace spokesperson Faizasyah said that the President takes every criticism and aspiration offered by the public into consideration. This fanciful declaration equals the preposterous statements spewed out by Julian Pasha. In reality, SBY evidently does not do any considering at all, let alone engage in positive action to protect the oppressed religious groups, as doing so might severely damage his own personal interests.

For us Indonesians who fervently desire good, honest, brave leaders who are in touch with reality and who truly want the best for Indonesia and its future, the distressing and irresponsible mentality of our present leaders, as shown by their statements, portends only immense disaster for the future of our Indonesia.

We need good leaders and we need them RIGHT NOW, if we really want to save our beloved country.

I am one of the millions of Indonesian people who wholeheartedly applaud and absolutely agree with what Reverend Franz Magnis Suseno stated in his open letter to the Appeal of Conscience Foundation (ACF).

Now that is truly an admirable man, a sensible and intelligent man, a courageous man who possesses integrity, who has genuine love for the Indonesian people.

Tami

The situation would have been totally different if SBY would have indeed had upheld religious freedom as the ACF claims. In fact, the record speaks for itself that during his entire time in office, SBY has tacitly tolerated persecution of religious freedom and human rights; by the State or otherwise. The ACF's award can only be seen as political opportunism for which the organization is well known.

Henry Manoe

The record speaks for itself ' SBY has done such great damage to this country by doing nothing to stop the victimization and harassment of religious minorities.

In fact, his inaction has encouraged the radicals to continue with their hate-filled campaigns.

Amazing that Indonesia does not recognize Judaism and yet the president wants to collect an award from a Jewish organization.

The hypocrisy is simply astounding. These people have no shame.

Simon