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Bantul regent defies calls to replace Catholic district head
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A statue of Jesus is unveiled at the Yakobus Alfeus church in Pajangan district, Bantul regency, Yogyakarta, on Oct. 2 last year. A group of people demanded that the Catholic district head be removed due to his religion. (Courtesy of Pajangan Police/File)
T
he head of Bantul regency in Yogyakarta is defying calls to replace the Catholic Yulius Suharta as the head of the predominantly Muslim district of Pajangan.
In the first week of January, a group of people had filed a complaint with Bantul Regent Suharsono and the Bantul Council, demanding that Yulius not be sworn in as Pajangan district head. The group claimed that installing a Catholic official hurt the Pajangan people, who opposed the construction of a Jesus statue at the St. Yakobus Alfeus church.
The group received support from the majority factions at the Bantul Council.
Suharsono had told residents earlier that he would transfer Yulius after a month to become the district head of Bambanglipuro, a Catholic-majority area.
“I invited the people of Pajangan, including those who opposed the decision, to come to a meeting [to discuss the issue]. However, those who opposed did not turn up,” he said on Monday.
Suharsono said that in the meeting all residents agreed with the decision to retain Yulius in his post.
Tri Suparyanto, an expert staff member for the Bantul regent, said the government should not bow to pressure from any groups pushing for discrimination based on religion, race or ethnicity.
“We have to handle the issue wisely and based on Pancasila, the Constitution, human rights and pluralism,” he said.
Yulius said he had not received any order to move to Bambanglipuro. He also said he had never experienced rejection from the Pajangan people. (yan)
